It’s not just school that starts when school starts. It’s a more hectic pace, it’s homework, projects, and fall sports. Nights get crazy. Weekends get nuts. Whether your child is stepping into kindergarten or gearing up for high school’s final year, back-to-school time brings a flurry of preparations and anticipation. For K-12 (an us parents), this annual transition marks not only a shift in daily routines but also an opportunity for growth, learning and new experiences.
An organized and decluttered home will help you ease back into school routines, keep evenings more calm and mornings less chaotic. Don’t get me wrong plenty of issues will arise, but at least you’ll be able to handle most things without much fuss.
Here are Mindfully Minimized top tips to help you and your family start this school year off smooth.
ESTABLISH ROUTINES
Family Meetings: Schedules get crazy and people are running in multiple directions. Having a time to connect as a family is important- even if it is a 15 minute weekly check in to review the plans for the week (i.e. who is picking up who from practices) and to get feedback on what is working well and where there are frustrations. Yes, kidos can help develop solutions for systems that are not working smoothly.
Pick a date/time for your reoccurring family meetings that would allow all members to be present. Go through the weeks schedule together and talk through our successes, struggles, and solutions. You don't need tons of time (30 minutes can do) make them short and fun. This way people look forward to them rather than dread them. Yes, everyone's family meetings will look a bit different and that is great. Just remember the purpose of a family meeting is to foster open communication among family members. It is a safe place where everyone is free to say what they think and feel as they cooperate to make decisions and solve problems.
Morning/Afternoon Checklist: Before and after school are typically the most stressful times for parents, and you can get some help from your kids by giving them more responsibility in the mornings and evenings. No matter how young your children, they can help to create a morning/afternoon checklist with tasks your child checks off. Yes, this even includes getting their stuff ready for their after school activities. Kids are usually so willing to help and proud of what they can do if we just give them the chance.
PLAN YOUR MEALS
I am guilty of running on empty with my meal planning and need to get back to this routine myself! By simply making a list with weekly meals in mind, you can save money, time and eat healthier food. If you buy no more than what you expect to use, you will be more likely to keep it fresh and use it all. I personally find meal planning super helpful for 3 key reasons.
First, it helps make my week run smoother. We all have a million different things we are thinking about all week. If you spend some time planning ahead, the thought process is much easier - here is a template to help.
Second it helps me when I grocery shop. I know exactly what I need and I have a plan to buy the things I need (aka no random things sneaking into my cart), okay sometimes these still do but you get what I am saying.
Lastly, less food waste. When I plan what to eat and what to buy, I have a specific plan for all of the food in our fridge. And, at the end of the day, less food waste means more money in your pocket and less stuff in landfills or combustion facilities.
RESET YOUR SPACE
Back to school time is just around the corner. If you’ve taking the summer off from cleaning and organizing (as much as a parent can) like me, some spots in your home may be getting cluttered and messy. Finding essential items before you need them makes everyday tasks run more smoothly.
