Easing Back Into Routine After the Holidays (For Moms Who Are Exhausted)

Easing Back Into Routine After the Holidays (For Moms Who Are Exhausted)

Gentle, doable tips to help your family reset for the new year

The holidays are magical… and also completely exhausting. Between the dinners, the traveling, the parties, the last-minute shopping, the kids being off schedule, and the general December chaos - most moms hit January feeling like, “Okay… how do we get our life back together now?”

If that’s you? Same, girl.
This isn’t about forcing a strict routine on day one or pretending we’re suddenly new people on January 1st. It’s about easing back into rhythms that feel good, supportive, and realistic for your family.

Here are a few gentle ways to transition out of holiday mode and into a calmer, more grounded start to the new year.

1. Start With a Simple Reset - Not a Full Clean

You do not need to deep-clean your entire house on January 1st.
Focus on one or two small resets that make your space feel breathable again:

• Clear the kitchen counters

• Run a load of laundry

• Break down boxes

• Put away toys that are still in the packaging

• Light a candle or diffuse something cozy

A clean(ish) space = a calmer mind.
Start small so you don’t burn out.

2. Reinstate Bedtimes Slowly

Kids get wild over the holidays. Bedtimes are late, mornings are slow, everyone is overstimulated.

Instead of snapping right back into a strict schedule, try easing bedtime 10–15 minutes earlier each night until you're back into your normal rhythm.
It works so much better than trying to fix everything in one night.

3. Bring Back Easy Meals

When you’re transitioning back into routine, this is not the time to become a gourmet chef. Stick to:

• Simple breakfasts (yogurt + granola, fruit, oatmeal, muffins)

• Easy dinners (tacos, pasta, sheet-pan meals, leftovers)

• Grab-and-go lunches

Feed your family, not your guilt.

4. Choose One Area to Get Organized

Trying to get your life together all at once is a recipe for stress.
Instead, pick one:

• Your planner

• Your kitchen

• Your inbox

• Your kids’ school papers

• Your work calendar

• Your weekly meals

Organize the one thing that’s causing you the most mental clutter.

5. Add One Cozy Ritual to Ease the Transition

Kids LOVE rituals. And honestly? Moms need them too.

Try adding a simple “we’re starting fresh” habit like:

• Pajama mornings with hot chocolate

• A family walk

• A 10-minute tidy at the same time every day

• A nightly “what was your favorite part of today?” check-in

Small routines become anchors.

6. Don’t Rush Yourself

You are allowed to ease into the new year slowly.
You do not have to start 2026 sprinting.
You do not need “new year, new me” energy - just a little peace.

Give yourself space to rest.
Give the kids room to adjust.
Give your home time to settle back into normal.

7. Celebrate the Small Wins

Got everyone dressed today?
You win.
Put away two gifts?
You win.
Cooked something that wasn’t cookies?
You win.

January is about gentle progress - not perfection.

Resetting after the holidays isn’t about forcing structure… it’s about slowly rebuilding routines that make your home feel grounded again. Give yourself grace. Make it simple. Let it be cozy. Let it take time.

The magic of a new year isn’t in doing everything - it’s in easing into the version of life that feels good for you and your family.

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