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Creating Daily Routines that Actually Stick

By Jillian |
Filed under: Parenting Tagged:


The ProNamel® brand has compensated me in connection with statements made in this post.
I have a confession… and this one is pretty hard to admit. If you’ve been around here before, you know I like routine. It’s how I function best. It wasn’t too long ago that I realized I’d been avoiding some pretty serious daily routines.
I let them slip to the back of my mind until I had no choice but to pay attention. It started with a terrible dentist appointment for one of the kids. It wasn’t just the unexpected dental work that slapped me in the face… it was the realization that I was almost standing in the way of good dental health.
What?!?! We’ve always brushed our teeth (of course) but it wasn’t planned into our routine in a way that worked.

That meant tooth brushing time was a drag, a chore AND rushed. What comes from something that is a drag, a chore and rushed? Hmmm, I think we all know the answer to that.

So I did what I do best. I made a plan. We quickly took that plan and created a routine that has been working for months now. Once we had tooth brushing under way I realized that there were other important daily tasks that were falling through the cracks.

We went full force on those and now, instead of feeling overwhelmed and guilty about what I’m not doing. I feel empowered and excited about how many healthy routines we will be able to tackle!

Today I’ve teamed up with ProNamel® to spread the word about their kid’s line. ProNamel® 6-12 Years Toothpaste for Kids is focused on kids age 6-12, who are in the stage of losing their primary teeth and growing in their secondary teeth. It actively strengthens enamel and helps protect against everyday acids and cavities.

 Creating a daily routine that actually works is easier than you think. Use these 6 steps to plan ahead & take action tackling your important daily routines.

How to Create Daily Routines that Actually Stick

Pick One Routine at a Time. They are all important. That’s a fact, but if you try to change everything at once you’ll go crazy and then none of them will stick! So pick one thing and figure out how to make it fit. Play with it for a couple of weeks and when you start to feel like it’s just naturally happening without much thought… pick something new to focus on.

Plan. Routines will stick so much better if you are invested and fully on board. Knowing ahead of time what time of day will be best, where in the house will be best and which parent should be in charge; will help the kids get on board when you’re ready to put your plan into action.

Set Up the Environment. Think about the environment and plan accordingly. Make sure that everything you need for these daily routines is in reach and in sight (especially if visual reminders are important for you). I know seeing them will make remembering much easier for me, especially in the beginning.

Think about Challenges. Take some time to think through the obstacles you are bound to face. One of the problems with our tooth brushing was the obvious discrepancy of how long 2 minutes actually is. We ended up getting a toothbrush timer but before that I used the stopwatch on my phone.

Start on the Right Foot. It’s pretty likely that your kids are not going to be excited about adding these important routines into the mix, but you can make it more fun. Allow yourself enough time (especially in the beginning) to be relaxed about it. Get silly and have fun. Tell a tooth joke when the job is done or draw letters on their back while applying lotion. Just because something has to be done doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

Check Back. Every couple of months check back with the routine. Is your original system still working? Does it need tweaking?

 ProNamel for Kids is specially formulated to protect against cavities and everyday acids. 

Settings kids up for ‘tooth successes’ for the rest of their lives is easy! By preventing Acid Erosion during this crucial time ProNamel® 6-12 Years Toothpaste for Kids works to actively strengthen the precious enamel kids have now.

  • Kids between 6 and 12 years old are susceptible to Acid Erosion and experience enamel erosion – and once it erodes, it never grows back.
  • ProNamel® for Kids is specially formulated to protect against cavities and everyday acids.
  • ProNamel® is the #1 Dentist Recommended Brand for strengthening and protecting enamel.

Find ProNamel® online – Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. Coupons available on the ProNamel® Website.

**THIS THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED**

What healthy routine do you need to improve? Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/13 – 9/30

Be sure to visit the ProNamel® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by ProNamel® or GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

Give me 7 days...

I'll show you the mom you really are.

Comments

  5. Lisa says

    We need to improve my children’s brushing of their teeth. We just went to the dentist, and no cavities, the doctor did say they need to slow down and pay more attention.

    Reply

  7. Erika says

    We need to improve our shower and bedtime routine. Since the kids have gotten older, we have given them more independence, but that resulted in delayed routines and rushed activities that aren’t being executed well. We have a real problem with yucky, partially brushed teeth. ?.

