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It's now September, and everyone is back in school. Here are a few tips to help make the transition from summer fun to fall books and lunches a bit smoother.

 

1. Clean up the summer mess. Now that Labor Day is over, are you still using beach towels, sand toys, and sunscreen? If not, put those away for the year to make room for the school and colder-weather items. If you're still using them a bit longer, try to keep them corralled in a bin so they're easy to see, maintain, and put away once the season officially changes.

 

2. Set up your entry for success. Do you have a designated spot for papers as they come in? What about lunchboxes and backpacks? The floor is not a good answer. Put hooks up where the kids normally drop them, and that should help corral the mess and keep it off the floor.

 

3. For papers, set up a folder or a basket, depending on how your home is set up, and let everyone know that all important school flyers, permission slips, and the like go there; otherwise, they won't get processed.

 

4. Shoes - People spend precious time in the mornings hunting for shoes on their way out the door. Set your family up for success this Fall with a shoe system that works for you and your family. If you're a macro organizer who likes big categories, put a large shoe bin or basket near the door, and everyone can toss/kick their shoes into one bin. If you're more micro, get a shoe rack with a dedicated space for each person to line up their shoes. The key here is to find something that works for your family and doesn't require extra effort.

 

5. In the kitchen, try to dedicate part of a pantry shelf or part of a cupboard for lunchbox supplies and water bottles. That way, everything is in one area and easy to grab when it's time to pack lunches. When you do dishes, make sure the items are returned to this area so you can rinse and repeat.

 

You can do this! I believe in you and will be back soon with more tips to help take control of the chaos in your home.