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!

January is Get Organized Month!

This year marks the sixth year of NAPO sponsoring Get Organized (GO) Month. GO Month is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a NAPO professional organizer. During GO Month, NAPO’s dozens of chapters and thousands of members hold public events throughout the country.

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.

My Favorite Recipes

It's so easy for recipes to get out of control.

I like to keep my favorite recipes in small photo albums.

My mom gave me and my brother this one as a gift. I have all her favorites right at my finger tips.

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

It's a perfect time to get your cookbooks and recipes organized - just in time for the Holidays! I'll be sharing Organizing Your Cookbooks and Recipes in Five Steps in my October Newsletter. Sign up here and I'll also send your my Clutter Free Gift Giving Guide.

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!

You Can Get Your Papers Organized!

If are looking for help to get your papers organized, I don't want you to miss out on my Paper Organizing Workshop for Busy Moms. Sign up now!

When you take part in my workshop, you'll get:

• Four hours spent virtually with me in your home--As your personal organizing expert, I'll teach you step by step the systems, tools and steps to getting and keeping your papers organized. ($ Priceless)
• All of the recordings of the Virtual Workshop classes--You'll receive all the downloadable recordings from the Virtual Workshop so you can listen to the classes again when ever you need a refresher or tune-up. ($59 value)
• The Busy Mom's Paper Survival Kit--I'll send you my favorite paper organizing tools including the Tickler File and the HomeFile Filing System. I will teach you how to use these awesome tools during the Virtual Workshop. ($69 value)
• Paper Organization for Busy Moms 30+ page Workbook and Reference Guide--The Workbook and Reference guide is a valuable resource for you to use during (and after) the Virtual workshop. It includes helpful worksheets, forms, and articles, all designed to help you take control and get your papers organized. ($29 value)
• Complementary Membership in the Busy Moms Get Organized Success Circle--As soon as you register for the Virtual Workshop, you will be able to connect with other moms who are working towards organization, too. This is a great place to share information, ideas and support one another. ($39 value)
• And....A Special Reunion Teleclass and Accountability Follow-up Emails--You will join me and your classmates for a 60 minute follow-up teleclass one month after the Virtual Workshop. You'll have the opportunity to share your successes and ask me questions so I can support you after the workshop. I'll provide you with accountability through reminder emails for 4 weeks following the Virtual Workshop. ($59 value)

The total value of the Virtual Workshop, materials, and bonuses is over $400.00! If you have considered working with an organizing expert in the past, now is the time! Register Now!

I Want to Help You Get Your Papers Organized!

Paper Organizing for Busy Moms
~A Virtual Workshop

This virtual workshop is for you if you:

• Have tried getting your papers organized before and failed
• Are a busy mom who is determined to spend more time doing those things you enjoy instead of searching through papers
• Have considered seeking the help of organizing expert
• Want to be free from the paper piles and mess in your home

When you register by Friday, September 11 you'll receive these special bonuses:

• Making Time for What's Important Home Study Program (manage your time, manage your life and create the balance you yearn for)
• A Mom's Guide to Organizing Children's School Papers and Artwork (the resource for maintaining, organizing and displaying your child's work)
• The Early Bird Special of only $97 (regular price of $137 after 9/11)
  Register Now!

You'll Learn:

• The steps to get rid of those invasive paper piles with my 3-T Plan
• How to set up your own Household Action Center so you can find what you need when you need it with no more piles
• What papers you should keep, for how long and where
• How to set up an easy-to-use filing system so you can have your important papers at your finger tips
• My five step Stuff System to help you get through those overwhelming stashes of paper, including the kids' papers and artwork.

How it Works:
Throughout the workshop there will be a series of four live teleclasses with me. I'll walk you through the exact steps of paper organization. After each teaching session you will then be able to apply what you have learned right away during your in-home organizing session. I'll be holding your hand all the way through. You'll also receive a 30 page workbook and products worth $98! Learn more here.

What one mom had to say after participating in my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms Virtual Workshop:

"Things are going well and I'm setting aside time each day to work through the rest of the paper piles. I LOVE the systems and it is motivating to see how much I have accomplished already! The day of the workshop I kept organizing until that night. I was amazed at how much I got done in one day. I've already had several times where I needed to locate something and I actually found it within seconds! No more wasting time searching. Thanks again!"

