Back-to-School, Back-to-You: Finding Momentum Amidst the Mayhem
Every week at The Alliance Center, we hear from working mothers balancing demanding careers, caregiving, and household responsibilities. This time of year, one theme rises above the rest: the back-to-school transition. For moms, it’s rarely just about school supplies and lunch boxes. It’s about new routines, anxious children, changing schedules, and the dozens of “invisible load” tasks that fall on your shoulders — all while trying to stay focused and present at work.
If you are feeling stretched thin right now, you are not alone. And there is a path forward.
Why the Back-to-School Season Feels So Heavy
The back-to-school season is more than just a calendar change. This time of year is an emotional and logistical reset for the entire family, and many moms face:
The mental load: doctor forms, meet-the-teacher days, back-to-school nights, and school holidays that don’t align with work, and the constant mental tally of what needs to get done.
Emotional labor & dual transitions: helping kids regulate their emotions about new classrooms or routines while also managing career stressors like layoffs, restructuring, or job changes.
Exhaustion and burnout: it’s not unusual to feel like you’re sprinting into September instead of easing into it.
And yet, hidden within this chaos is an opportunity: a natural reset moment that can serve as a catalyst for you, too.
Back-to-School Can Be Back-to-You
Fall has always carried a sense of momentum. Companies often use Q3 and Q4 to set goals and make hiring decisions, which means it’s an ideal season to take stock of your own career trajectory. At the same time, the return to school brings structure — and with it, a chance to re-examine your priorities.
Here are a few strategies to help you shift from “back-to-school” overwhelm to “back-to-you” intention:
Practice calendar hygiene: Block time for priorities (both work and personal) and revisit your schedule every few weeks. Flexibility and experimentation are key.
Name one short-term goal (next 30 days) and one medium-term goal (next 90 days). Write them down and share them with a peer or partner for accountability.
Audit your energy: Notice which activities boost you and which drain you, then adjust. Sometimes small tweaks — like moving a tough work task to your highest-energy time of day can yield outsized results.
Celebrate small wins: Back-to-school often spotlights where things feel messy. Balance that by naming what’s going well and giving yourself credit for it.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Through our Career & Caregiving research, 78% of working mothers report feeling guilty or overwhelmed, and over half said they want more peer support. These numbers highlight a critical truth: you are not meant to navigate this alone.
At The Alliance Center, we’re committed to offering spaces where moms can reflect, reset, and move forward with clarity and support — whether through coaching, peer programs, or community connection.
Building Forward Into Fall
Back-to-school doesn’t just belong to your kids. It can be your reset button, too, and provide a moment to align your energy, goals, and schedule with the life and career you want today.
You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Choose one goal, make one calendar adjustment, or commit to one supportive conversation this week. Small steps compound into big momentum.
This fall, as your children step into new classrooms, remember: you also have permission to step into a new season of greater intention, confidence, and possibility.
We’re here to walk alongside you when you’re ready, and there are a few ways to get started:
Sign up for one of our upcoming weekly virtual working moms support groups.
Join our Career & Caregiving waitlist to stay informed about our next group workshop series.
Book a free consultation with Ali if you’re interested in exploring 1:1 coaching and want personalized support.
