By now, we are probably all in the thick of school, packing lunches, sports…all the things. Let’s talk about staying organized in the midst of all this. I’ve gone through many back-to-school seasons when my schedule got a little overwhelming, and I was all over the place. For the last few years, I have aimed to be more intentional about doing what I can to maintain some balance. I identify the main stressors and tackle them in ways that are not overwhelming. Here are some things that have helped me over the last few years.
- Carve out an hour to brain-dump the week on the weekends. Write down everything happening and all the things you need. You can even include the housework that needs to be done, your dinner schedule, or store runs that need to be made.
- Plan meals or packed lunches. Sometimes just figuring out what to cook or pack for lunch takes too much time. Having a general idea or specific options helps alleviate that occasionally stressful task. You could even pack your lunches the night before.
- Break your housework down into smaller tasks. I used to try to clean all the things in one day, and it’s not always realistic. Now I give myself a few daily tasks to include in my schedule. My list depends on what I have going on that day so that what I’m planning is feasible. For instance, today, I planned for a load of laundry and cleaning the guinea pig cage (can somebody tell me how those little guys get hay ALL OVER THE PLACE so quickly!).
- Use a planner. I’m talking about a paper planner you can open up and flip through to help keep track of your day. One day, I aspire to be one of those crafty mamas that use colored pens, highlighters, and stickers. For now, I will write with whatever’s closest. Sometimes that looks like borrowing a crayon from my second grader.
- Utilize project management platforms. These are handy as I juggle being a business owner and a busy mom. I’ve used Trello and recently experimented with Notion. They both have templates that can be used for getting and keeping your life together! Notion, in particular, isn’t just for business. It helps with home management and budgeting. Find a platform that works for you, download the app, and visit it on the go as much as you need to!
Despite all the insanity of this time of year, I love it! I can’t wait for cooler weather and pumpkin patches. Staying organized helps make room for doing the things that bring you and your family joy. What are you planning to do in your free time?
