7 Tips for Back-to-School Organization
It’s time for the youngest members of the household to head back to school and for routines to resume. Minimize chaos and keep your entire family prepared and on track with a few of these tips for organization.
1. Write It Down
You remember the old saying, “If you write it down, you’re sure to remember.” Start your organization campaign by jotting down key dates (birthdays, events, recurring lessons, etc.) in a planner. Next, tackle lists for shopping, traveling, contacting, and more. We love these cute Productive Notepads that help you to keep track of everything in one place.
2. Prep Your Meals
If you haven’t tried meal prep, prepare to fall in love. The idea is that you spend a couple of hours cooking meats, chopping veggies, and putting together dishes that you can then grab from the fridge and take with you or serve. Head to the grocery with a comprehensive list for the week, then come back to the kitchen, turn on your favorite podcast, and put together your meals for the week. Wondering what to cook? Search the web for meal-prep recipe ideas.
3. Create a Drop Zone
No matter the style of your house, every home needs a drop zone—a place for backpacks, purses, keys, and shoes. Dedicate an area that is convenient to your main entry for this purpose and build cubbies or use a piece of furniture and baskets that offer a space for everyone’s items to land when they walk in the door. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to run through the house looking for a lost shoe or a misplaced book bag.
4. Each Man (Woman and Child) for Himself
If your mother said it once, she said it a thousand times, “Clean up after yourself.” Follow the same mantra in your own house by having each person do just that. Have the family start at the front door with a basket and do a walk-through, picking up the items that belong to each person or in certain rooms, and then putting these items back in their place.
5. Get a Go Bag
This is a great tip for any time of year and any place you’re headed. Make a bag (we like this option) of necessities and keep it packed and ready to go by the door. For example, if you have school-age children and toddlers, you might keep wipes, a few activities, a nonperishable snack, and a change of clothes in your bag. You can be ready to go to the zoo or a friend’s house at a moment’s notice, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve got just what you need.
Bonus: Create a bag of small essentials (hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, gum, etc.) in this perfectly penned pouch.
6. Make Sunday Your Fun Day
Dedicate an hour on Sundays to a few of these tasks and you’ll be set for the week. For example, make your lists, update the calendar, choose clothes, do your meal prep, or spend a few minutes asking the members of your household to pick up their belongings.
7. Pick Clothes in Advance
Whether you choose them all on Sunday (see tip 6) or you spend two minutes each night laying out something for the next day, this will save you time and eliminate the stress of selecting an outfit when you are crunched for time in the morning. Don’t forget the accessories!