Organize school year now

Summer is over. All too quickly, your world is busy, your calendar is full, and, unlike a few short weeks ago, there never seems to be enough time to get everything done. It’s once again time to re-sharpen your organizing skills, remembering how to keep your life, and the lives of those around you, in order, while staying sane in the process.

Alicia on ‘Establishing Routines’

For both children and adults, the start of the school year is the beginning of a routine that will last for the next eight months. Mark the first weeks of school with the first weeks of a new family calendar, where every member writes their new routines, and everyone is assigned tasks that they will be in charge of over the school year. The earlier patterns can be established, the easier it is to form organizational habits for the entire family.

Sarah on ‘Don’t Pay Attention to the Joneses’

As school begins, you see other families similar to yours, and you want to feel like you’ve got your life in perfect order. By acknowledging that you can’t possibly take on everything, and that you can’t be perfect, you’re that much closer to finding the “perfect” level of organization, and the Joneses will be trying to keep up with you.

Try taking on some of these helpful organizing tasks.

1: The Clothing Swap

While you’re putting away all those swimsuits, shorts, and Hawaiian shirts, and pulling out the sweaters, chords, and jackets, take time to organize.

Before storing your summer clothes, figure out what you didn’t wear this summer, and put those items in the “Donate” pile. Then, as you’re pulling out your fall/winter clothes, organize them with the lighter, fall clothes in the front. It will stop the endless digging for the right sweater, and eliminate the pile of clothes that’s usually the result.

2: School Habits Start Early

Want to cut back on the number of times you have to ask, “Have you done your homework?” By establishing a tight schoolwork routine when the school year has just begun, you can make sure that everyone knows what’s expected every day after school. Try creating a “Homework time” and a “Homework zone,” where you can be available for questions.

3: Yes, Halloween Again

We can’t believe it either, but planning ahead for Halloween will save you so many headaches down the line. By figuring out ahead of time what kids may want to dress up as for Halloween, you can make sure they get to be exactly what they want to be, and you’re not stuck sending them out the door on the big night with a makeshift sheet over their head.