13 time management tips for back to school

Returning to school (or work) after the relaxing days of summer can be quite a challenge for all parents. Thus, we have prepared some tips to organize your time for this back to school: Take time for the transition. Don’t let the school year sneak up on you. When scheduling your summer vacation, use one of your days off to organize your home and plan for what’s coming. Advance bedtime. Starting in early August, move your children's bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each night and wake them up earlier as well. Create a storage space. Clean out your coat closet or set up a space in your hallway for the kids (not you) to store their backpacks, jackets, sports gear, musical instruments, and any other school supplies. It’s important that everything has a place. Plan the paperwork. Create a file for each child to keep all important papers, along with their artwork. During the holidays, review the folder with your child and keep what you need. At the end of the year, store the file in a safe place that has space for the coming years. Organize school supplies and homework space. Take an inventory of last year’s school supplies to see what can be reused this year. Recycle old notebooks but keep the unused pages as scrap paper. Then, store new and old supplies in a space that is close to where the kids do their homework. Become a digital diva. Take advantage of today’s technology. Enter all important dates, sports events, and club meetings into a compatible calendar (try Google Calendar, iCal, or iCloud) and sync it with their phones and computer so everyone sees the same schedule. Also, create a digital photo album for each of your children. Communicate with the kids. To ensure everyone knows the day's schedule, write it on a whiteboard located near the kids' coats and gear. Do less. Get your kids used to hanging up their coats, organizing their backpacks and homework, and putting their things away. Seek help for the weekend. Encourage a sense of responsibility on the weekends by turning chores into something fun. It is recommended to check out the free interactive chore charts at goalforit.com or write chores on ping-pong balls or popsicle sticks for the kids to pick one and know what task is theirs. Highlight that back to school time is ideal for establishing new routines. Wake up early. Try to wake up before 6 a.m. and wake your son or daughter before 6:30 a.m., if they haven't woken up yet. Try to take a bath the night before so that your mornings aren't so stressful. Offer rewards. Give your children TV or video game time as a reward if they get ready on time in the morning. If too many issues arise when leaving the house, take away those privileges. Avoid wardrobe wars. Choose clothes, shoes, and everything needed with your kids the night before. Buy your children jeans and t-shirts that allow for different combinations so they can easily dress themselves. Remind me. Reserve the night before’s plan for yourself as a mom or dad. Choose your clothes and prepare your work items and healthy snacks before going to bed, so you are ready in the morning.