10 tips for back to school organization

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There’s just something about this time of year.

We spent the last 5 days whipping our home back into shape for the upcoming school season. What this really means, is that I went into total panic freakout mode, because I’ve been a genuine slacker all summer and was in a total funk. {And rightfully so. I mean, summer. And coming out of summer. Gross.} But between the bathroom redo, and general slackerdom all in the name of sanity… we had a little catching up to do.

Cue me, cleaning and purging and organizing and reacting like a total point-of-no-return-psychopath, {after I finished procrastinating for days} because there’s something about that right-before-school-starts-back time frame that means you’ve got to kick your bootay into high gear. In my world, it just makes me feel better. Once I can get started, that is. 

I’ve learned that letting your home work for you when the schedule picks back up for everyone is one the kindest services you can do for yourself and your family. Sure, the fine points are a little varied, but we’ve found that no matter what your avenue of choice, {from preschool to public school to homeschool and everything in between} the approach is always the same.

In short, we thought we’d share a few tips + tricks to whip it. {Whip it good.}

1. Divide it into zones

Based on your needs. When we first began this process of simplifying our lives, this worked for us, and continues to, no matter what version we’re tweaking at the moment. Do you need a drop zone? Lunch station? A system for all of those papers that will come home? A way to get them to pitch in? Think through it all, and as you’re simplifying, dive in according to what you think will work best for your family.

Then, divide those needs into literal tangible spaces that are manageable in your home, where you’d like to see your home work more for you.

Is there a place in your pantry where you can organize all of the school stuff so the kids can help in the mornings? A drop zone in the laundry room where you can add hooks so that they can place their bags when they’re home? Space on the counter with an organizer for all their papers? Think through what systems you think will work best, categorize them according to the spaces in your home, and start there.

Which brings me to…

2. Make a list. 

When you’re in a funk {see me} lists are nothing but amazing as far as motivation. Maybe you’re not a list person. But find something that cranks your tractor for getting started with it all. I’m so over the top, that I’ll write the item down that I just accomplished, just so I can slash it from the list that I just created. Because laundry folding totally counts as a part of my day. I need to get out more. It just keeps me focused and organized. Otherwise, I’m painting an armoire in our bedroom to avoid the homeschool mess in the classroom that needs to be divided and conquered all before next week…

I have a love hate with that curriculum box. I let it sit for a few days before I even opened it. And then I unpacked and repacked it, because I simply wasn’t ready.

I know. I have issues.

3. Most to least important

Once you have that list, take it on according to priority. Because if not, you may be painting an armoire. When organizing all of the things to get you ready for the big fall dive, would really make you feel better once you get there. If I had no lists according to priorities, I would still be painting an armoire at Christmas, and my kids would still be waiting. And then DHR would take me away. YAY!

4. Let go of perfection. 

I learned a long time ago, that simplifying doesn’t equal perfection. Because there’s no such thing as the perfect home.

How freeing, really. We can all relax now.

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That doesn’t mean I don’t have to re-learn it, because I do. Every single time. Bottom line: I’ll drive myself crazy if I try to have everything super structured all the time. Or never cluttered. Or always in order. Because we’re living our lives, and I have to give my family space for that to happen. Or else, what’s the point? As soon as we learn to let go, we can accomplish more.

So, do what you can, as it works for you, when you can, while you can. The end.

5. Get them to help.

I know everyone’s situation is different. But things are easier when you have someone beside you, cheering you on. This guy was helping clear out those bags this weekend from the pantry where we had misplaced art projects, expired boxes of cereal and Halloween costume remnants.

Yes, it was out of control. {Shhhh.} The kids also went through their rooms, and helped pick out toys they no longer play with, to donate. I took it that far, because I think that routine purging is healthy for our family, and for some reason going crazy on the entire house made me feel better. They were there, and they were a part of it, and that was good for them.

So enlist help. You’ll get farther.

