The first two weeks of school are in the books, and let me tell you—I am tired. The type of tired when you put the cereal back in the freezer. 

Every year, I think I’ll be more prepared. Every year, I tell myself that this year I won’t overcommit, I’ll keep the schedule simple, and I’ll stay on top of everything. And every year…I find myself overwhelmed, running from one thing to the next, barely catching my breath.

This year I even made sure I had one day to just stay home with no extra curricular activities. Well joke is on me because that day I had a dance class to get my little one too that I completely forgot about! 

Between hockey, dance, gymnastics, doctor’s appointments, and the constant needs of our dogs (because of course they need just as much attention as the kids), my mind doesn’t stop. I lay down at night exhausted, yet my brain won’t shut off. Instead of sleeping, I’m planning tomorrow’s lessons, remembering who needs to be where and when, and wondering if I’ve signed all the forms stuffed in bookbags.

I know I’m not alone in this. Teacher life is a marathon, not a sprint. And teacher mom life? It’s a marathon with hurdles, detours, and unexpected pit stops along the way.

So today, I’m reminding myself—and you—that it’s okay to hit reset.

Here’s what my reset looks like:

• Simplify the to-do list. Not everything has to get done right now. If it’s not urgent, it can wait.

• Protect my sleep. The laundry may pile up, but if I’m not resting, everything else will crumble.

• Say no when I need to. This one is hard, but necessary. I can’t be everywhere for everyone all the time.

• Find little joys daily. A coffee in peace, five minutes outside, laughing with my kids—these moments matter.

• Give myself grace. I can’t pour into my students, my kids, or anyone else if I’m running on empty.

If you’re feeling the same overwhelm after the whirlwind of the first weeks back, know this: you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Pause. Reset. Give yourself permission to slow down before you burn out.

We’ve got a long year ahead, and we need our energy, our patience, and our joy.

So here’s to the teacher reset—because sometimes the most productive thing we can do is stop, breathe, and take care of ourselves.