Find Out More and Register Now!

You Can Still Join Me Today for My Free 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: TODAY! 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.

Organizing Ideas for Laundry Duty

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

Join me September 3 for my free Back-to-School teleclass! I'll be talking about the morning rush, school papers and artwork, getting more done without feeling overwhelmed and my Paper Organizing Workshop for Busy Moms.

Organizing Ideas for Laundry Duty

The average person spends six hours a week washing clothes, according to a survey of homeowners conducted on behalf of Sears, Roebuck and Co. There are possible solutions to make your laundry less invasive in your daily life.

Start with the Laundry Area
Depending on the size of your space, there may be steps you can take right where you do your wash. Try to locate your machines side by side to save on steps.

Install a closet rod with a shelf or a rod between two cabinets to hang clothes. Keep your detergents, stain removers and fabric softeners right next to the machines, preferably in a cabinet or on a shelf. Keep a clean surface to fold clothes and have bins or baskets for sorting.

Your System
Only do what you can wash, dry, fold and put away in one day. You may prefer to do all your wash in one day; someone else might prefer to spread it out to a few days. Some prefer to do all their ironing for the week at once, others may prefer to do it daily. I prefer that my husband does the ironing; he’s much more efficient and therefore he’s better qualified!
If your space allows it, save yourself the extra work and fold clothes right out of the dryer and into baskets for each member to put away.

If you have the closet space, try hanging more clothes rather than folding and storing items in drawers. Less folding means less time spent doing laundry. Have a hamper or basket in each bedroom that can easily be carried to the laundry room.

Help from Family Members
Involve family members as much as possible and get children involved from a young age. Yes, a toddler will take great pleasure in learning how to fold towels and putting away their own clothes. This may mean a little extra effort from you now, but in the long run you are teaching them the skills to do it on their own.

Assign each child a day to help with the laundry. Chances are being involved will help them understand that every item of clothing they try on does not automatically go into the dirty clothes.

Teach family members to assess the level of dirtiness of the clothing they remove. Socks and underwear automatically get tossed in the hamper. Jeans can be worn more than one time.

Other Time Saving Ideas
If you are doing a major clean and come across a ton of laundry (most often found in children’s bedrooms), consider making a trip to the laundry mat. You could get multiple loads done at once. This is also a great idea for the return home from a trip. Rather than unpacking all those dirty clothes, take the suitcases right to the laundry mat.

Take a good look at the amount of clothing each family member owns. If you can go for 2-3 weeks without running out of clothing, you may have more than you really need.

Whatever system you try, stick to it for a few weeks and then make changes or adjustments if needed. Laundry is something many of us dislike; it is time consuming and never ending. But, I am grateful I don’t have to boil the water, scrub my clothing on a washboard, or by a river bed, for that matter.

Organizing Your Volunteers

I just learned about a great tool — a free, easy-to-use online tool that takes the hassle and headache out of coordinating volunteers and encourages everyone to get involved.

Check out www.VolunteerSpot.com if you coordinate volunteers or belong to a group that could use some help getting their volunteer efforts organized. This is even great for teachers who would like to recruit parent helpers in the classroom.

With just a few simple clicks, VolunteerSpot enables anyone to organize a group, no matter the size, to sign up for any activity — from reading to the first-grade class to staffing the football concessions stand to attending parent-teacher conferences. Organizers can mobilize parent volunteers with an easy e-mail sign-up invitation, and parents can volunteer for tasks with a simple click on an online calendar. No registration required. Automated e-mails remind folks of their commitments and schedule. No more mass “reply all” e-mails, late-night phone calls, dreaded clipboard sign-up sheets or confusion over exactly who will be doing what.

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.

Quick Organizing: Linen Closet

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #7
Take a look at your linen closet. Sort through the items and take out the stuff that you don't use or need anymore. Straighten up the stuff that you do use.

Utilize a system by designating a purpose each shelf. For example, one shelf could be for the master bedroom linens, another for the children's room, and the next for extra toiletries. Check out the before and after photos of this linen closet.

*Apply project #7 to any closet in your home.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: The Nightstands

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #6
Clear off your nightstands. Are there books that need to go back on the bookshelf or back to the library? Dust off the top. Go through the drawers using my STUFF System™.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Declutter Your Closet

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less.