6. Question your motives. 

When in doubt, make this a constant part of your mental process. Why am I holding on to this? Is it out of guilt or true necessity? Pare it down, cut it out, and make it work.

The things that you do save, whether for slight sentimental or necessary reasons, make sure you have a system in place to function for you. For example, if I saved certain things from each school year, I could stuff them all in a drawer with no rhyme or reason. {see: old Ashley} Or, I could divide each child’s belongings into his or her hanging file container, labeled by year placed behind that giant dry erase board in the homeschool room. It’s not perfect, but it works for me, and I’m not fighting the chaos.

Make it work.

7. Take a break. 

If you’re tired or feel likened to that of a melting two year old on the verge of a total crisis, after she’s spent an entire day at the Disney World only to lose her Mickey Mouse ice cream on the sidewalk to be stepped on by her older sister, walk away. I always have those moments. Yes, sometimes I don’t  like to just leave a mess, either… but I find that stepping back and taking a break is the best thing I can do for that mess. Making one million tiny decisions is exhausting, so coming back to it with a clear head is the best thing you can do for your sanity.

Don’t be afraid to step away. More than once. Just come back.

8. Don’t fear a redo.

Reform and change and tweak the things that aren’t working. This year, because we had an entirely new curriculum, I emptied all of the shelves. And then stepped back, and reorganized everything {after dusting} I made little tweaks and changes to the things I was always fretting over throughout the year. I even found some missing things like a stash of dry erase markers I’d totally forgotten about. Some ideas got a complete overhaul and our space is better for it.

If I could have given myself one piece of advice when I started this simplification journey, it would be that maybe the first solution isn’t always the best. Sometimes you need a redo, and sometimes you need to search for a better solution if it’s not working for you.

And that’s more than okay. It’s winning.

9. Just do it.

Don’t fret over what’s going to happen to all the things that you’re trying to clear out. I spent way too much time in the past trying to decide what was trash and what was for donation and what could be recycled and what could be handed down to my sister and what my neighbor might want. I tend to let our environmental impact freak me out a little, and when I’m overly cautious, I don’t get anything done. Make a few piles, and don’t let them sit long, but move on with the purge and organization process before worrying about those little piles you make. Just do it. Because sometimes all you need is a little progress to keep yourself going, and getting distracted by the little things is a sure fire way to be completely overwhelmed.

10. Celebrate the process. 

It’s been kinda tough on our end, getting accustomed to home school. Everyone has their own struggles within their home, and one of ours was getting a space to work {right at the entry way of our home, on our only level, front and center}. I faced the challenge of getting everything together while also making it visually appealing. This took time. It isn’t necessary for everyone, but I knew myself and I knew what would work for us. I needed that, for me. I needed that motivation in the form of eye candy to inspire myself so I could in turn, inspire our children. I wanted a pretty space that would make them happy. I can honestly say that this room is my favorite space, and not for visual reasons.

But for the memories that happen here.

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Use what works for you, and roll with it. Nothing. And I tell you, NOTHING feels better than the end result of simplifying your home. But you know what feels the best? Knowing that you did it. That you improved on a system. That you broke out the elbow grease, and made it happen and learned in the process. You will change from it. Glean, and revise your decisions and embrace the lessons learned… Revel in your home and carry on from there.

Celebrate it, this love hate relationship with simplifying. This ever evolving, never ending process of living our lives, and making things work.

Make that idea of fine tuning a real system your reward, because it’s the best thing you can do for yourself, and your family. Use what works, and roll with it.

If you do what works for you, how can you not help but be completely amazing and successful? You already are!

I hope these little tips help with getting you fired up, if you’re in a funk. I certainly have been. It’s intimidating and tiresome and frustrating, but it can also be oh so amazing. As always, let us know if you have any questions, or have any wonderful tips to add! We’d love to hear your take!

To see more in our homeschool series, check it out here + our lazy gal’s survival guide, here.

Have an inspired day!