Setting alarm clocks, getting
haircuts, and rounding up those school supplies are timely tasks this time of
year with back-to-school approaching.
Beyond packing new backpacks, there are some home-prep steps that can
make the family’s transition into the school year that much smoother.
First, consider starting the
new time routine in the few days before school starts. Going from sleep-‘til-you-wake-up to
up-and-at-‘em in a blink can be tough and can make for some pretty groggy,
slow-going mornings. Set the alarm for
school wake-up time beforehand, enjoy a laidback breakfast together, and start
transitioning into an early morning routine again.
Establish a “Launchpad space”
where you stage school materials the night before so they’re ready to go in the
morning. Home entry areas that can be
outfitted with locker-like cubby spaces, hooks, bins, and space for shoes make
for a real investment in a time saving, organized start to the school day. Use the products and supplies that would best
help you create a spot for tomorrow’s shoes and socks, a filled backpack, any
needed sports’ equipment, and supply bags packed for afterschool
activities. Any prep work that can be
done leisurely the night before will make for a more prepared stroll out the
door the next morning.
As you depart from the free
time free-for-all, get back in the swing of structured schedules with a family
planner. Some prefer planner books with
plenty of options and tabs for keeping track of school events, meetings, games,
and other extracurricular activities.
Others like the big dry erase board method, using different marker
colors and sticky notes for each family member’s notations. Regardless, mounting a bulletin board or other
pretty pin boards to hold notes, invitations, school flyers, and other
paperwork to reference alongside your calendar is a good tool for staying
organized.
Extend your organizational
upkeep to the closets as well. Not only
is this a great time to clean out outgrown clothes as the new school clothes
come in, but staying on top of wardrobe planning each week will help alleviate
early morning meltdowns over not knowing what to wear. To take it a step further, you can search
online to buy closet rod labels marked with days of the week to pick out
outfits days in advance and have all the components hanging together and ready
to wear. This is a perfect tool when you
have practices, games, or special events in your schedule.
When you’re stocking up on school
supplies, take the opportunity to restock your own home supply for your own
projects and the school projects to come this year. Markers, colors, pens, pencils, tape,
cardstock, sticky notes, glue, craft paint, and notebooks can all come in
handy. While you’re at it, taking the
time to organize and properly contain and store your supplies now will ensure
they’re neat and accessible when they’re needed.
“Rise and shine” will have
more merit when you feel you’ve prepared for those bright and shining starts to
the days to come with your new must-haves for back to school.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star August 17th.
