By Brooke Heinz, Speech-Language Pathologist | Expert Snooze Button Hitter
Every August, I feel a mix of excitement and overwhelm. I’m thrilled to see my returning students and meet new ones. I’m also completely floored by my massive caseload and the endless to-dos—evaluations, IEPs, parent emails, data collection, lunch (maybe?), and the list goes on.
If you’re a fellow SLP (or a mom, or both), you get it.
Over the years—through grad school, babies, and burnout—I’ve picked up a few strategies to help me survive the chaos. Here are the ones that keep me grounded when everything is competing for my time and energy:
Strategy #1: Write It Down
This one’s simple but essential. When my brain starts spinning with all the things I have to do, I dump everything onto paper. Phone calls, reports, grocery lists, “text husband” reminders—it all gets written down.
I start with sticky notes, then transfer it all to my favorite planner once I’ve had a moment to regroup. Having it on paper frees up brain space and helps me actually start.
Strategy #2: Prioritize What Matters
When everything feels urgent, it’s hard to know where to begin. I’ve used a few methods to help me focus:
- The Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent vs. Important quadrants)
- Color-Coding Tasks (a gem from grad school):
- 🔴 Urgent: therapy sessions, due reports, IEP meetings
- 🟡 Flexible but important: meal prep, session planning
- 🟢 Optional or restorative: exercise, naps, research rabbit holes
Use whatever system works, but have a system. It reduces overwhelm and helps you feel more in control.
Strategy #3: Be Kind to Yourself
Not everything will get done today—and that’s okay.
Say it again: That’s okay.
Take a deep breath. Prioritize what’s essential, and give yourself grace for the rest. The world won’t fall apart if your laundry waits one more day (ask me how I know).
Strategy #4: Sleep, Shower, Eat, Move
The basics matter more than we think. When you’re running on caffeine and chaos, taking care of your body isn’t optional—it’s essential.
- Sleep when you can
- Take the 5-minute shower
- Keep snacks in your bag
- Do five jumping jacks between sessions if that’s all you’ve got
Strategy #5: Meal Plan (Loosely)
Decision fatigue hits hardest at 5 p.m. when you’ve got kids melting down and no idea what’s for dinner.
I used to be a pro at batch-cooking meals for the week. Now, I aim for a rough plan:
- Pick 3–4 dinners
- Double freezer-friendly recipes
- Freeze half for a night I forget to meal plan (which is often)
It saves time, money, and so much mental energy.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to do it all. You just need a few tools that help you do enough—with your sanity intact.
Whether you’re in the trenches of back-to-school chaos or just trying to survive another Tuesday, I hope these strategies help you breathe a little easier.
We’re all in this together.
Speechy Life 
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