Back To School Organization Tips

The start of a new school year is an exciting and crazy time for families. Between shopping for school supplies, organizing schedules, and adjusting to new routines, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Here is the Bay Area, many schools start the year SO EARLY and it hard to get all of the summer stuff put away, let alone be ready for a new year. As a professional organizer, I see the overwhelm a lot, so just know that if you are feeling this way, you are not alone!

Here are a few simple, practical tips to help you get your family ready for the new school year while keeping your sanity intact.

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

Are all of the end of last years’ assignments, art projects & still in piles? Now is as good a time as ever to get through them and declutter. As tough as it might be, I encourage you to think critically about what you keep.  Those worksheets where all they did is circle the right answer might not need to make the cut.  I like to tell my clients, “if everything is important then nothing is important.” What are the special things that represent the year?  Consider making or buying a memory box that keeps the final cuts neat and organized.  I personally like to take photos of the favorites and have a photo book made every year by Shutterfly.  It is so fast and easy and we cherish our book collection so much.

Set Up a Command Center

Do you have a central location for all of those notices and important papers as they come through the door?  I help families with this regularly - it’s not always intuitive where to put it.  I like to keep it simple with a bulletin board near the front door or in the kitchen but wherever it goes, the key is to cull it frequently!  I like to take a quick glance every Monday and clear out the past date invitations and assignments to keep the board from getting too overwhelming and unusable.

Create a System for Incoming Paperwork

All of that paper, especially artwork in the younger grades, can get overwhelming!  Creating a system for where things go as they come into your home is key.  Homework can go straight to their desk or wherever they will do it. Important papers go to the command center.  Keepsakes can go into a memory box or file (but again, be discerning!). Which goes along with…

Encourage Daily Backpack Clean Outs

Establish a routine for your kids to clean out their backpacks at the end of each school day. Use the same system for incoming paperwork as everything else that comes into your home.  As for the rest (some treasures I have found over the years: a worn out tennis ball, a sticky cupcake wrapper & random lego pieces) can be tossed or put away.   The trick is to do it everyday.

Synchronize Your Watches (I Mean Calendars)

As the new school year approaches, it’s a good idea to create a family calendar, be it digital or old fashioned paper. Include important dates such as the first day of school, parent-teacher conferences, extracurricular activities, and any other commitments. Having a shared calendar will keep everyone on the same page and reduce the chances of scheduling conflicts. I find that an old school wall calendar can be helpful for keeping kids in the loop. I like to use stickers or little pictures for non readers and early readers as a cue for special days.

Clean Out the Snack Area of Your Pantry

When was the last time you cleaned out your snack drawer or cabinet?  Back to school is a great time to start fresh.  Clear out any snacks that are expired or crushed to oblivion.  Are there snacks that your kids just don’t like?  Consider putting them in a bag and donating them to a soup kitchen or an after school program.  With young school aged kids, consider moving the snacks to a place they can reach to let them start helping to pack their own lunches.

Prioritize Self-Care

Hey, it’s a crazy time, so don’t forget to take care of yourself!  You can’t prioritize everything.  As someone who juggles multiple businesses and home responsibilities, I get it!  When things get crazy, I try to simplify as much as possible.  I always prioritize sleep above all else, because when I’m tired, everything suffers. If being social is nourishing for you, t’s a good time to get together with friends and laugh about the absurdity of this wild annual tradition. Finding time to sit quietly and stare can do the trick too. I like to vacillate between these two options :) When you take care of yourself, you'll be better equipped to handle the demands of the back-to-school season.

Wishing you a great back to school! As always, I am here for you if you need some outside help getting things on the right track. Good luck my friends :) xo, Melissa