Get Organized for Back to School! September 04 2015

Summer is coming to an end as Labor Day approaches this Monday.  For many of you this also means back to school time!  While my son isn’t old enough for school, this is the time of the year that I tend to get more organized for the season ahead.  Fall typically means more social commitments since everyone has returned from their summer travels and before we know it the holiday season will be upon us. Here are a few ideas I can share on how I try to keep my life more organized.  Being organized helps me relax and hopefully it can do the same for you.

  1. Plan ahead – On Sunday evening I always look at the week ahead to see what our commitments are, who will be home for dinner on what nights and just see what important plans we have coming up. I do my menu planning almost a week in advance so I’m not frantic at the last minute and am able to feed my family something delicious and hopefully nutritious. I do everything I am able to do the night before, so there are not too many last minute items that need to be handled in the morning. I think this comes from working in a restaurant.  There were so many variables that you never knew what you were going to walk in to the next day.  By planning ahead and preparing as much as possible the night before, the next day typically went a lot smoother.
  2. Write Lists – I typically forget everything but if I write it down, I will eventually remember it. I write lists for everything from what I am going to do on a certain day to what I’m going to buy at the grocery.  I keep an ongoing list for the grocery so when I run out of an item, I’ll write it down straight away.  Try making lists (even just typing up a note on your smartphone) and see if it helps you through the day.
  3. Delegate - Sure you can try to do everything, but then you might go crazy. With a little organization you can delegate some of your projects to others around the house. Having someone else do something as small as taking out the trash will save you some time and energy.
  4. Keep a Calendar – I create a special calendar each year for my family full of pictures and IMPORTANT dates like birthdays and anniversaries. I have this hanging on the wall so I won’t forget any of those important dates.  I also write down any travel plans we have and any expected visitors.  I use the calendar on my iPhone to keep track of doctor’s appointments, classes and other meetings.  Set a reminder a few hours or days ahead if you think you’re likely to forget something.

 I hope by being organized you will be able to enjoy more time with your family and friends. 

Have a great Labor Day weekend.  Enjoy the sunshine, barbecues and pool parties. 

Happy Friday,

Julie