Back to school.  It’s that time again!  Our summer is winding down and I have mixed feelings this year!  Excited to get back into a routine and for new beginnings, but also sad to see summer end.  I’m a little anxious about this school year because I have three kids in three different schools with different start times and end times and breaks.  (Their Spring Breaks are literally one right after the other three weeks in a row!  Such a bummer.)  Add that craziness to our already hectic activity schedule and I have no doubt I’m in for a wild year!  I get tired every time I think about it.  Ha. :)

So I’ve been working hard to get all of our systems in place and on top of things around the house.  I’ve found lots of ways to help keep my sanity in tact during busy seasons of life and I’m sharing them with you today!  I need the reminders myself and I hope that some of these tips help you keep your sanity this school year too.  Moms need to stick together. :)  And if you don’t have kids or your kids are grown I hope you still find a few tips that are helpful for your current season of life!  Organization with or without kids is always a good thing. :)

{SET UP SYSTEMS TO CONTROL THE PAPER}

I know.  We’ve been talking a lot about paper control lately but it’s such a HUGE thing that is essential to keeping your sanity!  We all know how much paper comes in the home on a daily basis and if you don’t have systems set up to handle it, it ends up all over counters cluttering our homes and our minds and making it hard to stay on top of things.  For my personal paperwork I set up these wooden bins in my office.  The top row is for personal paperwork and the bottom row is for work paperwork.  LOVE having a place to keep all of these loose papers I reach for daily.  (More details in this post.)

If you don’t need multiple bins like I have I’d recommend at least having some sort of “inbox” where all of your urgent papers can land.  Things that need your attention soon.  I check this box at least once a day and this helps me make sure that important things don’t get lost in the shuffle!

For random papers my kids need to hang on to I have this hanging file system in my office that I’ve had forever.  If you’re looking for something similar I just found this inexpensive solution that folds up and is perfect for managing papers!  I also love this system and a few more options below.

*affiliate links used

Papers I need to save long term are filed in my drawers.  So happy to have this little project behind me!

(Details in this post if you missed it!)

For random school/art work that my kids are proud of and we want to display I have these cork boards in my pantry.

I love having a place to quickly pin up tests or assignments my kids are proud of.  Or that cute little note they wrote me or the wedding/baby announcement that came in the mail.  I got these cork boards from PB and they’ve now replaced them with this similar option.  I also love this one and it’s on sale right now!  Below are a few other great options if you have room for a pin board in your kitchen, office or hallway.

Art work I’ve been displaying on our shiplap display wall through the summer months.  Then I toss a lot of it!  More on school work/art organization is coming. :)

(You can read all about our shiplap display wall here.)

{CLEAN/ORGANIZE KIDS’ SPACES}

I always feel much more sane during the school year when the spaces are organized that my kids’ are using often.  Landing zones for shoes and backpacks especially need to be organized.  My kids are always so excited to clean out our mudroom every summer. ;)

(Mudroom sources here)

In our previous home with no mudroom or space for shoes/coats/backpacks I used a wall in our garage to keep things organized.  You can see more details on this set up in this oldie but goodie. :)

We also clean out the kids’ closets every summer.  So nice to get rid of clothes that are too small or they aren’t wearing and clean out the clutter!  It’s crazy how quickly things pile up in kids’ closets isn’t it!?  It’s like they can’t help but collect every little insignificant item that comes their way!

(Details on Ad’s closet organization in this post.)

And of course if you have any type of office/craft room/homework room that the kids use for homework it’s so important to have that area cleaned and ready to go!

I’ve been working on my hot mess of an office all summer and am so excited to have cupboards and drawers streamlined!

If you use a kitchen counter or table for homework have a drawer or bin nearby ready with pencils, crayons, etc.  Nothing like sharpened pencils and new crayons is there!?  My favorite. :)

Having a set zone for homework that is clean and ready to go when kids start makes a huge difference!

{CREATE ROUTINES AND SHORTCUTS THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER}

I’m all about creating routines and shortcuts that help things run smoother each day.  Simple things like laying my workout clothes out the night before, pre-packing lunches, etc. are a huge help during busy mornings when I’m tired and my brain isn’t quite awake yet!

Think about your every day routines and how you can simplify them.  Kole’s bedroom is upstairs and every day when we were ready to put on shoes and head out the door I’d have to send him upstairs to grab a pair of socks.  Lightbulb moment two years ago when I finally asked myself why I wasn’t keeping socks downstairs by the shoes!

Our powder bathroom is also downstairs close to our garage.

