Discover the Tools to Organize Your Life and Empower Your Journey at my Etsy Shop

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Handmade and designed for you at my Etsy Store

 

Thriving in your daily life requires managing both capacity and velocity. With more responsibilities on our plates than ever before, staying organized can feel like a constant challenge. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or personal growth, the right systems and tools can make all the difference in helping you and your family thrive. That’s why I’m excited to introduce the products in my Etsy shop, designed to support you in living a more organized and empowered life.

Why These Products Matter

The story behind these products is simple. In my work with clients over the years, I’ve heard countless stories of busy people feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of responsibilities they face. They crave peace of mind. they also want their families to benefit from better organization and structure. Often, the struggles begin with disorganization and lead to frustration as they search for ways to achieve better family connection and harmony. Both the calendar and the e-book I offer are designed to help you carve out time and space for what truly matters in your everyday life. Whether you’re aiming to get organized, stay motivated, or find peace in your day-to-day routine, these tools are here to support your journey. By incorporating them into your daily life, you’ll not only stay on top of your responsibilities but also create room for the things that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Stay on Track with My Custom Calendar System

A good calendar does more than just track appointments; it serves as a roadmap for your days, weeks, and months. My system, “Mastering Your Planner,” helps you harness the power of your calendar by showing you how to plan your time efficiently and track important events, tasks, and projects.

What makes this calendar stand out?

  • It offers a combination of monthly and weekly planners along with to-do lists, allowing you to craft a personalized calendar system that works best for you.
  • You’ll also receive a checklist to help you get started with options for tailoring your system.
  • With printable weekly and monthly undated pages, perpetual pages, and uncategorized task list pages, you have the tools to create a comprehensive calendar system that includes task management. Sample schedules and task lists are also included to guide you in managing your time and responsibilities effectively.
  • This calendar is more than just a planner; it’s a companion that keeps you aligned with your goals and balanced in your daily life.Learn Modern Hacks for Family Life

 

My e-book on modern hacks for family flow

In addition to the calendar, my Etsy shop also features an e-book designed to foster collaboration and empower communication within your family. This e-book is filled with practical advice and actionable tips that you can implement right away.

Here’s what you can expect from the e-book:

  • Learn how to create structure and routines that enhance your family’s communication and integration.
  • Reflect on what works best for you with worksheets designed to help you apply these concepts to your family.

This e-book offers practical guidance for creating the family home and life you envision. You’ll learn strategies for organizing family meetings and calendars, hosting drama-free family dinners, and creating a sense of agency for everyone in the family.

Shop Now and Start Your Journey

Ready to take the next step toward a more organized and empowered life? Thank you for being a part of this community and allowing me to support you on your journey. I’m excited to see how these tools will make a difference in your life!

How to Master the Two Most Challenging Chores at Home: Laundry and Meal Prep

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how to master the two most challenging routines at home laundry and meal prep

 

No one likes to do chores and there are countless chores to do. Two of the most demanding responsibilities at home are laundry and meal prep. This is likely because these are both ongoing responsibilities with multiple steps. By understanding the challenges of these chores and implementing practical solutions, you can move from being overwhelmed to being in charge.

Obstacles of the never-ending laundry pile

Laundry is often described as never-ending. Overflowing hampers, piles of clothes on the floor show, and the constant need for clean clothes can be overwhelming and discouraging. In addition, there are many steps in the process including sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away. Drying ranges from hanging to folding. Folding can require precision. Putting away is a consistent challenge in most homes. Many people think more clothes means less laundry which is truly the opposite case. When you procrastinate the challenges get bigger. You can see where this system can be easily be broken.

