High-Maintenance Teacher Routine for a Low-Maintenance Life
Back-to-school can feel overwhelming, especially when juggling my roles as a teacher, single mom, and business owner. My secret to managing all of this is to spend my time doing the things that will take a little extra time, up front, but will make my life easier, in the long run. By dedicating certain days to home and self-care routines, I’m able to build a calmer life that is automated for the rest of the week.
This approach has helped me create a balanced and manageable lifestyle that protects my energy. Take a look at how my system works, to bring calm to my busy life.
Investing in High-Maintenance Days to Enjoy Low-Maintenance Weeks
The main idea is simple, but life changing: be high-maintenance on certain days and low-maintenance the rest of the week. This means that on a few planned days, I put in extra effort to prep and care for myself (and my home) in ways that will set the stage for easier days ahead.
Some days I focus on deep cleaning and beauty routines, while other days are lighter, with routines that are automated. For a single mom and a teacher, this strategy saves energy by reducing daily stress and constant catch-up.
The benefits are clear: energy is preserved for what really matters. My home feels welcoming and my schedule flows without constant surprises. This philosophy helps keep everything consistent, even with a packed calendar.
Friday Reset Ritual
Weekly Home and Self-Care Routines:
Starting the weekend with a clean home, helps me transition from Miss K, to Mom. On Fridays, the routine usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour and includes:
- Vacuuming rugs upstairs and floors downstairs
- Sweeping and washing floors
- Tidying lunchboxes and any leftover clutter from the week
- Doing laundry needed for the weekend
- Wiping down counters and surfaces
- Lighting candles to create a cozy scent
- Turning on the twinkle lights inside the fireplace, adding a cozy aesthetic to my home.
This quick, focused cleaning helps me enjoy a clutter-free weekend space. Tidying the small things, like lunchboxes, ensures the house feels fresh and not messy.
Friday Night Self-Care Routine
Fridays are also reserved for high-maintenance self-care to prepare for a low-fuss week. This session usually includes:
- Applying self-tanner, which cuts down the need for heavy makeup
- Tinting eyebrows to avoid daily filling in (as naturally light brows need some help)
- Waxing eyebrows, lip, and any other areas needing touch-ups
- Manicures and pedicures, depending on budget (sometimes self-done, sometimes done at an affordable salon nearby)
- Occasional lash work done by a friend, but I want to try an at-home lash lift and tint
After all the prep, Friday night becomes a time to relax with a movie, popcorn, and some quiet alone time. Often, my son and his friends go out, so I get the house to myself and can invest in my self-care.
Sunday Reset and Prep Routine
Sunday acts as a second deep clean and reset day. It includes:
- Tidying the entryway and decluttering main living spaces
- Creating a to-do list to unload mental tasks for the week
The Sunday routine builds organization, peace, and creative energy for the days ahead. It also frees the mind by clearing out unfinished tasks and building a clear plan.
Daily Routines That Anchor Consistency and Focus
Morning Routine
Starting the day early at 5 a.m. creates quiet time before the day’s demands kick in. My morning habits are:
- Brush teeth and put in contact lenses
- Make the bed to boost productivity instantly
- Workout for 15 minutes; if pressed for time, at least 5 minutes to get blood pumping
- Brew a cup of coffee
- Journaling and prayer in a bullet journal
- Planning the day’s top tasks and priorities
- Reading two pages of a favorite book and Bible reading
- Drawing and browsing Pinterest for art inspiration
This routine works like a reset button for the brain, especially helpful for managing ADHD. It sets a clear plan for the day and adds creative and spiritual nourishment.
Evening Routine
Evenings focus on winding down while staying productive:
- A quick pickup around the house, focusing on areas like pet hair and kitchen clutter
- Taking a quick shower and changing into workout clothes
- Working on my business for an hour, prioritizing growth and financial stability
- Cooking and cleaning up dinner
- Walking the dog with the goal of 10,000 steps per day
- Final pickup and preparation for bed
- Shower and pajamas for comfort
- Relaxing with TV, reading, or light work on the computer
- Spending quality time with my son, like watching YouTube videos together
This routine balances work, family, and self-care while promoting rest and preparation for the next day.
Nutrition and Meal Prep for Busy Weeks
Avoiding the teacher’s lounge snack temptations requires focus. Cutting out grains and dairy helps me feel better physically, so meal prepping has become essential.
Key strategies include:
- Preparing high-protein snacks ahead of time to resist cravings
- Making chia seed pudding with seasonal flavors and yogurt parfaits for easy breakfasts
- Using mason jars to store multiple days of breakfasts for quick access (a habit to improve this year)
- Lunch prep involves cooking proteins, grains, and vegetables separately and mixing these into bowls or salads for variety
- Batch cooking is still a work in progress but I have realized that it is a huge priority for smoother weekly meals
Sample weekly meal prep might look like this:
| Meal | Prep Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Chia pudding, yogurt parfait | Stored in mason jars |
| Lunch | Proteins + grains + veggies | Mix and match for bowls/salads |
| Snacks | High-protein nuts and fruits | Ready for quick energy |
Tools and Resources for Staying Organized
Bullet Journaling for Routine and Goals
Recording my daily habits helps keep track of my progress and prevents me from slipping into chaos. My bullet journal tracks my habits, top three daily tasks for my work and my business, and mental decluttering.
A set of daily printable bullet journal pages is available for purchase, which are designed to make this process easier, and will help to keep routines consistent and visible.
Explore the available journal pages in My Shop . I am always adding more pages and illustrations that can be used with them.
Budget Review
Sundays also include a budget meeting, reviewing spending habits and adjusting as needed. Tracking finances helps me stay mindful of goals and financial pressures, which is important when managing my household as a single parent.
Balancing Roles: Teaching, Motherhood, and Business
Handling the hats of teacher, mom, and business owner means that my daily, weekly, and monthly routines offer a lifeline. Each routine is focused toward supporting the unique needs of these roles:
- Teacher: Weekly curriculum prep and early childhood special education experience improve flow and reduce stress
- Mom: Shared evenings, meal prep, and weekend tidying keep the home calm and organized
- Business Owner: Daily evening work sessions help grow financial independence
Consistency keeps overwhelm at bay and provides room for self-care, family time, and creativity.
Final Tips for Your Own Routine
Try picking 1-2 days to be your high-maintenance days for deep cleaning, self-care, and prep. The rest of your week can be low-maintenance and easy to navigate.
Automate as much as possible through clear daily and weekly routines. This approach makes decisions easier and helps stay consistent, especially when life is hectic.
Don’t be afraid to tweak your schedule if something doesn’t feel right, like shifting self-care from to different nights for better pacing.
Remember, routines are tools to support your energy, confidence, and well-being. When self-care is built in, every day feels a little easier.
For more tips on frugal living, teacher life hacks, and cozy routines, check the full video and explore related resources to help keep your school year calm and thriving.
Learn more cozy and creative tips on Elizabeth KlebART’s website, Creating with Miss K.