Back to school can be a stressful time of year. Families must change from the laid-back summer schedule to the non-stop school and activity calendars that keep you jumping from one activity to the next without a moment’s rest.

Here are some tips:

Plan Ahead - The only way you can command your time is to consciously map it. When you monitor your family schedule, you can then plan how and when to accomplish important back-to-school tasks, such as replacing clothes, purchasing school supplies, and attending back-to-school night. Stock your kids’ homework stations with pencil and paper basics while purchasing classroom items.

Plan for Paper - Before you start stacking all those important school papers in a long forgotten corner of your kitchen, or on top of last month’s bills, put your paper trail in place beginning with in/out boxes for each family member. Show everyone where to place their papers and then sort them daily with your planner at hand to note important deadlines and tasks.

Plan to Purge - We all do better with a clean, organized environment. If you haven’t yet gone through everyone’s closets, dressers, and bedrooms while evaluating wardrobes for school, do it as soon as you have your routine in motion. Make room for the year ahead by rounding up all outgrown items, discarding everything that can’t be repaired, both in the toy and clothing departments. For items in good condition, arrange for a charitable donation or enlist your kids’ help and plan a yard sale in late September.

School starts September 4th for my boys here in Michigan.
I’m working on our family schedule for the Fall.
I’ve got the paper plan down.
I need to dump out my boys dressers and see what fits.

Guess I better get to work……Ah, but it is a beautiful sunny day.
Back to school stuff can wait one more day.

Are you ready for the school year?