 

Solutions to laundry challenges

  • The core of laundry completion lies in routines. Set a specific day for laundry or do laundry every day. A specific day means you will have sufficient clothes during that time period. Having that day set aside for laundry means you are at home and can do a few other chores between loads. You can assign a day to your kiddos to do their laundry to teach them these skills. Another option is to do laundry every day. Daily laundry means you can do smaller loads. Working with smaller loads it is easier to finish the task because it is less overwhelming. Routines are a key part of the system you create.
  • Simplicity makes laundry easier. Instead of a laundry hamper, throw the clothes directly into the washer. When the washer is full, do a complete load. Separate your loads by person or by items. You can wash only towels and sheets one day and only underwear and exercise one day. With categories, you are folding and putting away like items which is less tedious.
  • Make laundry fun – or as fun as possible. Listen to a podcast or playlist while folding. Host a laundry party with your family. Partner up with a friend or family member to do laundry together.
  • Remember it is not about perfection but about completion. If you and your kiddos are not good at folding, use bins. Declare sock bankruptcy and let go of all your solo socks when you have too many to match.

 

Conquer the kitchen chaos

Meal prep feels like all too much with the demands of work, school, and extracurricular activities. Each step of planning, preparing, and clean up takes ample time. Deciding what to cook can be exhausting and stressful. Many families have multiple dietary needs which complicates meal planning. There is a lot of pressure to provide carefully planned nutritious means. Keeping meals varied, nutritious, and served at a time everyone can eat makes this effort more than you can manage.

 

Making meals happen

To the rescue is streamlining your meal prep process and enjoying stress-free mealtimes!

  • A little structure helps the meal planning system. Assign days to each step of the meal planning and prepping process. Each step should have an assigned day or be completed in one long day.
  • Try batch cooking and preparing double recipes.  Store these in portion-sized containers for use another week.
  • Using semi-homemade and pre-cooked ingredients makes assembling meals a breeze. A rotisserie chicken can be made into a chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup, and chicken and dumplings. Frozen veggies are a nutritious easy-to-prepare side to go along with a protein.
  • Remember the goal of dinner is time together. Sandwiches, soups, cereal, and charcuterie boards count for dinner. The less prep, the less clean up, and the less mess the better.
  • Kitchen appliances have come a long way. An Instapot or crockpot saves you time preparing dinner. Using these once a week these become life-savers.
  • Just like laundry, meal prep is a great family activity. It also helps your kiddos learn math and reading. Assign partners for meal prep and clean up to help make dinner easier to do.

Balancing the Load

While laundry and meal prep are definitely a challenge, they don’t have to be overwhelming. These practical tips can help you conquer these chores. Remember, the key is to establish routines, plan ahead, keep it simple and do what works for you and your family.

How to Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Help You with Decision Making and Prioritizing

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how to use the Eisenhower Matrix for decision making

 

Life is complex with many important tasks competing daily. How do we know what is most important and when we should act on that task or project? We have heard of the Eisenhower Matrix for years.  The Eisenhower Matrix is a task management tool that helps you organize and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, using the ideas of General Eisenhower and put into practice by David Allen. By applying the tools to the tasks and projects you are working on, you can decide more easily about your priorities and actions for your day, week, and month. See how this works for you!

 

Understanding the Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix looks like a series of squares. The matrix consists of four quadrants with each quadrant focusing on two concepts simultaneously, urgent and important. Urgent tasks require quick action. Important tasks contribute to your long-term goals, mission, and values.  The alignment of “Urgent and Important” is where the highest level of response to the most important tasks occurs.

  • Urgent and Important (Do First): Tasks in this quadrant are both urgent and important and require immediate attention. Handle these first since these are critical to achieving your goals.
  • Important, but Not Urgent (Schedule): Tasks in this quadrant are important for your long-term goals but may not be time-sensitive. Schedule these tasks to be sure of completion.
  • Urgent, but Not Important (Delegate): Tasks in this quadrant are urgent but not necessarily important for you to do. Either delegate tasks to others to free up your time for more important activities or set up a routine to complete.
  • Not Urgent and Not Important (Eliminate): Tasks in this quadrant are neither urgent nor important. Minimize or eliminate these distractions or time-wasters.

