Back-to-School: 8 Tips to Help You Plan Ahead and Reduce the Morning Stress

I know this post is a bit of repeat but it's back just in time for Back-to-School! For more Work for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household once school starts? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle?

I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. This month, I'm sharing 8 quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

1. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up, even if it's just 15-30 minutes before the kids. I find that when I do this, I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day and those around me.

2. Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed.

3. Empty the backpacks after school, not in the morning to avoid any last minute surprises.

The Night Before
4. Have your children pick out their clothes for the next day. Make this part of their bedtime routine.

5. Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. In the winter I get all the snow gear get out and ready to go as well. What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

6. Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner. A healthy breakfast really adds a positive start to your child's day.

7. Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can.

8. Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule and after school activities. Think about what tasks or errands you want to accomplish the next day. I'm not talking about a major to-do list but maybe 2-4 items, or maybe just one part of a major project.

Don't Forget!
Another part of planning ahead is getting the school activities on your calendar or planner. This includes the school calendar for the year, any sports, activities, scouting schedules, etc. You can use a wall calendar, a personal planner or computer, but try to limit it to one.

I like to use Outlook on my computer. At the start of each week I print the 7-day view and post it on my refrigerator so everyone in the family knows what's going on. I tend to color-code activities by type of event (personal or child-related). You might want to color-code by member of the household.

Do you want ideas for organizing, displaying and maintaining your child's school papers and artwork? When you order my Tickler File System , I'll also send you my popular e-book, Maintaining Childhood Treasures: A Mom's Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork!

Is This Missing From Your Summer Calendar?

Me Time!!!

Taking a little time for yourself will allow you to give more to your children and family. This means doing something just for you that you enjoy.

You may give yourself the time to read a good book, work on a favorite hobby, exercise, or have a cup of coffee with friends. You could make a date with your spouse, join a Bible study group, get a massage, or spend some quiet time alone.

If we want to be the best we can be in our roles as parents, co-workers, spouses, friends, and members of the community, we must remember to also take time for ourselves.

What's top on "Me Time" list? Reading, going for walks, and getting together with good friends. How about you?

Get Ready for Tax Season Now

April is a ways off but now is the time you'll start receiving all those documents in the mail. Have a designated folder labeled and ready to go. As you recieve any tax-related documents, put them in your folder right away. Open and toss envelopes right away -no need to add clutter.

Start compiling information now instead of waiting. That way you can work on your taxes little by little. Or, if someone else prepares your taxes, you can get the items to them early and avoid the busy times. Be sure to keep all tax-related paper work away from other mail and papers to avoid losing important documents.

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Focused and Balanced: 4 Great Ideas for the New Year!

Are you looking to make some changes this year? Hoping to feel more balanced? Wishing you could be less busy? Do you want more time for those things that are most important to you? Don't spend your time hoping and wishing; take action!

Look back. Take time, even if it's just 10 minutes, to look back to 2009. Write down your excitements, accomplishments, your frustrations and your letdowns. Now make a list of everything you would like to do or improve upon in 2010. There is no wrong answer here; allow your thoughts to spill out onto the paper (or computer screen). Pick one or two of the most important areas you would like to work on in the coming year.

Think ahead. In other words, plan ahead as much as you can. I believe this is one of a mom's most useful strategies. For example, plan your meals out for the week and then make your shopping list. Take time to plan your next day the night before. Planning also includes grouping like activities and tasks together to make the most of your time. For example, it makes sense to do all your errands on the same day.

How you spend your time will be determined by your priorities not your availability. Too often we forget to look at what is truly important to us and our families before we add another thing to our already busy calendars. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you and your family. Ask, "Do these requests of my/our time fit with my/our priorities? If the answer is no, it probably doesn't belong on your calendar.

Don't overload your calendar. When we over-commit ourselves and our time, the results can be counter-productive. Busyness leads to stress, frustration, and fatigue (mentally, physically and emotionally!). Be sure to include down time on your calendar. Actually write it down like you are setting an appointment with yourself. If a request of your time comes up during that "free" time, simply say, "I'm sorry, that's not going to work for me."

You can feel more balanced and focus on the important stuff. Now is the time to make those changes. It starts with a commitment from you.

If you are determined to be focused and balanced in 2010, check out my Making Time for What's Important Home Study Program.

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

Preparation Week

1. Don't expect perfection.
2. Ask for help.
3. Stick with what works for you and your family.
4. Do less and do it better.
5. Focus on your priorities and values.

