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The Mom’s Back To School Challenge

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Back to school time isn’t just for kids. It is also an important time for moms. There is a little sadness knowing we won’t be spending as much time with our children, but mostly excitement knowing how much our kids love learning.

Disclosure: I’m proud to be working with CVS Pharmacy to help spread the word about how to #FindYourHealthy. All opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.

Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray

Back to school time is the perfect time to commit to taking better care of ourselves and my Mom’s Back To School Challenge will help you do just that. I challenge you to put these tips into play. Remember…..a healthy and happy mom makes for a happy and healthy family!

1. Go for a walk. Use the time when the kids are in school every day to go for a walk. Don’t let anything stop you. For me, I’ve skipped days if my allergies were acting up. I’m not letting that stop me anymore with a proactive approach but keeping medication on hand.

2. Read a book for 30 minutes. When was the last time you read a good book? I love to read, and I spend a lot of time reading each day, but it is rarely a book. Books are stress relievers and fun. Keep one in your purse or downloaded on your phone so that you can get some reading in no matter where you are.

cvs health

3. Take care of yourself. I know that this is said all the time, and comes with very broad instructions, but start with what you can easily control. Set up a regular schedule to take any vitamins or supplements you need. I buy mine at CVS and I have my favorites so that I don’t have to search each time I go shopping. That saves me time and money.

healthy breakfast

4. Prepare healthy food for yourself. We all are thinking of good food options for our families this time of year, but we often forget ourselves. We need to make healthy food options for ourselves a priority too. Ashley has recently got me hooked on this oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter on the side for breakfast. It is easy to prepare in minutes and is delicious. 

dark chocolate covered almonds

5. Reward yourself for keeping it all together instead of stressing about the little things. This is a big one for me. In the past, I have focused on the little things that were not perfect in my life instead of all the victories. I’ve changed that and found little ways to treat myself for all the ways that I take care of myself and my family. My favorite way right now is with these delicious dark chocolate covered almonds.

extra care cvs

6. Use shortcuts. I can’t stress this enough. Challenge yourself to use easy shortcuts to make more time for the important things in life, like family and fun. I am in love with the CVS Pharmacy ExtraCare program and I have been for years. I love saving money, but I don’t have the time to clip coupons or dedicate myself to complicated store card programs. With ExtraCare, shoppers can save and earn rewards on nearly everything they buy – from household goods, to beauty products, to gifts for family and friends. 

When I scan my ExtraCare card, I get ExtraSavings™ personalized coupons, weekly circular deals, and automatic discounts when I shop at CVS Pharmacies.

ExtraSavings™ include money-saving offers delivered on register receipts, at the in-store ExtraCare Coupon Centers, and delivered via email and the CVS Pharmacy app, as well as sale prices for simply using an ExtraCare card during each visit. ExtraBucks® Rewards: ExtraBucks® Rewards are like “free CVS money” that can be used on most things at CVS Pharmacy.* Unlike other confusing points-based loyalty programs, ExtraBucks® Rewards were designed to make it easy for cardholders to redeem their rewards by spending them on nearly anything they want throughout the store. I also earn 2% back on nearly all purchases I make throughout the store. 

Are you ready for the mom’s back to school challenge?

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

49 Comments

  • We don’t shop at CVS but it looks like they have a ton of different products! I think it’s really great that they sell things like food so you can get some shopping done while you wait for your prescriptions!

  • These are all great ways to get back into the swing of the school year. And you’re right. A happy mom makes a happy family.

  • We don’t have a CVS here in canada but i hear great things about the store all the time. I’d for sure shop there if we have them here!

  • It is definitely easier for me to make myself a priority when we are on a schedule and the kids are in school. Love these helpful suggestions.

  • All of these are great ways to take care of yourself when the kids are back in school. Preparing healthy food for myself can be hard but it’s worth it.

  • These are super tips! Self care is so important but many of us don’t take the time or effort to do it. We can’t take care of our families if we are burnt out!

  • These are all such great tips. It’s nice to have some time to yourself when the kids are back in school. I enjoy having some quiet time, but I also love having my kids home when they’re not yelling at each other..haha

  • I agree that you need to make sure and take care of yourself, especially when you have littles counting on you. These are great ideas to make sure and carve out some time for yourself.

  • I need to take this challenge! I’ve been so busy for the past month that I haven’t really had a chance to do the things that I love like hiking or reading.

  • I really like shopping CVS and I can save a lot of money when stacking their sales with coupons. Now that school season is here it is busier and I need to start taking some time to myself.

  • I am absolutely LOVING this challenge, especially the reading aspect. I don’t know about you, but just by having a book to read I feel like I am smarter. And much happier. Because I am most definitely a book lover.

  • The ExtraCare Program of CVS is great. I also do everything I can to save money, however, I wish I have time to find and clip coupons. I am happy that I no longer need to do that if I shop at CVS! Thanks for letting me know.

  • These are all great suggestions for easing back into that back to school routine and reducing the stress. I do shop at CVS and love taking advantage of their deals.

  • Oh, how I wish we have CVS here. I don’t like much our supermarkets here because most of them are incomplete.

  • I love shopping at CVS, and love how they offer such a wide range of products. Sometimes it’s easier to go there than my grocery store!

  • These are all such great tips! I love the idea of reading as a way to stay healthy and of course we LIVE AT CVS! We love their line of products

  • Great ways to slide back into the school year! And, we are loyal CVS shoppers – they send me great savings that no other drug stores near us provide.

  • CVS is a great place for all the back to school health necessities. We always stock up right before school starts.

  • It is so important to remember to take care of yourself. I love to soak in a hot bath with a good book to melt away the stress of the day.

  • It can be so stressful getting ready for back to school. I need to get a good multivitamin for myself. Walking is a great way to relieve stress.

  • There’s a CVS on my way home from my son’s school and I feel like I’m there all the time. I love the healthier changes that they’re making in store and that they always have everything that I need. And those ExtraBucks are totally free money – LOVE them!

  • I have a CVS Extra Care Card and love using it! I can’t believe how much I save. Sometimes, I’ll go into CVS to buy one thing and end up with several items because of the savings I find in the store.
    I agree that moms need to reward themselves. I think we are too tough on ourselves sometimes! 🙂
    Great post!

  • Back to school is stressful! It’s important to take care of yourself aside from making sure that the kids have everything that they need! I love your suggestions, it would be nice to read a book and just let my mind relax.

  • I always seem to choose the harder route to get things done during back-to-school. I really should use and appreciate shortcuts when I can

  • I love CVS so much! They are super close to my home and always have everything I need.

  • I like shopping at CVS. We used to have one close by but when we moved we lost that… I still stop in though when I need something and we’re close to one.

  • Wow, these are great for packed snacks! I will check our local supermarket if they have those!

  • What great suggestions!!! It’s smart to always considere your health! When healthy you do the best work

  • We get so busy with back to school stuff it’s easier to forget to take care of ourselves. This is a really great reminder.

  • Its important for us moms to be healthy all year long. Luck for me I have been good in eating foods I need avoiding down times or sickness.

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