The Return of the School Run: Coping with Chaos

For some, the whole back-to-school saga is a time of pure joy and excitement. For others…well, it’s more or less the complete opposite. Many of those forced to contend with the daily school run falling squarely into the latter bracket.

The novelty of the school run when the new term begins quickly wears off. At which point, it becomes part of the daily grind you’d really rather avoid.

As avoiding it isn’t a viable option, it’s a case of making things as simple and straightforward for yourself as you possibly can. With this in mind, here’s the brief rundown of five useful tips for coping with the chaos of the school run this autumn:

1. Prepare everything in advance

First up, attempting to rush things in the morning is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. You’ll forget something you subsequently need to return home for, or you’ll end up leaving at the last possible second and find yourself in a stressful rush. As an alternative, it’s far easier and significantly less stressful to prepare everything in advance. Ideally, as far in advance as possible – make sure you’re more or less ready to pack the car and leave the night before.

1. Stay positive and optimistic

You can take it as a gospel that if you get grumpy and aggravated during the school run, so too will your kids. Something that will make the whole thing even less bearable than it already is. Even if it means smiling through gritted teeth, it’s something you need to do for everyone’s benefit. Plus, it’s scientifically proven that when you force yourself to smile, your brain is tricked into thinking things aren’t as terrible as they actually are!

1. Leave earlier than necessary

The more time you have, the easier it becomes to deal with the occasional slow-down and setback. Plus, taking things steady helps keep things calm and amicable for you and your kids alike. Hence, if you’re pretty sure you need to set off at 8:20am, do yourself a favour and set off shortly after 8:00am.

1. Use smart technology to your advantage

These days, simply hitting the Google Maps button (or equivalent) on your phone is enough to figure out where the traffic is and how to avoid it. If you get stuck in a completely avoidable jam, you’ve nobody to blame but yourself. Even if it’s a route you’ve driven literally thousands of times, smart technology is essential to help plan for unexpected incidents along the way.

1. Treat yourself to a new car

Last up, it’s worth considering just how much more bearable the school run would be in the shiny-new car you’ve had your eye on for some time. Think of it less as a personal indulgence, and more a way of keeping the whole family comfortable, content, safe and serene on these unavoidable journeys. If it’s a cold and uncomfortable car that’s making the whole thing particularly unpleasant, it could be time to scrap and upgrade!

For more information on how to get the best price for your scrap car or to discuss any aspect of our services in more detail, contact a member of the team at Take My Scrap Car today.