Back to school activities, back to school shopping, back to school goals…. August and September can bring so many overwhelming feelings that it is easy to get overwhelmed.

Of course there are also plenty of simple ways to focus on the new year.  Things that can help both you and your family get energized, organized, and on track for a successful 2012/2013 year.

Turn off the TV   Television time is ok but it should be designated. It is too easy to get sucked in and waste hours in front of the tube.

Schedules   Calendars, organizers and schedules are your friend!

Storage   Buy boxes and baskets to help. Compartmentalizing is great for organization and decluttering!  They are also the perfect way to help each child know where to put items specific to them like homework assignments, permission slips and after-school activity information.  Kids are used to putting things into labeled bins at school – why not let them help you keep organized at home too!

Cleaning    A place for everything and everything in its place. Don’t let the cleaning work pile up; try and disperse chores through the week so that you aren’t overwhelmed.

Preparation    Start preparing anything and everything that you can ahead of time.  Some examples?  Prep your outfit for work before you go to bed, prep dinner meals on the weekend, pack the kids’ lunches the night before and keep them in the fridge. This way everything is ready when you need it to be and you can start the day feeling prepared rather discombobulated.

To Do Lists   To gain perspective on what needs to be done now and what can be held off – lists are always a great tool.  However, sticky notes scattered across the walls of your home are not the best method for list making. Make one list at the start of your day and use it as you get things done throughout the day. The HATCHEDit sharable To-Do List is the perfect place to track these tasks.

Sleep    You may not realize it but getting adequate rest and having a regular sleep schedule will help you get more organized. Both kids and parents should have a bedtime.

Communication    Coordinating is never going to work without communication. Talking it out is also important in any busy family.

Stop Buying Things    Seriously! Consider what you actually need versus what you want. Not only will you be saving money, but you will also have less to clean up.

Reward Yourselves   Give credit where credit is due! If the kids are doing their chores and helping, don’t forget to reinforce their good behavior with compliments and rewards like going out for ice cream or renting a movie. And if the parents have had a great week, treat yourselves to a night out.

Don’t over stress the start of the school year as much as you should concentrate on just being a happy family. If you support and love one another then being ready and organized will naturally follow, especially if you are following these tips!

Remember that HATCHEDit offers many digital resources for getting organized and communicating with your family and friends, and best of all – membership is FREE!

Back-to-school signals that time of year where the hectic days of shuttling kids to and from camp, swim practice and play dates morphs into shuttling kids to and from school, soccer practice and play dates.  So in the midst of this chaotic transportation schedule how do you keep your sanity and stay on top of managing an active household?

It’s as easy as 1-2-3.  No really, if I can do it ANYONE can.  You just need to remember to leverage those small bits of time in-between all we do for our kids.  Here is how to utilize that 10, 30 or 60 minutes you may find yourself alone and free to do whatever you wish.

10 Minutes – Now What?

• Make a Grocery List
• Wrap/Bag Recyclables
• Clean Out Your Handbag/Wallet
• Flip through 1 Magazine and pull out articles to read later (Recycle Magazine)
• Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.  (It may just brighten both of your days)

30 Minutes – I’m Free Too….

• Organize your makeup drawer/shelf/bin & dispose of old cosmetics (believe it or not they can actually harbor bacteria!)
• Quick review and deletion of old emails, file others in appropriate folders
• Clean out the refrigerator and/or freezer
• Sort through toys in one room
• Write 2 letters to people you care about & address the envelopes so you are sure to send. (Because who doesn’t love getting mail that isn’t a bill!)

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60 Minutes – All To Myself!

• Sort through clothing closet and pull out items to repair, clean or donate
• Back up computer files
• Pick one home closet to straighten (pantry, linen, back hall, etc.)
• Clean out that pesky junk drawer
• Actually READ the articles you pulled out when you had 10 minutes to yourself
• TAKE A NAP!

Now someone go set the timer and wake me up when the bell goes off!  I have 60 minutes to spare and I plan on using every one of them!