Summer is awesome.
Late nights. Sleeping in. Movie marathons. "Just one more episode."
Then, somehow, the first day of school is staring you in the face, and everyone's body clock is completely upside down.
The good news? You don't have to fix it overnight. In fact, you shouldn't.
Here are five easy ways to get everyone back on a school-friendly sleep schedule—without turning your house into a battlefield.
Hack #1: Start Small
Don't suddenly move bedtime back by two hours.
Instead, shift bedtime and wake-up time by about 15 minutes every few days.
It's easier on everyone, and your body has a chance to adjust naturally.
Slow and steady wins this race.
Hack #2: Let the Sunshine Do the Work
One of the best ways to reset your internal clock is to get outside in the morning.
Take the dog for a walk.
Eat breakfast on the porch.
Water the flowers.
Morning sunlight tells your brain it's time to wake up, making it easier to fall asleep that night.
Hack #3: Put Screens to Bed Before You Do
Phones, tablets and TVs all make it harder for your brain to wind down.
Try putting screens away about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
Read a book. Play a game. Talk to each other.
Your brain will thank you... even if your teenagers won't.
Hack #4: Practice the Morning Routine
Don't wait until the first day of school to discover nobody remembers where the backpacks are.
A week or two before school starts, practice the routine.
Set an alarm.
Get dressed.
Eat breakfast.
Head out the door.
It sounds silly, but it makes that first morning a whole lot less stressful.
Hack #5: Don't Try to "Sleep In" One Last Time
It's tempting to let everyone sleep until noon because "summer's almost over."
Unfortunately, that's like hitting the reset button on all your progress.
Once you're adjusting schedules, try to keep wake-up times fairly consistent—even on the weekends.
Future-you will be very grateful.
The first day of school is stressful enough.
If everyone is rested, the whole house starts the year on a better note.
Start making small changes now, and when that alarm goes off on the first day of school, it won't feel nearly as painful.
Well... maybe just a little.