Getting Organized
Smart and easy steps for a smooth school year
By Amy Newman
Hectic mornings, jam-packed schedules, homework struggles and papers piled high on every available surface. It all points to one thing – school is back in session. But if you find yourself vowing to get your family organized and cut down on the clutter this year, we have good news. With just a bit of planning and simple organization, you can make this school year the smoothest one yet.
KISS clutter goodbye
No organization method, no matter how well-designed, will work if you don’t stick with it. To increase the chance of that happening, you need to KISS the clutter goodbye – or Keep It Simple, Silly, says Cheryl Cummings, owner of the The Closet Divas in Anchorage.
“I’m all about keeping things super, super simple,” she says. “A lot of people think elaborate organizational systems are going to help them.”
But elaborate systems need to be managed, which takes time – something you’re trying to find more of, not less, she explains.
Getting the entire family on board and involved in whatever method you choose also increases the chance of long-term success.
“A calm, clutter-free life is all about discipline and developing good habits and consistent routines,” Cheryl says. “Don’t make it a chore, make it part of everyday home life.”
An uncluttered mind
“Everything you’ve read about having that quiet study space is true,” Cheryl says. An organized work space minimizes the frustration and distraction caused by having to search for supplies, which means kids can get started on their homework right away. The space should have plenty of light, be stocked with the needed supplies and be located in a quiet place without too many distractions, though keep in mind that kids may work better with a parent nearby (to ensure that they stay on task).
“I’m all about having a place for everything, and everything in its place,” she says. “Use clear containers for storing supplies. If you have enough room, give each child a designated box of supplies. If you have more than one child, color code supplies for the younger ones, and use names as they get older.”
When homework is done, put the supplies back where they belong, so they’re easy to find the next day.
Beat the morning rush
Homework, lunches, backpacks, equipment for after-school activities – getting everybody out the door on time with all of their gear can get hectic. But you can beat the morning rush by doing just a bit of preparation the night before, implementing what Cheryl calls ‘The First 15’.
“Take 15 minutes when getting home and put everything away where it belongs,” she says. Putting coats, hats, gloves and shoes away as soon as you get home, and placing packed backpacks in a set area, eliminates those frantic, last minute searches that quickly eat up precious time.
Prepping and packing lunches the night before is another huge time saver that can help beat the morning rush.
Kristin Leahy of Anchorage pre-packages side items like fruits and veggies, dairy and snack items for her children Jackson, 7, and Teslin, 4. In the morning they choose one of each item, leaving Kristin with only the sandwiches to make.
“They have gotten super quick and efficient with packing their lunches, and it’s a big time saver for me,” she says.
The dreaded morning clothing battles can also be avoided with nighttime preparation. Brooke Ashton of Anchorage has her children Isabella, 10, Jake, 5, and Grace, 3, choose their outfits before climbing into bed in at night.
“It alleviates the time and argument of getting them dressed in the morning,” she says.
‘Let me check my calendar’
With all the birthday parties, sports practices and dance recitals that pop up during the year, it can be hard to remember who needs to be where and when. Cheryl recommends staying on top of the family’s schedule by hanging a calendar or dry-erase board – it doesn’t matter what kind, so long as it works for your family – in a central location, such as the refrigerator or kitchen wall. Get – and stay -- in the habit of writing everything on it. Not only will everybody know what’s happening on any given day, but it helps prevent over-committing as well, she says.
And while it’s easy for mom and dad to transfer these dates to their Smartphone, having a physical calendar is a great visual for helping kids – and the entire family – stay on top of their tasks and prioritize their time.
Artist’s gallery
Getting rid of all that adorable artwork can cause parents a lot of angst. But unless you plan to turn your home into a mini art gallery, you’ll need to create a system to manage it, Cheryl says.
“Keep the stuff that’s really tugging at your heart,” she says. “Manage (the rest) as it comes into the home.”
That’s exactly the system Kristin’s family employed. Her children each choose which of their mini masterpieces they want displayed on the art wall in the family living room, switching them out when new artwork comes home. Anything with their hand or footprints gets saved in a file box. The rest are photographed – Kristin is using the photographs to make bound art books – before being recycled.
Whatever system you choose to stay organized, Cheryl says, make sure the entire family stays on top of it. “The trick is to not have to go back to do it later, because nobody’s going to,” she explains. “And that’s kind of what creates clutter.”
The good news? By getting organized, you’ll be setting your kids up for success – and saving yourself two things that are often in short supply for parents: time and sanity!
