Over the years, I’ve collected a handful of small-but-mighty tools to either maintain momentum or shift the energy when things start to wobble. They’re not polished. They’re not perfect. But they work — for me, and for my family.

Here are five playful ways I reset or boost energy throughout the day:

1. I use made-up characters to guide the kids through tasks

Yes, I do the voices. Yes, it looks a bit mad. But honestly? It works.

Steve (from East London) helps with maths. Miss Maple takes over when it’s time to read. Tree — who, unsurprisingly, is a tree — can’t stand mess and somehow gets the kids to tidy faster than I ever could.

Creating imaginary characters adds a spark of novelty and makes the mundane more magical. It lightens the mood and often turns resistance into laughter.

2. I use drinks as mini rituals

Sometimes it’s a hot coffee. Sometimes it’s iced. Sometimes I just refill my water with a splash of lemon.

It’s less about the drink and more about what it signals: a small pause, a tiny anchor, a micro moment to reset. I often use drinks to bookend a transition — before starting a new task, after schoolwork, or when I switch into work mode.

3. We have personalised handshakes

Each of my kids and I have our own special handshake — and we pull them out in moments of motivation or celebration.

They’re silly. They’re fun. And they’re also a tiny tool for connection. Whether someone’s having a tough moment or just smashed a bit of work they’ve been stuck on, the handshake gives us a second of shared joy and encouragement.

(Also: my middle child and I once tried to record ours, and ended up crying with laughter. Worth it.)

4. I use what I call “Transition Trios”

This is a core part of my own rhythm system. A Transition Trio is a three-part routine I use to help myself move from one kind of energy to another. From mum mode to work mode. From teaching to resting. From overwhelmed to gently on track.

Each trio is personal — it might be:

☕ A coffee

🎵 A song I love

🧹 A quick tidy of one corner

These trios help me reset — and they help the kids too. If you want help creating your own, I’ve got a free Transition Trios toolkit here.

5. Doodles from the focus box

Doodling isn’t just for kids. It’s one of my go-to tools when I need to refocus myself or shift the mood.

We keep a box of focus tools handy, and little doodle prompts are one of them. They work beautifully as part of a Transition Trio — or just on their own when the energy is a bit frayed. Sometimes I join in with the kids. Sometimes I do it solo, with a drink in hand.

It’s a quick, no-pressure way to land back in the moment.

Download my most random Doodle Prompts freebie here.

Final thoughts

None of these ideas are revolutionary. But they are real, and they help us stay steady, connected, and a little more joyful in the middle of full, messy days.

If you’re a parent juggling home education, caregiving, or working from home with kids, having these tiny tools in your back pocket can make a real difference. The key is not to wait for things to fall apart – but to gently steer the energy before it nosedives.

And if you want help with that? Start with a Transition Trio. I made a whole toolkit to help, you can get your Transition Trio toolkit here!