Countdown to Christmas Recap

I'm currently doing my Countdown to Christmas: Six Weeks of Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season. For the rest of November and December, I will be walking you through tips and ideas on how you can take the stress out of the Holidays and Christmas through a bit of easy organization and planning.

Each week I will focus on one area. This week is Preparation week. So far I've talked about reflecting on your values and traditions now, before you are in the midst of the busy Holiday season. You can get my Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet HERE.

If you typically feel behind with getting it all in and want to avoid last minute stress, you'll want to take some time to Get Your Holiday Calendar into Shape.

Looking for some gift ideas? How about clutter-free gifts this year? When you subscribe to my monthly newsletter, you'll receive my popular guide, Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide: Giving Love, Not Stuff.

For more Works For Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Prepare Your Heart and Mind for the Holidays.....November Newsletter Article

There are so many events, tasks, and meals that need planning for the upcoming holidays. Planning now definitely helps, but don't forget to also prepare your mind and spirit.

Many times we feel like we have to recreate something right out of a home magazine. That just isn't realistic. We end up being so busy trying to make everything just right, we miss out on what is going on around us. There are so many "should do's" and obligations floating around in our heads.

Here's a great tip: You don't HAVE to do it all! Make time for those things that are most important to you and your family and cut the rest out!

I have challenge for you.

What if you could go into the holiday season with your heart, spirit, and mind with a new focus - one that wasn't focused on the stress, to-do lists, and busyness? What would that look like to you?

1. Answer the question: What does my calm and spirit focused holiday season look like? Yep, that means writing or typing it. What are those things that cause you stress - can you cut those out?
   
2. What are 3 ways (your action steps) you can make that happen? Write those down, too! They don't have to be big ones. For example, "I will only put up those decorations that I really love", "We will go to 2 holiday gatherings", or "I will let go of perfection."
   
3. Share your actions steps or comments with me other moms!

Click Here to find out how you can get more strategies, tools, and actions plans to help busy moms like you make the most of their time and take back control from the busyness.

For more Works-for-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Moms Rock!

I love working with moms and I enjoy helping them make their daily lives easier and less stressful through the tool of organization. God has given us an awesome responsibility and it's so easy to at times feel caught up and overwhelmed with the every day tasks. I truly believe that organization is tool that can help us so much.

I've recently had the opportunity to get know and work with some great women who took my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms Virtual Workshop. I am always so impressed by their determination and commitment. These women are taking care of their families, working and striving for organization and balance in their lives.

Do You Have a Support System? What about a Mom's group?

Last night I had the privilege of presenting to the Janesville MOMS Club-East. What a great bunch of women! I shared my Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right talk.

Here's a picture of me (looking very pregnant) with the moms.

Do you have a support group of other moms? Mom's groups are a great thing to be involved in. I've found that being connected with other moms has a great way to share ideas and information, to support one another and to just have fun!

Thanks ladies!

9 Quick Tips for Reducing the Morning Stress! .....September Newsletter Article

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle? I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. Here are nine quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

Tip #1: Get up 15-30 minutes before the kids. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up. I find that when I do this I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day!

Tip #2: Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed. Note how much time it takes them to complete all their necessary morning tasks and chores. Ideally, I like to have a 15 minute cushion of downtime before they walk out the door.

Tip #3: Have the kids empty their backpacks after school, not the next morning, to avoid any last minute surprises. Designate a drop-off spot for school papers, notes or permission slips that you need to see.

The Night Before
Tip #4: Have your children layout their clothes they want to wear the next day. Make this simple step a part of their bedtime routine.

Tip #5: Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. During the winter month, I get all the snow gear out and ready to go.

Tip #6: What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

Tip #7: Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner.

Tip #8: Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can. A rested child is able to focus and learn better than a tired one. Tip #9: Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule. What tasks do you want to accomplish the next day?

First Day of School

Well, my kids are off for their first day of school. My daughter is in second grade and my son is in Kindergarten. Both are excited to be going to school.

This is a new transition for us. Both of my children will be in school full-time 5 days a week. I'm excited for them and for me!

I've always felt blessed to be a work-at-home mom with my own business. It has given me the flexibility to be there for my kids and to work when it works for me and my family.

I've got my list of tasks I want to accomplish today, including putting the finishing touches on my free teleclass, Prepared, Organized and Focused:7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right!. I also have a couple household tasks that need to get done like laundry (blah!).

