#Grwm: Time To Get Organized for Back-To-School
As summer winds down and the school year looms ahead, it’s time to shift from lazy days to structured routines. Getting organized for back-to-school can set the tone for a successful academic year and reduce stress all around. In Austin, TX most kids go back to school in late August, so our intention with this post is to give you a bite-sized timeline to work through before school starts. Even if the first day of school comes earlier or later, these are some ways to prepare for the change of season.
Now, let’s dive into our easy back-to-school organizing list:
1. Establish Morning and Evening Routines
If you aren’t able to establish a routine for everyone, at least make one for yourself. This item comes first because if it’s a new habit, you want to give it some extra attention before you are in the throes of other chaos that comes with the busyness of back-to-school time.
According to Brianna Wiest’s 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think (which you can listen to on Spotify or check out online or in bookstores), “the point is not what the routine consists of but how steady and safe” you feel by curating a repetitive environment for your brain. If your brain is conditioned to a routine, it’s much easier to build habits and access a flow state while working.
For the purpose of this list, establishing and sticking with a consistent routine will help you be able to get–and stay–organized.
A couple ways to create a routine are:
In the morning, aim for a consistent wake-up time, breakfast, and time to move your body in some kind of physical activity.
At night, wind-down after dinner by preparing for the day ahead by resetting the kitchen, packing lunches, picking out clothing, and then relaxing with a book or non-digital activity.
2. Declutter and Organize the Home
Okay, maybe you will not have a whole bunch of time between summer winding down and the school year ramping up–we get it.
If you can only organize ONE part of your home before school starts back up, make it your entryway.
The entryway is the last thing you see before going out into the world and the first thing that greets you when you return. Make it tidy to give your mind some peace while coming and going about your day.
Invest in a good mudroom system so that shoes, coats, hats, bags all have a home so they have somewhere convenient to “land”.
Use hooks to hang jackets, bags, and hats.
We recommend assigning a basket or bin for each family member where you can store items that they may need when leaving the house.
Have a spot for keys and small things like wallets and sunglasses
Think about investing in an equipment organizer if you have some athletes in the house!
3. Create a Centralized Family Calendar
If you do not already have a centralized calendar, this is step number one.
OFG loves Google Calendar
You can create multiple calendars and sync events
You can also make repeating events easily (think chores and routines)
Color-coding is built in
Easy to move/duplicate/erase events
Best for a portable calendar everyone can use on their own device
Got a lot going on? Use a digital calendar like the one found on our Back-To-School List
Includes all the benefits of Google Calendars, but you can hang it in your house for all to see and access.
Add chores and assign to family members
Create lists for all to access
Feeling classic? Use an analog calendar.
Use different colors to highlight important dates and events
Whichever calendar you choose, make sure you include key dates from the school calendar (like first day, picture day, holidays), daily routine items (like chores and homework schedules), and other extracurriculars and fun activities to look forward to.
4. Plan for Extracurricular Activities
Balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities can be challenging but manageable with proper planning. If you already have an idea of what you and your family’s extracurriculars will look like, even better. Before school starts is a good time to reflect on manageability, so make sure you:
Prioritize helping your child choose activities that they are passionate about and can realistically manage alongside their schoolwork.
Add all activities to the family calendar and ensure there’s enough time for homework, relaxation, and family time.
Keep sports equipment, musical instruments, and other gear organized and easily accessible.
5. Organize School Supplies
Having school supplies organized and ready can save a lot of time and frustration.
Check your inventory first–what supplies do you already have and can put towards this year’s grand school supply haul?
Make sure each kid has the supplies they need for school ready-to-go in their backpack for that first day. If you need to look for new school organizers, we’ve picked out some cute ones on our list here.
If you haven’t already, create a station in your home where you and your kids can access other supplies for homework and projects… or just for fun!
Label items with your child’s name to prevent them from getting lost or mixed up with others’. You can customize the ones we’ve included on our back-to-school list here.
6. Implement a Back-to-School Shopping Strategy
Shopping for back-to-school items can be overwhelming, but a strategy can make it more manageable.
Create a comprehensive list of everything your child needs, from school supplies to clothing.
Set a budget and prioritize essential items first.
Take advantage of back-to-school sales and deals to save money
Another great way to save money for back-to-school shopping is to shop at your local creative thrift store first. Here in Austin, that’s Austin Creative Reuse.
These stores often have everything you need for a fraction of the price. Plus, shopping for existing materials is an environmentally-friendly option as a consumer.
7. Create a Homework System
A consistent homework system can help your kids stay on top of their assignments and develop good study habits.
Set a specific time each day for homework to build a routine.
Use a homework checklist or planner to keep track of assignments and due dates.
Encourage short breaks between tasks to help maintain focus and prevent burnout.
If you have methods of making an environment work-friendly for yourself, see if it helps your children focus, too.
8. Meal Planning and Prep
We know, meal-planning is often the straw that breaks the camel’s back when it comes to daily life. But, if you give it a little attention, meal-planning can help prevent stress and indecision at inconvenient times. Here are some tips:
Pick a good time to sit down to make your shopping list. Try making your list in the kitchen so you can check your food inventory.
Keep it simple and buy repeat items for school lunches and snacks. (I doesn’t have to be the same every day, but a few types of meals keep everyone fed while about their day).
Invest in compartmentalized lunch boxes to keep food fresh and organized.
Don’t worry, that’s our last item! Even if you do only one or a couple of these checklist items, you’re doing great, friend.
Getting organized for back to school requires thoughtful planning and preparation, but the benefits are well worth the effort.
By establishing routines, organizing your home, and preparing emotionally, you can create a smooth and stress-free transition into the new school year. We hope these tips will help you transition into the school year with ease, and also hope that our shopping recommendations come in handy to any and all looking to cut out extra decisions from their hectic schedules.
Looking for extra help to jump start your family’s back-to-school transition? We are here for the playrooms, the kid’s rooms, the entryways, and all the kitchens that want extra hands on deck to make a fresh beginning. Check out our services page or book an appointment today.
Wiest, Brianna. 2017. 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think. N.p.: Thought Catalog Books.
