Back to School: Getting Your Home Organized for the Season
As the summer comes to an end, it's time to start thinking about getting your home organized for the upcoming school year. Heading back to school can be a stressful time, but with a little organization, you can make the transition back to school a smooth one. Taking the time to get your home organized for the school year can help your child start off on the right foot and reduce unnecessary headaches.
Let’s Go Back to School Better
Here are some recommendations to help you have the best school year. Do these in no particular order.
Declutter and organize
Having a tidy space not only helps you feel less stressed but can also improve your productivity and creativity. With the school year starting soon, it's a great opportunity to declutter your home and create a focused environment for studying and learning. Start with one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Next, create three piles: donate, throw away, and keep. Be honest with yourself about what you really need and use. Use storage solutions like bins and shelves to keep items organized. Lastly, consider donating items to local charities or thrift stores to give them a new life
Create a designated homework area
Having a designated study area can help you or your child stay focused and productive. Choose a quiet area with good lighting and make sure it's stocked with all the necessary supplies such as pens, paper, and textbooks. Use a comfortable chair and desk or a large bean bag with a lap desk to make sure your child is physically comfortable while they do homework. You can even hang up a motivational poster, quotes, or fun artwork to create a positive environment.
Prepare a homework station
Setting up a designated homework station can be incredibly helpful for students of all ages.
Create a homework station to keep school supplies in a designated spot making the transition to homework time more manageable. Make sure your child has everything they need to complete homework assignments, such as pencils, paper, and a calculator. A three-tier utility cart is an excellent place to start if you don't already have the storage space for extra school supplies. Plus, it's mobile and the contents are on display so everyone knows where what is. Remember to keep this station close to your designated home area. If it gets moved for any reason, put it back.
Set up a system for paperwork
With school comes paperwork, and lots of it. Create a system for organizing important papers, such as a file box or binder, to keep everything in one place. Apart from using a file box or a binder, here are some other ways to keep your paperwork organized. Designate a paper tray for papers that need to be signed by a parent. Don’t forget to check it daily. Use color-coded folders to visually categorize documents by subject or urgency. Be sure to label each folder or binder section clearly to quickly find what you need. It's also not a bad idea to consider using clear document sleeves to protect important papers from wear and tear like a class schedule, for example.
Set up a calendar
Reduce stress by having a visual representation of upcoming tasks and events during the school year. Setting up a physical calendar can help you keep track of important dates such as exam dates, project deadlines, and extracurricular activities. Create a list of events that need to be added to this calendar. Use your child’s school calendar to make sure you don’t miss anything. Consider using color coding or different symbols to differentiate between different types of events. You may also want to consider creating a digital calendar that can be easily shared with your child’s friends, parents, and teachers.
Get into a routine
Establishing a routine can help you or your child adjust to the school year. Set a regular wake-up time and bedtime, plan out meals and snacks, and set aside time for exercise and relaxation. Model healthy habits yourself, and encourage your child to do the same.
Take Advantage of The Evening: Math has never been my strong suit but trust me when I say that 5 minutes spent in the evening saves you 15 in the morning. Promise. Make the lunches, put the backpacks by the back door, and lay out the clothes the night before. While you're at it figuring out how to set the alarm on the coffee maker, you will wake up just like the Folgers ad with the smell of coffee brewing, but it will be better because the coffee won't be Folgers.
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Ashley Ingraham is a very organized Mom of a daughter in Baltimore, Maryland. Always creative she was a double major of Studio Art and Education at Furman University and spent the beginning of her career as a teacher in Baltimore City. After staying home with her daughter she founded Home Perspective to share her Organization skills and life experience to make others homes and lives better. Her business has been featured in Baltimore Magazine, Oprah & Entrepreneur. When not busy helping people organize their lives she can be found at concerts all over the country or busy raising her tween daughter.