Project #5

Get rid of 10-20 items from your closet that you haven't worn in the last 6-12 months.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Kitchen Counters

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #4
Feeling overwhelmed in your kitchen? Clear you kitchen counter tops. Keep only what you use on a daily basis on your counters. Think of your counters as a work space, not a storage space. Do you have large appliances that are use only a few times a year that are taking up your workspace? Can they be stored in a lower cabinet? If you are feeling really ambitious, check out my post on Kitchen Organization.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Fast De-Cluttering

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #3

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Next, grab a box and fill it with all the stuff hanging out in your kitchen that doesn't belong there. Then, return items to their homes. If you come across something that you are holding onto "just in case", get rid of it. If you come across an item that you are just not sure what to do with, start asking yourself questions.

1 - Do I need this?

2 - Do I have a use for this?

3 - Is this something someone else can use?

*Repeat Quick Organizing Project #3 in your mudroom, entryway and laundry room.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Back to School: Registration, Forms, and Schedules

Planning ahead helps me get the new school year off to a great start. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you make that school year transition.

Registration

You got the school registration date on your calendar, right? Do you have the countless forms you have to fill out? (OK, I know the picture to the right is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I think it conveys the feeling well).

If possible, get your hands on all the forms you will need to complete ahead of time. This gives your ample time for fact finding that you may need to do.

Get the forms filled out and then make copies! Now, almost definitely you won't be able to use these copies in the future, but you can file them and have them on hand to make next year's registration that much quicker.

Immunization Records

Not sure on your children's immunization records? Call your children's physician's office or check your state website for a immunization records database.

Click here if you live in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Immunization Records

Calendars and Schedules

Take the time now to get the school calendar dates on your calendar. Do the same with the kids' various activities, practice schedules, games, performances, etc. Are you planning to take any vacations during school breaks? I like to keep my calendar clear of extra appointments before and after family trips to keep the stress of family vacations to a minium.

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

P.S. I'm hosting a free teleclass on Thursday, September 3rd called Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year Off Right! It's free, you just have to register!

Back to School: Tips for Shopping for School Supplies and Clothes

Back-to-school time is a busy and often stressful period for many families. One of the tasks that is usually tackled first is the school shopping. Take some time to plan ahead before you rush out to the stores.

First determine what you need before you start school shopping. If you take the time to do an inventory, you may find out that you don't need to buy as much as you thought (saving money is great!). Making lists will also help you save time at the store and reduce your stress.

School Supplies
Get the supply lists for all your children. Most schools now make these lists available to parents in school mailings, the school website, or at the local stores.Determine what supplies you actually need to buy. I believe this is a great opportunity to teach your children that there is a big difference between need and want.

There is an excitement for kids to have all new stuff for the new school year but what are we teaching them if we have perfectly usable folders and notebooks at home that end up becoming more clutter? Chances are, if you have children returning to school, some of their supplies sent home at the end of the year will be ready to go back.

I tend to buy a few extra supplies to have on hand at home. Check your inventory and the supply lists. What do you need to buy? Get the kids involved and let them create the list.

Clothes
Again, take inventory of the clothes and shoes at home. You might need to have your kids try stuff on to determine what fits and what they have outgrown. Have a bag ready for donations. Drop the donations off on your way to the store.If you do need to stock up on clothes, make a list of exactly what you need. If it will be a while before the weather changes, wait to buy the warm season clothes when they are on sale.

Back-to-school time doesn’t have to be stressful. With some planning and organization, you can help make a great start to a new school year!

P.S. I'm hosting a free teleclass on Thursday, September 3rd called Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year Off Right! It's free, you just have to register!

Quick Organizing: Paper Shredding

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next two weeks.

Project #2
Do you have a pile of papers that are sitting around waiting to shredded? Gather all those papers and box them up. Find a free upcoming shred-a-thon near you and get those papers shredded!

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Magazines

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session with yourself to tackle small projects. These mini tasks may give you the motivation to tackle larger organizing projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick project with you during the next few weeks.

Project #1

Weed through that magazine pile and keep only the last 2 months' issues. Straighten up the pile or put them in a decorative basket. Re-evaluate the subscriptions you are getting. If you find you just have the time to read all the magazines, decide which one you will no longer receive.

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