Yes, I am so enjoying this time! In 9 weeks or so I will be starting another life transition as our third child will hopefully be arriving healthy and happy. I have to be honest with you, the thought of starting again with a baby scares me a bit. It's also exciting. What will this child be like? Where will this take us? I can't help but think that we can't even imagine the wonderful times and blessing that are in store for us.

How did your first day of school go? What emotions are you feeling?

Back-to-School: A Complimentary Teleclass Just for Moms!

If you are determined to start this school year off right, join me on Thursday, September 3 for my complementary teleclass.

Prepared, Organized and Focused:7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right!

I'll share the top seven tips that will help you get focused, organized and ease the stress during this busy time and beyond.

Here are some of the things that I will be covering during this call:

• How to keep your focus on the important stuff during this busy time
  
• 8 tips to put an end to the morning rush


• How to make the most of your time without feeling overwhelmed


• The steps to finally getting those organizing projects done
  
• The 4 steps to controlling all the school papers and artwork
  
• How to reserve your spot for my upcoming Virtual Workshop, Paper Organizing for Busy Moms with bonuses and special pricing

When: Thursday, September 3
Time: 12:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Central /10:00am Mountain / 9:00am Pacific

Cost: Nothing! It's Free, but you must register.

If you can't make the call that's OK! Still register and I'll send your the link to the downloadable recording.

For more Works for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Six Tools to Relieve Your Child's "Back-to-School-itis"

By Charlotte Reznick PhD, author of The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success

http://www.imageryforkids.com/

For some kids, going back to school at the end of summer can be traumatic. Anticipating a new teacher, classmates, grade, or school can trigger fear, anxiety, and depression--not to mention very real physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and insomnia.

Fortunately, your child has a whole toolbox to draw from--in her own imagination. Here are six imagination tools parents can use with young children to relieve "back-to-school-itis."

Teach her to balloon breathe. With her hands around her navel, have her breathe slowly and deeply into her lower belly so it presses into her hands like an inflating balloon. The Balloon Breath has dramatic calming effects and facilitates a waking state of focused concentration and receptivity to positive suggestions. This one tool makes all the other ones easier.

Visit his special place. This is a safe private place within your child's inner world where he can work out problems or take a mini-vacation from stress and worry. He can invite a wise Animal Friend into his special place to talk to and help him, or he can even dig for a treasure box there that contains the antidote to his fear.

Draw the fear. Putting an image on paper: (1) makes her fear of separation realer and less frightening than keeping it inside, and (2) makes her fear less likely to grow because there is a concrete picture to work with. Once she has a picture, she can talk to it, find out why it's trying to scare her, strike a bargain with it, surround it with a soothing color bubble, and so on.

Talk to his symptom. When a child suffers from a worry headache or stomachache, these three questions can help eliminate the pain. Have him do deep balloon breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), then ask: (1) What color is it? (2) What shape is it? (3) How heavy is it? After more breaths, ask him again. Continue to breathe and question in rounds. His pain will likely change or disappear. If it doesn't completely go away, ask the ache what it wants him to know, do, or understand to release any more bits of pain.

Picture the future. Artwork is also an effective starting point when you're working with clear end-goals, like getting a good night's sleep or reducing a fear. Have your child draw two drawings--how things are now and how she'd like them to be. Hang the picture in her bedroom; this is a great reminder of her desired goal and the first step toward getting there.

Encourage drama. For kids whose nature tends toward drama, acting out their worries and troubles is a wonderful way to release them. Let them play it out--with puppets, with their bodies, with anything their imagination suggests. It's amazing what creative solutions come up when given free reign.

* * * * *
Charlotte Reznick is a child educational psychologist, an associate clinical professor of psychology at UCLA, and author of a new book, The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee, 2009, $14.95). Receive Dr. Reznick's Top Ten For Free: What Kids Most Want and Need From Their Parents here.

Top 5 Organizing Tips to Ease the Stress from Your Family Vacation...July Newsletter Article

Family vacations are a great time to have fun, take a break from the everyday routine, see new sites and recharge. It can also be a time of stress - preparing and planning, traveling and returning home are all high stress points for many. I'm sharing my top five organizing tips to help ease some of the stress that comes along with taking a family vacation.

Tip #1: Make Lists

Lists will definitely help you reduce your stress while you are planning your family vacation. Rather than trying to remember it all, I suggest creating master lists on your computer that you can print and use each time you take a trip. You will be able to greatly reduce your planning time and stress for the next vacation and lessen the chance of forgetting any details.

Start with the list of the things you need to do to get ready to leave on your vacation. Do you have to make arrangement for the mail and paper? What about pets and plant watering? Will you be using a house sitter?