    Reply

  8. Alison says

    What a timely article! My daughter has issues developing her tooth enamel, so it’s critical we get the tooth brushing routine nailed down…twice a day. Mornings are my nemesis, so that’s the routine I’m going to tackle! Thanks!

    Reply

  11. Mary Ann says

    My family and I need to work on our general bedtime routine, which somehow needs to include time to “wind down.” By the time the kids are supposed to be brushing their teeth, they are running around, hitting each other, etc. It’s no wonder they don’t do the best just with the teeth brushing!

    Reply

  13. Lisa Brown says

    I need to work on getting enough sleep: I like to stay up late when all have gone to bed to get more things done around the house.

    Reply

  15. Julie Wood says

    I need to improve on our getting enough exercise and getting rid of all the sugary treats in the house. Candy and sugar treats cause too much tooth decay, and make sure to brush 3 times a day!

    Reply

  26. Natalie says

    My family needs to be better about brushing our teeth longer! We usually only brush about 20 seconds vs 2 minutes at a time.

    Reply

  30. Elle says

    We could improve a little on healthier eating. We eat healthy for the most part but sometimes when in a rush, I just go for what is easiest but maybe not the healthiest.

    Reply

  33. Angie says

    We need to improve the nightly wind down to bed routine, which includes teeth and settling into bed to get the most rest possible. Middle schoolers seem to still be wired for longer even though they are TIRED!
    Keep trying new things and see what works best with your family and kiddos!

    Reply

  34. Chrissy says

    I need to start going to bed earlier. My child finally is sleeping better but sometimes it’s so nice to have some quiet time to myself that I stay up way later than I should which makes me sleep deprived the next day! It’s a work in progress!

    Reply

  37. susan smoaks says

    I really need to make sure I floss twice a day. I am good at the morning flossing but I often do not take the time to floss at night.

    Reply

  48. Kara says

    I need to schedule more time to run. I run a daycare and with a child of my own it is really hard to find the time. I need to pick a set time of the day and stick with my schedule.

    Reply

  52. Linda Petteys says

    Definitely need more exercise!! A regular workout and/or walk time scheduled through the week. I’m more of a hit and miss exerciser.

    Reply

  54. Chelsea says

    i need to get back to the gym! i injured a tendon a few months back but it’s finally recovered, but i keep being too paranoid to go back yet. but i gotta get in there… ;;

    Reply

  64. wen budro says

    I need to create and maintain a more consistent sleep schedule. I know that it would probably be a positive change if I maintained it for more than a few days.

    Reply

  67. Geri Sandoval says

    Make sure we get our teeth cleaned twice a year. Brush twice a day and don’t forget to floss. I think flossing is what we forget the most, that the most think we need to improve.

    Reply

  70. Sarah Cool says

    I need to improve my eating habits! I need to start eating healthier snacks like carrots and celery instead of chips or cookies. The calories really add up

    Reply

  73. Jesse Kiel says

    My son who is 16 months like to brush his teeth himself and I let him. I help also but he doesn’t like when I actually brush the top teeth. I need to just do it . I know in the long run it will be for the best. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply

  76. Ally says

    I need to make reaching for produce instead of chips (or similar) my routine for snacking! I know the snacking isn’t going to stop, so it should at least be healthy!

    Reply

  91. Tatiana Bartlett says

    My kids need to be in a better habit about brushing their teeth in the mornings. Nighttime is solid, but in the morning it’s more rushed and always the thing to fall by the wayside when we’re behind 🙁

    Reply

  94. Deborah Anderson says

    Hand washing! With summer gone, fall coming on, and winter right around the corner, staying healthy is more important than ever.

    Reply

  98. Dawn S. says

    I need to get in the habit of healthier dinner time. Our goal is to sit down at the table and eat as a family consistently.

    Reply

  115. Rebecca says

    I would like to exercise more consistently, so that I could drop a few pounds. I also try to eat more salads full of veggies.

    Reply

  141. Julie says

    I want to improve on family dinner time together. By the evening, things are so chaotic and usually running behind schedule, so I’m happy just to get everyone fed. I wish we could sit at the table at least once a day together as a family to talk about our day.

    Reply

  144. Terry Stevens says

    I need to improve my exercise routine. I had a mastecomy 12 weeks ago and have noticed I am out of shape and gaining weight.

    Reply

  158. jennifer Ibex says

    i need to improve my organizational skills. i hope to find my halloween decorations sometime this month. 🙂

    Reply

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