Assign each of your tasks or projects to a quadrant. As you plan your week, you can use this system to categorize your tasks first, then assign them to your time blocks. 

Effectively using the Eisenhower Matrix

Your tasks and projects might feel overwhelming each week as you review them. This tool will help you decide what is most important, so you know when to work on which tasks. Let’s review this system starting with where you have the biggest obstacles to overcome in your prioritizing, which is focusing on tasks that are not urgent or important.

 

Neither Urgent Nor Important (Eliminate)
These are tasks that are such low priority that you can eliminate them as much as possible. Tasks that fall into the category are often also “someday/maybe” as well as tasks that take you away from your goals. Examples of these tasks are social media scrolling and other procrastinating activities. These actions tend to align with a need for a refresher like taking a walk or taking a sip of water. Start being more aware of the distractions and time wasters in your day to set a limit on these activities.

 

Urgent but Not Important (Delegate)

A task might be urgent but not so important as to take you away from other work.  Tasks that fall into the category can be delegated with direction or can be accomplished at low energy. Administrative tasks that require a low level of detail and some meetings fall into this category. Unnecessary interruptions, checking email randomly, and checking social media appear urgent. Urgent but not important tasks are tricky to handle and assess. Start by applying rules for when to check email and when to turn off notifications as these interrupt your workflow. Know which tasks can be delegated or automated, such as ordering groceries or using Chat GPT to create a meal plan. Keep aware of urgent feeling conversations with co-workers or drama with friends that feel urgent but take you off course.

 

Important but Not Urgent (Schedule)

These tasks are that are often required and often help you achieve long-term goals. These may have big consequences and appear to have no deadlines until the deadline is imminent. Tasks that fall into this category are marketing plans, expense reports, health-related, educational, and most importantly building relationships. Having a weekly planning time and using time blocks for these tasks helps you keep up with them. Routines are an important way to handle important but not urgent tasks.

 

Urgent and Important (Do)

These tasks require immediate action, have an immediate deadline, and have significant consequences. These are typically also the daily crises that happen such as a flat tire, a sick kiddo, or a last-minute request at work. Do these tasks during your first time block of the day to be sure you have time and energy. Even the best of planning cannot prevent last-minute emergencies. However, you can add in flexibility in your schedule by leaving white space in your calendar.

 

There are several ways to use this tool.

  • During weekly planning time, list out all the tasks or next steps in your projects. Then, categorize each task into one of the four quadrants of the Eisenhower Matrix based on its urgency and importance. This will give you a clear overview of what needs to be done and help you prioritize your time accordingly. From there, you can allocate time blocks in your calendar for each task, ensuring that you dedicate sufficient time to important and urgent tasks while also scheduling time for tasks that are important but not urgent.
  • As your week progresses, there will be interruptions or new tasks that need to be worked on. When this happens, assign these tasks to the appropriate quadrant of the Eisenhower Matrix to ensure that you continue to focus on your priorities. If a new task is both urgent and important, it may require immediate attention and adjustment of your schedule. If a task is neither urgent nor important, you may choose to delegate it or eliminate it altogether to maintain your focus on more critical activities.

 

By using the Eisenhower Matrix for both weekly planning and adaptation during the week, you can effectively manage your time, prioritize your tasks, and stay focused on what matters most, ultimately enhancing your productivity and achieving your goals more efficiently. The Eisenhower Matrix decision-making method can be a great tool to help you choose which items on your to-do list to prioritize immediately and which you can delegate later.

 

 

How to keep sane in a world of uncertainty

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how to keep sane in an uncertain world

 

If you’ve been struggling this Summer with feeling overwhelmed, this is the post for you! This fall, it’s time to embrace powerful life hacks that can improve your life every day. It is all about keeping sane with the uncertainty around us, as well as the dizzying pace of life. These are how I make each day better with a better frame of mind and positivity because of the routines I have created. Here is how I keep sane in an uncertain and super-busy world.