Next, make lists for the items you need to pack. Give children their own lists to be responsible for. Help create lists for younger children by using pictures, numbers, and words of the items they can gather.Keep your printed lists with you so you can easily jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Take time to update the master lists as needed.

Tip #2: Clean and Organize that Vehicle
If you will be taking to the road, be sure to take the time to clean out that messy van or car. Pick a day, preferably the week before you will depart, to get your vehicle fresh and ready to go. Most people tend to feel more relaxed in a clean and organized space. There are some neat car organizers that make it easy for the kids to have items, such as coloring books, crayons and games close at hand.

Tip #3: Set a Budget and Stick to it!

Take time to create a budget for your vacation. How much will you spend on lodging, fuel, travel expenses, food and souvenirs? It's so easy to say yes to unplanned purchases when you are in the joyful moments of your vacation, but can that expense be justified when you get back home or get your credit card statement? Keep in mind that kids will remember the experiences, not the stuff.

Tip #4: Copy the Contents of Your Purse and Wallet

Photocopy the credit cards, driver license and other documents that you are carrying with you while on vacation. Keep this information in another location. If your purse or wallet were lost or stolen, you would have that information at your finger tips. I also try to limit the items in my purse I take with me on vacation.

Tip #5: Schedule Returning Home and Downtime

I think this is an area that many families overlook. I would suggest allowing at least one full day of recovery time before you get back to your normal schedules. Just think about the tasks there are to do when you return home. How long will it take you to complete those? There's laundry to wash, the car to unpack, mail and email to go through and you barely have the energy.

Remember to focus on one task at a time. If you look at the big picture, you'll get overwhelmed and that's when that stress level rises. Don't schedule appointments or play dates in the first few days after your return. Give your family time to adjust and get caught up.

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Stay Balanced: When to Say Yes or No

I have posted about this before and make sure to talk about it during my workshops, teleclasses and with my clients. Taking the step to be mindful of your priorities before you say yes or no to a request of your time is something I feel passionate about.

Your decision to get involved in various activities and commitments should not just based on availability, but also if the activity is congruent with your personal priorities and goals.

Possible areas to think about are:

-Family

-Self

-Career

-Spirituality/Faith

-Community

-Friendships

-Finances

-Home

Think about the areas which are important to you and maybe even rank them. What goals do you have in each area of your life? Are you happy in those areas that are most important to you? If not, what can you start to change today?

Taking the time think about these items will help you as you decide what you do and don’t want on your schedule. For example, if it is a goal to have more down-time for yourself and family, you should make sure you know how that is going to happen, be mindful of the activities you put into your free slots. As your life and focuses evolve, go back are re-evaluate.

For more Works-For-Me ideas and tips, visit We Are THAT Family.

Feeling Super Busy and Overwhelmed?

Ever have those moments that you feel like you are running in circles, clutching to your to-do list and you feel as though your head is about to splat all over your mini van? I know I have! Remember, you can only do one thing at a time. Take a deep breath, focus on one task and then move to the next.

You may struggle with getting organized because you are overwhelmed and not sure where to start. Always break a bigger project down into smaller project. For example, if you are determined to get your home office organized, here are some possible smaller projects:

1. Desk


2. Closet


3. Shelves


4. Files

Yes, we moms are pretty awesome and talented, but we also can be our own worst enemy. Sometimes we think we have to do it all.......at the same time.

A Room Full of Organizers

This week I am attending the 21st Annual Conference for the National Association for Professional Organizers. Today was our opening session. Imagine.....a room full of hundreds of organizers!

Our opening keynote speaker, Scott McKain, ended his talk with a reminder to take time and make each day count. As a mom, you probably know how important this is. Perhaps you've given that same advice to your friends and family. But, do you do it yourself or do you find yourself caught up in the busyness?

I have to admit this is one area that I have to continually be aware of.

A couple things that help me focus on the important things in life are:

1. Scheduling down time, family time or me time
2. Prayer
3. Reevaluate my involvements and commitments

What about you? What do you do to keep it all in check? What works for you when you find yourself caught up in the busyness?

How Do You Handle Stress?

April is STRESS AWARENESS Month. We all experience it. How fitting that this would take place during tax season.

What are your top 2 ways you deal with stress? Mine are:

1. Prayer


2. Talk with friends for support

This week over at We Are THAT Family, the normal Works-For-Me Wednesday tips are going backwards. Dilemmas are posted and readers are asked to share solutions.