Fall often ushers in a new wave of busyness for families. School is in full swing, sports practices and games pile onto the calendar, and social commitments start to stack up. Parents feel like chauffeurs and coordinators, kids feel stretched thin, and everyone’s energy tank runs low.
But here’s the truth: rest is not optional. Rest is what allows families to show up fully for the commitments they choose to keep. Without it, exhaustion creeps in, patience wears thin, and the joy of these years can be overshadowed by constant fatigue.
Last year, we covered “What Not To Do During The First Week Of School.” We used Jen Hatmaker as a reference. Read her contribution this year, “My Annual Back-to-School PSA: 2025 Edition.” She stresses not doing anything the first week of school, as it is too much for the family. But let’s take it a step further and let’s look at rest for the season … for life.
Why Rest Matters for Families
Kids need recovery time to grow
Children’s bodies and brains are still developing. Between schoolwork, sports, and extracurriculars, their schedules can mimic an adult workday, and sometimes stretch even longer. Without enough rest, kids may struggle to concentrate in class, become more irritable at home, or risk injuries on the field. Adequate downtime gives their bodies and minds the space they need to reset and grow stronger.
Parents need rest to set the tone
Parents often sacrifice their own rest to keep up with everything: work, carpools, meals, laundry, and volunteering. But kids mirror what they see. When parents run on empty, stress levels rise for the whole family. Prioritizing rest isn’t selfish, but instead it’s modeling balance, resilience, and healthy habits for the next generation. They get to see that it is a priority.
Rest strengthens connection
When everyone is always on the go, family conversations are reduced to quick check-ins about homework or “What time is practice?” Restful moments, whether that’s a calm dinner, reading together, or a Saturday morning with no alarms, create space for genuine connection. Perhaps go for a walk or a hike. Here are “4 Perfect Autumn Waterfall Hikes In Oregon For Families.”
How to Protect Rest in a Busy Family Life
Build rhythms, not just schedules
Instead of cramming every free slot with an activity, think in terms of rhythms. For example:
- Sunday evenings could be a family dinner at home, no devices, no rushing.
- Wednesday nights, everyone goes to bed 30 minutes earlier.
- Saturday morning can be a time for unstructured activities before heading to a game.
These predictable breaks give kids (and parents) something to look forward to.
Prioritize sleep routines
Sleep is the foundation of all rest. Setting regular bedtimes for both kids and parents helps regulate the body’s natural rhythms. For younger kids, a simple bedtime routine such as bath, reading, and lights out signals the body to wind down. For teens, encourage consistency, even if it means setting boundaries around late-night screen use. Parents benefit from a set bedtime too, not just “when everything else is done.”
Schedule “white space”
Just like you block out practice times and school events, block out family downtime. White space provides time to think, plan, write, research, read, or simply exist. Protect it on the calendar the same way you protect a game or recital. This might look like one evening a week with no extracurriculars, or a Saturday afternoon where everyone stays home. Families often underestimate how much a single free evening can restore energy for the week ahead.
Rethink commitments season by season
Not every child needs to play three sports in one semester. Not every parent has to join every committee. Each season, take a realistic look at what’s on the calendar and ask:
- What activities bring us joy and energy?
- What feels like a burden?
- Where do we need breathing room?
Sometimes saying “not this year” to one activity makes space for the whole family to feel more grounded. No is a complete sentence. Be okay with that.
Create micro-moments of rest
Rest doesn’t always mean a two-hour nap. It can be small, intentional pauses.
- 10 minutes of quiet reading before bed.
- Listening to music together in the car instead of rushing through homework questions.
- Sitting down for breakfast rather than grabbing it to go.
These little pauses add up and help reset the nervous system.
Model rest without guilt
Kids notice when parents never stop moving. If you treat rest as “lazy” or only allow it when every task is finished, children will learn the same mindset. Instead, let them see you reading a book, sitting on the porch with coffee, or enjoying a quiet walk. Show them that rest is part of a healthy life, not something you have to earn.
The Bigger Picture
Life with kids will always be busy, and that’s not a bad thing. Sports, school, and activities provide structure and joy. But without rest, these experiences can lose their meaning. Protecting downtime isn’t about doing less; it’s about making sure your family has the energy, patience, and presence to enjoy the things you choose to do truly.
Johanna is married with two kids, three dogs, three cats, one leopard gecko, several chickens, and a few fish. She has been in the Pacific Northwest since the dream was alive in the 90s but has Southern roots and hails from Arkansas. The family spends a lot of time at some sort of sporting event for the kids. Johanna likes to fast craft, garden, host parties, and bake. Johanna and her crew go hard traveling, DIY-ing, and are always up for a new adventure or challenge.