Start Your Day with a Walk, coffee on the patio, or any time outside

Research shows the power of morning sunlight. It improves your cognitive function all day and helps you get better rest. You need between 15 and 20 minutes daily, which can be more difficult during the winter. Start this fall before the time change, and you will see the difference this makes.

Practice Gratitude

No matter the challenges, focusing on gratitude and appreciation makes your day better. Find the small ways that each day goes well. There are so many ways to capture your gratitude. You can record this with your device camera, on an app, or with a gratitude journal.

Have an Adult Bedtime

For me, there is a window of opportunity for rest. I take advantage of the fact that I am getting drowsy by getting ready for bed early, taking my supplements, and being ready to snooze. If this doesn’t work for you, create a sleep routine that encourages 8 hours of sleep. Your routine can include a 2-hour hiatus from devices, a well-chilled room, and complete darkness. Choose what works for you to get a great night’s rest. Even if no one else goes to bed in your home, you can!

Keep it simple sweetie

Everyone gets overwhelmed at some time. Keep life simple by prioritizing what is most important. Drill down to your core values. Embrace those and be sure your calendar, your space, and your connections revolve around these. From there you find clarity and peace of mind.

Practice a pause

With the speed of life at maximum velocity, it is not possible to do what is best all the time. Information and decisions came at you at a speed beyond capability. Use the power of  pause to help you gain insight and clarity.  Take the opportunity to ask for a pause from those you work with or at home to be able to clear your mind.

 

Build a Board of Advisors

It would help if you had support in all you do, whether at work or at home. Cultivate relationships that support your best interests. Find those who are your trusted, truthful, loyal friends who will share honestly with you. Be a trusted advisor yourself to others around you.

 

 

Revitalize Your Fall: Essential Self-Care Practices Empower a Refresh

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revitalize your fall

 

Life is moving at warp speed. You may not have had a chance during summer to regroup and rest. As you enter the next season, it is the perfect time to focus on self-care. You have the opportunity to refresh your routines and prioritize your well-being. Your self-care has a direct impact on your stress level, your mood, and your productivity.  Here are some essential self-care practices that can revitalize your self-care.

 

Start with your routines

In the Fall we are returning to routines and structure. Starting a new routine with self-care is the best first step. Add in a small baby step for self-care as a new part of an existing routine or as the start of a new routine. Start the week on Sunday with a new routine of getting organized that evening. Set up all your fall doctor, dentist, and other appointments at the beginning of the school year. Choose a new exercise program with a once-a-week class.  Use a new app to reinforce your routine. The start of something new gives you a fresh opportunity with routines. Good self-care begins with an approach to cultivating healthy habits with routines and sleep.

 

Declutter and organize

One of the best gifts of self-care is editing and arranging your space. Place a shopping bag in your closet to drop in discarded clothes as you get ready in the morning. Set a 10-minute timer for a quick reset in your home. Start with small areas and move gradually around your home and work. Build self-care when adding a scent and cozy blankets to a quiet space. Take some time to declutter and organize your home to enjoy your space.

 

Embrace the green space

Research shows the powerful positive effects of spending time in nature. While the beginning of fall can be hot, the weather eventually turns to cooler temperatures and a beautiful change of seasons. You can reconnect with nature by walking 10k steps, picking seasonal fruits, or riding a bike. There a few things that cannot be cured by a dose of green space. There are so many possibilities to bring you joy and serenity.

 

Go back to school for what you love

Find what you love and make it an active part of your week. You need creative outlets, learning, and connections to thrive. All of these factors make daily life joyful. Set aside time for hobbies, reading a book and lunch with friends and family.

