Time flutters by and before I know it my kids will be heading back to school. School is on my mind all the time these days and I know it is probably on your’s as well. In the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing some organizing steps in anticipation of the first day of school. This is Back To School Part I.
First and foremost, you have got to get in command and establish a centre for your home operations. Do you have a family command centre? I do. Let me give you a brief tour.
I have a small nook in my kitchen by the window with a wrap around counter. I designated this space as my command centre. I wish I had a spot to set up a small little desk here, but alas I make do with what I have and I am content.
1. The yellow tray collects incoming school paperwork. Your command centre should have a spot where all school papers can land: field trip notices, graded homework requiring your signature, etc. Collecting is one thing, sorting and taking action on the items collected is another story. I deal with the tray contents regularly and at least once per week.
2. The bulletin board holds important reminders of events, birthday parties, as well as a monthly calendar, and a weekly menu plan. A part of being in command is always knowing the schedule and engaging in active planning for your family. I like to plan the meals out for the whole week, purchase the ingredients, and cook some of the meals in advance.
3. This ceramic pot is also in the command centre. It holds cellphone chargers, which get hidden when not in use. Love that!
4. I have a drawer in the nook, which has basic office essentials and a small binder with our emergency contact list, school phone lists, business cards for various home maintenance or repair vendors, blank shopping lists, and restaurant menus.
5. My home management binder is portable. It comes with me to work and comes back home to the command centre at the end of the day. If I want to pay bills during a break at work or while I am waiting for an appointment, I can always do that on the go. If there is something I want to add to my shopping list, I can accomplish that at any time of the day as well.
What are the essentials in your preparation for a hassle-free start of the new school year? Are there any areas of back-to-school planning you would like me to cover in the next couple of weeks?
This post is linked to: Home Stories A 2 Z Link Party
