Why everyone secretly loves back to school time

Skyler Womack
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read

Let’s just be honest. This past summer was amazing, but it got a little crazy and overwhelming at times. We traveled, took on that part-time job, slept in, finally went on that family vacation we always talked about and then we had that one week where the kids were gone at camp was just enough time for us to realize that a social life still exists for us — a glimmer of hope.

All of a sudden we look down at our watches… oh wow, look at the time, it is August already? We could have sworn it was June only a day ago. Now school starts in two weeks and we are wondering if there is anything we are forgetting. We rush over to look over our syllabi, class schedule, and plan around our Tuesday and Thursday evenings, because for some reason we committed to that new obligation. After we have done some last second scrambling to adjust to our lack of preparation, we finally feel confident going into the new school year.

Rhythms.

I have a theory why everyone secretly loves back to school time — it is because school gets us back into our rhythms. Have we ever been self aware to notice that in the transition back to school, there is something extremely restful about sitting down with our calendar and arranging the structure of our new weekly schedule? Planning out our week gives us a clear perspective on what to expect. This gives our heart, mind and soul a “heads up,” if you will.

We were intended to be creatures of habit.

Even in the Levitical law, God created healthy rhythms for his own people. For example, every seven years God created the Year of Jubilee. Without getting into all the details, this year was a time of resetting for the nation of Israel. Slaves and prisoners were freed, debts were forgiven, and no work in the fields was done as everyone took a deep breath to prepare for the next seven-year cycle (Leviticus 25:8–13).

On a smaller scale what God put in place for Israel was a weekly rhythm called Sabbath. This was not just a rhythm, but an actual commandment and breaking this commandment was punishable by death. Woah. God’s heart behind the weekly day of Sabbath was not to create an inconvenient day that kills productivity, but rather to set healthy rhythms for his people to maintain a lifestyle of abundant living. The Sabbath is about enjoying the fruits of your labor, being fully satisfied in God, and stepping into the gift of rest.

So what does the Levitical law of Sabbath have to do with the transition back to school? Similar to Israelites, we need rhythmic structure to enable us to walk in everything God has for us. As amazing the past couple of sunny months have been, the summer time always tends to destroy our rhythms that hold the healthy structure for our lives. Rachel Madden explains this transitional need well in her piece Bedroom to Dorm Room as she steps into her freshman year of college:

Ultimately, whatever rhythms we choose to prioritize, they will shape the people we are and who we become. — Rachel Madden.


Three key rhythms to include as you start your fall semester.

  1. Rhythms around your Goals. This one goes without saying — if you want to achieve something, you have to prioritize. It is worth sitting down and thinking through the process of what it is going take to get there. For example, I have made it a personal goal to build a healthy foundation in the first year of my marriage. Therefore, I choose to prioritize my schedule around date nights, “Womack team meetings,” and coming home at a reasonable time — no matter how important the meeting is.
  2. Rhythms around your Rest. Many people neglect this one first. Mostly, because it is very inconvenient. However, I highly encourage you to set apart one day a week where you do not do any work, run any errands, and instead rest, enjoy, and create. Sabbath will change your life.
  3. Rhythms around your People. Lastly, I would challenge you to pick one key person in your life with whom you want to develop a deep relationship with — then be intentional and meet with them at least once a week. This could be a mentor, mentee, spouse, friend, or family member. The best relationships in our lives don’t happen by accident — they are built with intentionality.

Wanna connect?

If there is any thing you resonated with while you were reading this piece or you want to process out loud of what it looks like to create a rhythmic upcoming fall — I would love to talk! You can connect with me here.

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Skyler Womack

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📍 Downtown, Houston. 🌍 Works with Missionaries. ⛪️ Mission’s with Houston’s First.

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