Back to School Organization

Families are busier than ever these days and the start of a new school year is a frenzy with activity. Managing your own schedule is difficult enough but add the schedules of one, two, three, or more children who are active and involved becomes a Herculean feat where only the organized survive.  We have learned a few tips and tricks along the way to help streamline your organization this back-to-school season.   Here’s what we can share from our experience. 

1.     Download all the Apps…. 

What’s the saying? There’s an app for that! There truly is an app for every activity and function and at least in our experience, there does not seem to be one that is preferred by coaches and club organizers more, so unfortunately – the recommendation we can give is: just download all the apps.  You will not convince the new cheerleading coach that she should download the one that you used before, she wants to use the one she wants to use so -- just get on board! One of our baseball teams uses “Game Changer” and the other uses “Heja.” Cheerleading and Varsity tennis both use Heja but they don’t sync between the teams, you just have to toggle at the top… You just have to download and check them all. (Pro Tip: Set your notifications to “on” so you get a push notification like a text message. Otherwise, you are manually going into each team to check for updates). 

2.     Know where to look for information.   

We also find it challenging because the school comes out with a weekly email with announcements that is chock full of dates and important information. At the same time, it also posts information to the school website AND the learning management software (LMS) that the children and parents of the school log in and use.  Frustratingly for us, sometimes it’s not all uniform, and if you forget to check one of the sources, you miss something. It’s therefore important that you check ALL sources of information: the website, the LMS, and read the email.  

3.     Centralize all that Info. Between the Heja, Game Changer, other apps, website, weekly email, and LMS – the next step is to centralize all the information into one spot. This is the biggest challenge, but the most important step in getting organized.  We use a paper calendar (and always have!) and this year we are trying out a new after-school desktop calendar.  We’re often targeted for fancy digital calendars that hang on the wall and cost thousands of dollars.  We admit – they are intriguing.  Advertisers promise to streamline everything for you magically but given how we outlined the multiple sources of information and apps above, you can imagine that this would not work for our family. There would still be a lot of manual input and the thought of yet another screen is just too much right now. 

The paper calendar is our new bible – it’s what we live by. 

Each child and parent has a square on the row that corresponds to the day in the column.  We’re only using this for after-school activities or medical appointments where we must get them somewhere. On any given day, you can easily scan and see who has what on which day.  

More Than Paper has dozens of these desktop calendar styles from which to choose.  From simple and functional to a pretty design that looks great on your desk, choose what will make you happy when you are filling it out! 

The ordering process was easy for this design, the price was great, and we love that you can write the date next to the day of the week.  

More tips: 

4.     Timing is everything.   We use Sunday as a planning day for meal planning, grocery shopping, and calendar creation.  It can be any day of the week that works best for you – whether it’s Sunday or another day – sitting down once per week with all your sources of information will help you feel accomplished and organized, ready to tackle whatever is ahead.  Be sure to edit as cancellations or changes come in.  We’re highly considering use of a pencil instead of a pen. 

Even more: 

Prioritize self-care: It’s easy to go on auto pilot and go, go, go but remember your body needs rest and time to recharge. Sometimes saying no is the best thing you can do. 

Establish good routines: You WILL get into a groove and sometimes it takes some tweaking. Have patience but recognize what works and what doesn’t. 

Rely on your community for support.  Another euphemism to use: “It takes a village to raise a child.”  Especially if you have several children, you will need the support and manpower of other people. You (and your partner) cannot do it by yourselves. 

Stay connected with the school and teachers and coaches.  It’s a lot to manage but staying in touch helps you feel in the know and, therefore, just naturally more organized. 

 

5.     Try to have perspective. 

We know that this time of year can be a difficult transition. The lazier days of summer filled with travel, rest, and laughter is quickly ushered out with early wakeups, late nights of homework, and stress.  Know that you aren’t alone but that you are capable.  If this is your 12^th year sending your children back to school or your first year, the time is fleeting, nonetheless.  One day the house WILL be clean.  You WILL be on top of the laundry, and you absolutely WILL have time for yourself.  The carpool shuffle and seemingly endless practices will be over.  Your kids will be grown and you’ll enter a whole new stage in life.  Do your best to have this perspective and try to enjoy the little things and the moments in between. 

Wishing you the best of luck this school year ahead!