Heading into fall and preparing for the back-to-school grind can be a stressful time for both parents and children. A new school year means new schedules and activities, or maybe even your kids starting at a new school altogether. Adapting to all these changes can be overwhelming for the entire family, which is why planning ahead is key. Taking steps to remove any unnecessary stress, will ensure a smooth transition as you head into the upcoming year.
Get ahead of the game with these helpful tips!
Start your back-to-school shopping early. Purchase any new clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunch kits, or school supplies that are needed, in advance. This will prevent the stress of having to do any last minute shopping, and will also allow you to search for the best deals.
Set up a “Family Command Center.” This is a designated area in your home that functions as a place to keep your whole family organized. It can include everything from calendars to class schedules, to-do lists, important paperwork, and a drop zone for your keys and mail. Having all family members on the same page is an essential factor when it comes to maintaining a well- functioning household.
Designate specific areas in your home for kids items. Create permanent spaces in your home for items such as backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles, and encourage your kids to put them back in the same place each time (writing these reminders down on a whiteboard near the front entrance can be helpful as well!). If you have the space, setting up a “kids only” section in your kitchen is also a great idea, to keep lunch bags, water bottles, Tupperware, snacks, and anything else of that nature in one general area.
Keep your home office/kids desks clutter-free and organized. It’s no secret that clutter can be incredibly distracting, which, in turn, can lead to low productivity levels. Keeping your work stations as organized as possible, can help to increase motivation and improve focus.
Try these ideas below to stay on track!
File any incoming paperwork as soon as possible into filing cabinets or desktop letter trays (use labels to create sections such as “urgent,” “bills to pay,” “to be filed,” etc.) This is a quick and easy way to keep paperwork organized, to avoid it from piling up, and from getting misplaced.
Create fun and inviting homework stations for your kids. A great way to get them excited to utilize these spaces more, is to allow them to personalize their desks with their favorite items and colors. For example, let them pick out their favorite color for their desk chair, or go shopping for some fun stationery together! Remind your children daily to keep their spaces tidy!
Shred paperwork as you go if time permits, or create a “to be shredded” box and tackle it once it is full. Rolling carts also work great for separating paperwork into different categories (you can label each section as “shred,” “recycle,” “to be filed”, etc).
Add drawer dividers into desk drawers, to keep smaller items contained. Tidying up is so much quicker when items have specific spots to go back to, and it also creates a more calming feel.
Set aside five to ten minutes at the end of the day to do a quick tidy of your work area so you can wake up to a calm and clutter-free space!
Some final reminders
Maintaining an organized home takes time and effort, so daily upkeep is required. Before getting organized, decluttering is a must. Get rid of items you no longer need so you have clear spaces to work at and less to tidy up each day. Use visual reminders, such as writing down important notes on calendars, post-its, your phone, or even whiteboards. Using labels around your home (on bins, file folders, etc.) can also help to quickly identify where things are. Get in the habit of tackling things as you go so they don't pile up, such as putting items back where they belong as soon as you get home or immediately after using them. If you start to fall behind or when things start to feel overwhelming, break tasks down into more manageable steps and make sure to reach out for help!
Be sure to save these tips so you can embrace fall feeling prepared and relaxed!
Lisa is a mom of two and a Trained Professional Organizer. She is the owner of Light at The End of The Clutter Professional Organizing Services. For more information, visit her Instagram page at - Light at The End of The Clutter or her website, lightattheendoftheclutter.com.
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