Summer is almost over and it’s time to get back to school! Your days are probably filled with shopping, from school supplies to new clothes. We hope this school year goes off without a hitch and continues to be great all year long. Here are some organizing ideas to help you keep things in order this school year.
Meal Prep: We know meal prepping can be hard while managing multiple schedules in your household but there are ways of prepping without taking too much thought. Yes, being able to create a meal plan for the week will help you save time and money in the grocery store, but it still isn’t for everyone. Try to look at your family’s schedule to figure out how many meals you will need for the week and plan accordingly. You don’t have to get into too much detail but there are some great meal planning tips and tricks on Pinterest.com to help you save time and money while keeping your family happy and full!
Pantry Zones: Think about what you always include in your kids lunch box, maybe it’s a bag of chips and a packet of gummies. Create a “lunch zone” in your pantry where these items are housed so it is easy to grab and pack them as needed. This will make it easy for your kids or spouse to pack their lunches themselves. You can also create a zone for breakfast so your kids can serve themselves in the morning.
Night Prep: You may have time after the kids go to bed, but before you relax, try to get some things out of the way to make the morning run smoothly. Some easy tasks include prepping lunches, getting the coffee machine ready, and making sure the kids backpacks are ready to go. This will allow you to sleep in a few more minutes and start everyone’s day on the right foot.
Lists: Have you ever tried to go to the grocery store without a list? It leads to excess purchases and you are more likely to miss items you need. We recommend keeping a list on the fridge where you can note items as they run out or as you think of them. Ask your family to keep the list up to date as they finish items or want something new. This is also easier than trying to make the list all at once right before you go to the store.
Stations: When the kids get home from school, where does all their stuff land? We like to create cubbies where each child can house their backpacks, shoes, and maybe even display some of their artwork or good grades. The areas don’t have to be large but should be close to a door so they are easy to access when coming in and out of the home. These are also good places to keep calendars for all the activities your children have going on. You can create one master calendar that is color coded per child or have a calendar for each child. It is nice to have a visual calendar that everyone can see but having it on your phone will prompt notifications and reminders that will help keep you on track.
Homework: Just like scheduling after-school activities we recommend scheduling time for homework or studying. This could be while dinner is being prepared or after dinner, but make sure it is noted on the calendar and consistent. Create an area where your kids can do their homework that has all the tools they need in one place, like pencils, calculators and paper.
Get everyone involved: Keeping a busy family on track is not a one-man-job, so get the whole family involved by assigning tasks or chores that each member is responsible for. Set aside time for cleaning, whether it’s a few hours on the weekend or a couple of tasks a day, just keep it consistent and keep each other accountable.
Back to school time can be overwhelming, but implementing some of these easy steps will help the process run smoothly and remain on track all year long.
