Happy New Year everyone! As another new year kicks off, I found myself in front of the computer late last night, trying to sort out basketball schedules, carpools and various school activities. With 2 kids enrolled in lots of after school activities *plus* a full time job, staying organized is the only way I can keep my head above water these days! I don’t claim to have it all figured out, but here are some things I do to make sure our household runs more smoothly. How about you? Would love to hear about what works for your family!
Calendars – Every September, I add the kids’ school calendar onto my Google calendar. It’s so much easier to plan and prepare everything when with there are no surprises from school events. As new activities are added throughout the school year, I keep important dates on a google doc which I share with my husband & nanny. Some families like to keep a family calendar in the main space of the house so everyone knows what coming up and what to look forward to!
Meals/Snacks – Every weekend my boys and I cut up some fruits and veggies for the week. I store everything in clear food storage bins I purchased from a restaurant supply store – I find my family is more likely to eat healthy foods if it’s washed & cut up for them. While I try to keep processed foods to a minimum, the boys come home ravenous so I try to stock the pantry with healthy options. Costco and Sam’s Club are life savers when it comes to individual snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated. Any designated area in the pantry works, but I do love this rolling cart from Ikea!
Clothes, Sports Equipment & School Supplies – Between my two boys regular clothes and their sports equipment/supplies, we needed organization on this front too! A place for everything and everything in its place. I’ve personally been really inspired by the Konmari method (watch her new Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo!) At my house we keep a sport’s dresser and each drawer is labeled (soccer, karate, etc.) Everything has a home so nothing (well almost nothing!) gets lost. This has really helped our house stay tidy and we can always find what we need.
The new year is a time of renewal, resolutions, planning, dreaming, and getting a little better than last year. Although, as families, we’re each unique, we can all benefit from having our homes organized and running like a well-oiled machine. That leaves us more time and energy to do the things that are most important to us!
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