 

Empower your physical well-being

A change of seasons is a chance to incorporate new produce into your diet. Just like pumpkin spice, Fall veggies offer an abundance of new tastes. Eating fresh food boosts your immunity and supports overall health. Choose a new water flask to support your everyday hydration. Resume your early bedtime to adhere to an improved sleep schedule for the Fall.

 

Prioritize Mental Health

Each day find a small time to make yourself a priority. That can be with a gratitude journal with a shift of focus to all that is good and special in your life. Keep distractions to a minimum and use social media wisely with boundaries, especially at bedtime.  Remember, there is much available to support you whether it is a therapist, coach, family member, or online group.  The key is to ask for help when it is needed.

 

Fall is a season of change and renewal. If you are sad about the end of Summer or balking at the return to the structure of the Fall, self-care is the best antidote. By incorporating these self-care practices into your routine, you can revitalize your mind, body, and spirit. Remember, self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. Taking care of yourself allows you to be your best self and face the challenges and joys of each day with resilience and grace.

4o

Embrace a Fresh Start This Fall: Why Under-committing to Activities Leads to Balance and Peace of Mind

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under-committing

 

Fall brings a whirlwind of activities for school,  home, church, and other areas. You may already be feeling a bit anxious about all that coming up. This fall set the stage for more intentional living by reassessing commitments and having less to do. Now is the time for understanding overcommitment and the negative impacts of overcommitting on mental health and productivity.

 

Signs of overcommitment

There are many signs that you are overcommitting. For you, looking at your calendar you see no white space. There are no time blocks for preparation for meetings. You feel irritable attending a meeting because you have too much to do. Your home has become a drop zone, with many filled bags waiting for items to be put away. For your kiddos, they are resistant to activities because they are tired. Their rooms have become cluttered. They go to bed late because activities fill their days to the brim.  Overcommitment has an impact on mental health and getting stuff done.

 

Benefits of under-committing

To begin to reassess,  you must first know the benefits of this change. The most beneficial aspect of under-committing is the increase in focus and well-being. With less to do on any day, there is always less stress. You will feel more balanced by having time to do what you love, as well as what you are required to do. You will be able to concentrate more without having to get so much completed. Having a better work-life balance comes from having unscheduled time. Jot down a few of your reasons for why to undercommit this year and clear out your schedule.

 

Getting started

First, it is best to evaluate your current commitments.  What are the essential and non-essential activities you are committed to? What is essential to your values? Are your commitments supporting what you know to be best for you and your family? What is the true impact and what is required? Are your commitments bringing in funds that support your family’s values? Answering these questions allows you to weigh in on your commitments. Write out this list and prioritize. There are no right or wrong answers, but you will know what is best for you and your family.  There are many great activities but at times we have to stagger commitments to keep our time better balanced.

 

Strategies for under committing

Now that you have evaluated and prioritized your commitments, it is time to learn and reinforce what you know to be true about commitments. Now that you are working toward your priorities, it is time for you to set boundaries for yourself. It is easy to over-commit without this. A boundary for yourself might be creating rules about how many activities you or your kiddos are in at any given time. For some families that is one sport for each kiddo for each season. Other parents choose to take a large volunteer role instead of many small commitments. You know best what works for yourself and your family. Find a rule that works well for saying “no” such as, “I have to check my calendar first.” Creating a pause before saying yes helps you assess. Your goal is a realistic, manageable schedule that incorporates self-care.

 

Maintaining balance

The key to consistent balance is regularly assessing and re-assessing commitments. As commitments change throughout the year, be mindful of your new rules for commitment. It is crucial to your schedule to regularly assess your commitments in order to stay in balance. Assess your commitments during your weekly planning time.

 

Take time before the fall to be mindful of this year’s commitments. You will have more joy in the responsibilities you choose by prioritizing and under-committing.

 

How to Kick Start Your School Year with Family Communication

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back to school with family communication

 

Start this year off with strong family communication. Effective communication and organization tools make all the difference in improving school success and family happiness. Two key strategies that help families connect are holding weekly family meetings and maintaining a family calendar. Here is how to implement these to create a more harmonious, collaborative household.

