What Working Moms Should Do Before the Second Semester Starts: Organize Your Child's Schedule and Your September Self-Care with a Planner
Things you want to do with your planner before the 2nd semester starts.
Working moms' September: Caring for kids and self-care.
After summer vacation, both kids and working moms suddenly have a lot more to do. That's why you should open your planner first. If you have a September-start planner, you can start using it right away.
Summer vacation ends.
Both children and mothers themselves
feel a little restless.
Why not organize this "restlessness" with your planner?
From late August to September, the air gradually begins to change. Children have complex expressions, "looking forward to seeing friends again, but also a little nervous." Thoughts of subjects they struggled with might be lingering in their minds. As working mothers observe their children, their own minds also start to ponder, "Well, what about September?"
Work, which was in summer vacation mode, suddenly goes into full swing in September. Checking belongings, confirming homework, preparing for post-vacation tests—a flurry of tasks descends all at once.
Reiko Tanaka
Forte Diary Creative Director
Having raised two children, I feel something every year around this time. The period after summer vacation, when children's restlessness and mothers' busyness overlap, is the most "brain-overloading" time of the year.
Especially during a year when schools suddenly closed due to the pandemic and work and childcare piled up simultaneously—my head really felt like it was going to explode. But then, when I opened my planner and wrote down "These are the only things I'll focus on this month," I strangely felt refreshed. Since that experience, I've made it a habit to organize things with my planner at the start of September.
① Anticipate your child's "restlessness" and write it in your Monthly planner
Write down 2nd semester events, submissions, and tests in advance
After summer vacation, a rush of announcements from school arrives. Second semester event schedules, supply checklists, homework submission dates, post-vacation tests—just writing these down in your Monthly Planner on the day you receive them can prevent oversights.
In traditional almanacs, early September is a time when the weather tends to be volatile (Hachijuhachiya). With large fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and temperature, it's a week where it's easy to fall ill. In our family, because my child had asthma, I always made sure to write down preventative care in my planner during this period. Even now that his asthma has settled, this habit continues. It's recommended to lighten your schedule by marking it as a "health watch week."
② Decide on one "September focus" for yourself, Mom
After organizing things for your child, it's time for yourself. September is also a month when work suddenly picks up. But because it coincides with your child's second semester start, your own needs often take a backseat.
That's why you should decide on just one "thing you'll focus on most this month" and write it in your Monthly planner. Just doing that will give you a "pillar" even amidst the chaos.
Write "My intention for September" in the current month's theme section
The Monthly Planner in Forte Planner 2027 has a "This Month's Theme" section. Whether it's "This September, I'll focus on this work project" or "In the second semester, I'll prioritize my child's health management"—any short phrase you write will make daily decisions easier.
“Don't try to do everything.
Deciding to focus on just this one thing this month
stops your brain from overflowing.”
③ Write your own self-care as an "appointment"
September is the month where your own needs are put on the back burner the most. However, if mom isn't well, neither childcare nor work can continue for long.
Let's write down "self-care" as an appointment in your planner. If you only think about it, you'll be swept away by busyness.
Every September, I intentionally schedule "time to go out alone spontaneously." Just sitting idly in a cafe by myself, my energy comes back. And, I also make going for a head spa for hair damaged by summer UV rays a small reward for myself in September.
If I don't write down "care time" as an appointment first, it will definitely be put off. Knowing that, I write it in my planner. It's just that, but it makes a big difference in my state of being in September.
Supporting your child's restlessness while also getting yourself in order for September. You don't have to do everything perfectly. Just by writing down your "focuses" and "self-care" in your planner, you can get through this season just fine.
Care for your child and yourself this September, all in one book.
Start your busy September smoothly with a planner that combines Monthly, Weekly, Journal, and My Life Planner.
See inside Forte Planner 2027 →Just by flipping through the pages, you'll understand how to use it 📖
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