The words 'back to school' often initiate a return to earlier bed times, a stricter schedule, and 'more-effort-required' in general. Regardless of your family dynamic, however, many of these tips can help make this time of year run a lot more smoothly.

1. Organize your entry way: Start right as you walk in the door with an organized entryway that allows everyone easy access to all the gear they need before leaving the house. Use color-coded or labeled drawers, bins, or baskets for each person. Hang hooks for jackets and book bags.

2. Create an 'Operation Command Center': Create an area of your home that includes a family calendar, a whiteboard with dry-erase markers and erasers, a corkboard with push pins, and 'in' and 'out' baskets or folders, color-coded, for each family member.

3. Put a paper management system into place: We all know that the amount of papers that come in when the kids return to school can morph into a paper nightmare pretty quickly. The key is to let it not pile up, but rather create a system within your house to keep it organized. This can be accomplished with divided paper trays or file folders stored in an upright desktop holder with slots. Include a tray or folder for action papers that parents must see, such as forms that need to be signed or birthday invites that you need to RSVP to, and teach your kids to place important papers in the appropriate place. If you have young kids, you'll need to check backpacks until your kids are able to do this themselves consistently. A little bit or reminding at the same time each day can help. Kids artwork and compositions you may like to keep can be stored in clean pizza boxes...one for each child. This way, you don't have to really think about it during the school year (just toss everything inside the appropriate child's box), and you can easily sort through what you want to keep when the school year is over. Besides, it's easier to compare what's worth keeping and what's not when it's all there.

4. Have meals planned out: It is important, with busy schedules of sports practices, meetings, and homework, to meal plan. Make freezer meals for nights when you don't have time to cook. Use your Instant Pot, pressure cooker, or crock pot to create meals quickly. For those nights you know are going to be ultra-busy, schedule planned leftovers.

5. Plan out lunches and snacks: On Sundays, slice up fruits and veggies for the week and put them in snack-sized containers so they will be ready to grab and go. Instead of buying expensive, individually-portioned snacks, buy them in bulk and portion them out at home. Use bins to divide up snacks (for example: 1st bin may contain pretzels, granola bars, and trail mix, the 2nd bin may have fruit cups and applesauce, etc). Allow kids to pick one item from each bin for their daily lunch which gives them control over what is packed. Put all supplies in one spot (such as a bin, drawer, cabinet, or cart) that you need to pack up lunches. This includes containers, plastic silverware (the kids can bring them home and you can wash them...but if they lose them, it won't be the end of the world), napkins, etc.

6. Be prepared for homework and projects: Designate homework areas for your kids where they can work quietly and be able to focus. This may have to be in a supervised area, depending on the ages of your kids. Be sure this area has a bin or a Lazy Susan-type organizer with supplies (such as scissors, glue, pencils, rulers, markers, and highlighters). Over-the-door shoe organizers are also great tools to hold such supplies. Also, I highly recommend you purchase a few foam-core boards, single and tri-fold in white, to avoid any last-minute runs to the store. Most kids need these at least once or twice during every school year for presentations, and store supplies on these tend to get depleted when you need them the most.

7. Simplify your morning routine: Organize your kid's clothes for the week on Sunday (consider the weather forecast) or get them to do it themselves. Label hangers or bins so that they can just grab and go every single morning. This makes life so much easier.

Most people with school-age kids consider back-to-school time hectic. And yes, any change in our routines (especially one following the lazy days of summer) can make us feel out of sorts for a bit. With a little bit of organization, however, your family will be back into the school routine quickly and smoothly.

To fast-forward to My Oh-So-Organized Filing System Deluxe, visit:

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There is tons of paper pouring into our homes every day....bills, warranties, receipts, important documents, user manuals, bank statements, letters, promotions, insurance papers, employment and medical information, school papers, magazines, newspapers, etc. etc. etc. This never-ending paper monster grows on tables, countertops, desks, and dozens of other surfaces and drawers, until it's seemingly too overwhelming to conquer.

If you're sick and tired of the piles of paper taking over your home and your life, I have great news. I've just released the perfect solution for you to get it all organized once and for all, in no time, with little effort!

I am thrilled to announce My Oh-So-Organized Filing System Deluxe sold exclusively on the Get Organized Now! web site. It is ready to help you get your piles of paper organized so you can get your papers in perfect order AND find what you need within 10 seconds or less.

My Oh-So-Organized Filing System Deluxe is my NEW, affordable, and easy- to set up and use filing system for your home. In fact, it's not just a filing system. It's actually a Filing System AND an Organizing System rolled into one. And the best part is...no thinking required! I've thought of the easiest method for you to follow, along with all the categories you'll need and then some!

Here's what just one person who LOVES My Oh-So-Organized Filing System Deluxe had to say...

'I never realized how much information I kept scattered around the house. Now it's all in one place--easy to find and easy to use. The day after I finished setting up the system, my husband needed a manual for one of our appliances. I was able to locate it within seconds. Boy, was he impressed! Thanks again for such a great product.' --Cate Brizzell, Author of 'Real People Don't Diet'

The 3 main components of this system include the filing system itself and a full explanation of how to quickly get it in place, the 'Never Forget to Do Anything Ever Again' Tickler File System (to ensure you remember and handle everything you need or want to), and the Paid Bills Organizer System (which will keep bills due...and all paid bills...in one organized place.

PLUS...until FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, when you get your hands on a copy of My Oh-So-Organized Filing System Deluxe, you'll also get 7 COMPLIMENTARY eBook BONUSES, all brand new and all created by me, as follows.

1. Find It Fast: You'll know instantly which file folder your document is in.

2. Easy TO DO Tool: It's the tool I use each and every day -- and it never fails to help me get a `ton' of TO DOs done...fast!

3. How Long Should I Keep This? Paper Retention System: Have you always wondered which papers you need to keep and for how long? Wonder no longer...here's the answer

4. Mini Money Tracker: To help you stay on top of your finances

5. 30 Doable Ways to Go as Paperless as Possible: You can actually eliminate a lot of the paper constantly bombarding you

6. Perpetual Calendar: You will never have to buy or create another calendar again

7. Prevent Identity Theft: Documents to Shred Before You Recycle: Beat identity thieves before they make you their next victim

P.S. Get your paperwork in order once and for all. And don't miss out on these NEW COMPLIMENTARY BONUSES. For more details, visit:

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GON Cleaning How to clean the toilet bowl correctly...and how often
getorganizednow.com/cleaning-secret-cleaning-toilet-bowl.html



GON Dirty Little Secrets I hate having to trek down to the basement or into the garage when I need an extension cord or power strip. Here's what I do instead...
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-extension-cord.html


In ADDITION, on my home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

Decisions, decisions... Our quotes of the week are focused on decision making, and may inspire you to make a decision this week

Facebook Feature Make your needs your wants, and your wants few. This is a must-read article

Do you have trouble making decisions? If so, you have to read this simple thought about decisions by Doe Zantamata on my home page

August Organizing Checklist Make this last full month of summer 2019 your most organized yet. Start with our NEW August Organizing Checklist, but don't look back. Start with today's date and move forward

August Organizing Mini-Challenges For August, our mini challenges are focused on Being Prepared. This week, focus on WEEK FOUR.

Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
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'Work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen.' --Conan O'Brien

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And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

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