 

Create agency and accountability

Creating ownership for all family members from the start of the school year is essential for fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This sense of ownership comes from giving everyone the opportunity to contribute to the family agenda. During your first family meeting, include your kids’ thoughts, feelings, and problem-solving ideas as you create the agenda and establish the “rules” for your family calendar. By involving everyone in this process, you empower each family member to take responsibility for their commitments and contribute to the overall success of the family’s organization and communication strategies. This collaborative approach not only ensures that everyone feels valued and heard but also promotes a sense of accountability and teamwork that will benefit the family throughout the school year.

 

One of the biggest obstacles to family communication is knowing the “why” which is the value of communication. Everyone needs to benefit from staying connected. Talk about how improved communication makes life easier for everyone, how a shared calendar helps everyone support each other, and how stronger relationships happen because of collaboration. With everyone knowing the benefits, there is more buy-in and accountability to maintain the system. Each person is tethered to the others’ successes. That accountability to each other makes all the difference in keeping the system all year long.

 

Overall, remember to keep these as simple as possible. Clarity makes all the difference. Post the outcome in writing on your refrigerator or door near the kitchen. You’re creating accountability for everyone to work as a team this way. You can reference your plan with your family every day, especially during the weekly family meeting.

 

Hold weekly family meetings

Weekly family meetings are times for communication, cohesiveness, and collaboration. These provide the opportunity for everyone to share their upcoming activities and schedules, as well as celebrate achievements and discuss challenges. Here is how to make the most of your family meetings.

  • Choose a time that works for everyone
  • Create your agenda together
  • Make sure everyone has a chance to speak
  • Review family values and goals. Discuss problems and solutions.
  • Celebrate together

Weekly family meetings foster teamwork and ensure that everyone feels heard and supported.

 

Start and maintain the family calendar

A family calendar is an invaluable tool for keeping track of everyone’s activities and responsibilities. Your family can use a digital calendar, a traditional wall calendar, or a hybrid. Keeping a shared schedule helps make sure everyone knows upcoming events, shares time together, and keeps things running smoothly. Here’s how to effectively use a family calendar.

  • Place the calendar in a central location so everyone can see it.
  • Include as much as possible, especially priorities on your family calendar. Individuals maintain their calendars with great detail.
  • Update the calendar as soon as new dates come up. Update individual calendars at the same time.

A family calendar helps to organize busy schedules and prioritizes what is most important about all commitments.

 

Staying connected and up to date throughout the school year requires effort and coordination, but the rewards are well worth it. It may take time to get a flow going with the family meeting or the family calendar. Keep at it! By implementing these strategies, families can navigate the academic year with confidence, ensuring that both students and parents thrive.

Crush It At Work and School Summit helping you succeed at work or school

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crush it at work and school back to school

 

August is time for us to gear up for Back to School. There is a lot to do to move from Summer fun to Fall routines. Let’s make it easier this season! I am doing something new this year! Join me and top ADHD/Executive Function gurus at Alan P. Brown’s Crush It at Work and School Summit, where you will learn proven strategies to get back into action with practical insights and strategies. My colleagues and I will help you focus on the right priorities, boost productivity, and find a flow for work-life balance. See the list below of all the courses my friends and colleagues offer.

  • This free virtual summit runs four days (August 26-29) and every day, Alan will share 5 short interviews. The videos will be available to watch anytime within that 24-hour period.
  • Registration is FREE, so click to register and reserve your seat.

Check out this list of topics and speakers.