Soon after we moved into our home I set up this drawer with extra toothbrushes for mornings we are running late.  If the kids haven’t brushed their teeth they can do it quick in the powder bathroom before they run out the door vs. running back upstairs.  Does anyone else lose their kids when they send them upstairs? :)

I didn’t put one for me in this drawer because I get dressed and my teeth brushed early.  If I don’t get myself ready before I get the kids ready it doesn’t happen!

Another helpful time saver for busy mornings is having a set place for snacks/school lunch stuff.

I have two drawers in my pantry that are just for snacks and they make it easy for my kids to grab something quickly to take to school with them.  If you don’t have drawers in your pantry just pick any kitchen drawer!  Or put a “snack” basket on the counter.

Having all of the lunch snacks corralled in one spot that the kids can reach makes lunch packing a breeze!  (You can see pics of my full pantry here.)

Another routine that we started this summer that helped immensely with keeping my kids on track was using our Daily Expectation Charts.

I’m not going to use them for my girls this school year.  Loved them for the summer, but my girls are just too busy with school/activities and they know their room/bathroom needs to stay clean and they help with house chores when they can.  But I will definitely continue using this chart for Kole (my 8 year old) during the school year!  I’ll add homework as one of his daily tasks. These motivate him so much and having set things to get done each day laid out like this keeps him off of the iPad and doing better things with his time!   (You can read more about my expectation charts and how to download your own in this post.)

{SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS}

This is my favorite time of year to set new personal goals and routines.  The start of a new school year is such a fresh start and I always feel motivated to work hard and be productive after having an unstructured summer.  It’s a much easier time for me to set goals in September vs. January when I’m in a post holiday funk and just want to veg in sweats all day. :)

Now that kids are back in school take some time to really think about YOU.  What are your goals and dreams?  What do you want to achieve and work towards?  Maybe you just need more time for self care if you’re a busy mom always meeting the needs of your kids and others.  Making time for yourself can be a goal too!  Whatever it is, write down your goals and decide on small steps to work towards them each day.

Here are a few of my past posts that might help us all get motivated!

Three Time Management Tips to Increase Productivity

Five Tips to Manage Your Time Better (Eat That Frog!)

How To Get Out of a Productivity Slump

I also plan on re-writing a few of my Current Projects pages so I know next steps for the projects I’m working on.  I made some progress this summer I’m excited to share with you all!  (You can read more about this printable and snag your own here!)

And of course my to-do list printables will be on heavy rotation.  I’ll be using my time blocking page the most and scheduling out my day in detail so that I can make the most of the small kid-free time that I have!  Just my drop off/pick up schedule alone needs its own printable.. ha!  Say a prayer for me. ;)  (You can read more about my favorite to-do list pages and print them for yourself here.)  It’s so important as moms that we are taking care of ourselves and working towards something that makes us feel fulfilled and happy.  You owe it to yourself to figure out what that is if you haven’t already!  It makes all the difference for me and truly makes me a better mom/wife/friend/overall person.

{GET ORGANIZATION MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION FROM OTHERS}

Last but not least I think it’s so important to get motivation and inspiration from others!  We can all learn so much from what others are trying and finding success with.  I’m so excited to share a big event that I’m going to be a part of next month!  I’m going to be a featured speaker at Get Organized HQ and you are all invited to join!  Get Organized HQ is a FREE event with 20+ organizing experts to help you streamline your life and home.  The best part is that you can join us without hiring a babysitter, changing out of your yoga pants or even leaving your house!  My kind of event. ;)  Mark your calendars now, Get Organized HQ runs from September 10th – 14th.

{CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE TICKET!}

More than 20 organizing pros from across the country are joining to share their knowledge to help you get organized and run a happy home with less stress and more structure!  I’m really excited about the speakers at this event.  They are all bloggers and YouTubers who have great tips to share in all areas of life, work and home.  At Get Organized HQ the speakers will be covering everything from quick meal planning to healthy eating on budget, home management, creating routines, self-care, photo organization (I’ll be paying close attention to that one!), decluttering, eliminating paper clutter, home decorating, budgeting and finances, cleaning methods, streamlining your wardrobe, and more!  My session is focused on office organization.  Of course it is. ;)  This was my first time doing anything video related.  (Other than IG stories which I’m not that great at.. ha.)  I’m trying to break out of my comfort zone!  I hope you’ll tune in.  :)  

So that’s it!

1. Set up systems to control the paper
2. Clean and organize kids’ spaces
3. Create routines and shortcuts that make life easier
4. Set yourself up for success
5. Get organization motivation and inspiration from others

My best tips for keeping your sanity this school year!  I’d love to hear any other tips/tricks you have in the comments!  Like I said, we can all learn so much from each other.  Here’s to happy school days ahead for all of us!

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