Monday, August 26

  • The Secret to Smart Study Skills For Student Success with Leslie Josel
  • Do What Really Matters: How to Follow Through Without Sacrificing Your Life! With Lynne Edris
  • Communication Technique to Collaborate Better at Work and Home with Elaine Taylor-Klaus
  • Motivation Made E.A.S.Y. with Diane McLean
  • Find Your Rhythm: Your ADHD Action Plan to Focus with Ease, Achieve Productivity, and Harmonize Your Work and Life with Linda Walker

Tuesday, August 27

  • Finding Peace With Your Email with Ellen Faye
  • Ambivalence: Do You Actually Want to Do That? With Ari Tuckman, PsyD.
  • ADHD Activation: Overcome Stagnation and Boost Productivity with Tara McGillicuddy
  • Your To-Do List Needs a Makeover with Kathy Vines
  • The Secret to Powerful Planning with Dana Rayburn

Wednesday, August 28

  • How to Get Your Groove Back ON with Rudy Rodriguez
  • Cracking the Code: How to Tell if Your ADHD Medication is Working with Laurie Dupar
  • Why Transitions are More Complicated Than You Think and How to Simplify Them! With Brendan Mahan
  • How to Be On Time without Tricking Yourself with Bonnie Mincu
  • Problem-Solving Decoded: ADHD Executive Function Solutions with Jeff Copper

Thursday, August 29

  • Conquer Calendar Chaos: Weekly Planning on Your Own Terms with Nikki Kinzer
  • How to Fuel The ADHD Brain with Marisa Moon
  • How to Start the School Year Strong with Ellen Delap
  • How to Advocate for Yourself or Someone with ADHD in the Workplace or School with Terry Matlen
  • An Amazing Interview with Linda Roggli

As you can see, there are a variety of topics and tools. There truly is something for everyone in this free virtual summit. Be sure to reserve your seat!

 

How to Kick Start the School Year with Organization

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back to school organizing

 

Kickstarting the school year with an organized space can set the tone for months of positive energy for learning. As you and your family gear up for the start of the school year, there are 4 key areas to organize to gain momentum. Your proactive work on systems and routines at this time of year has a big payoff in building confidence and enthusiasm. This also results in higher productivity and engagement.

 

Get in the game

Your mindset makes the biggest difference in kickstarting your organizing. Bring high energy and positivity to this fresh start. Think about the start of a new season and how your modeling organization makes an impact on your family. Bring on the fun and enthusiasm for the start of the school year.

 

Where to organize

Focus your time and energy with the most bang for your buck. Kids’ clothes, school supplies, and lunch prep are important areas of focus. You will find it easiest to organize in categories so you can start and complete the job.

 

How to get started

Set aside 2 weeks before school starts to organize. You can work in time blocks or set specific days for certain areas. Work in partnership with your kiddos to help them learn about organizing and partner with you to make decisions. Have a reward for your work together to incentivize their participation.

 

What to do

Keep it simple sweetie! While there are many emotions about moving from an unstructured Summer to the routines of Fall, be sure to engage in positive energy as you organize. The simpler the process the better. While you are working with your family, chat about new goals and how you will accomplish these together.

  • Kids’ clothes need decluttering so they have only what fits and is organized in a way so they can independently get ready. Go through all the clothes with one kid in one day, declutter, and then make a list of what is needed to purchase.
  • Gather your kids and gather all the school supplies. Be brutal about what you keep for the year. Stock backpacks, homework caddies, and your school supplies back stock. Use a container to sort and label the back stock.
  • Keep lunch prep easy to manage. Set up a space in the refrigerator and pantry for lunch prep supplies. You can also use labeled bins on the lower refrigerator shelves to stock for easy lunch prep each evening.
  • Make it fun with a high-energy playlist, a filled water flask, and a snack as needed.

 

Maintaining your system

Every system needs a routine that keeps it going.

  • Efficient laundry helps kids get ready each day. Manage laundry with small loads completed daily. Get help with laundry from your cleaning person. Or teach your kids how to do their laundry.
  • Restock school supplies every month. Set a reminder in your device for you and your students to partner in restocking school supplies in backpacks, caddies, and other spots.
  • Restock lunch supplies each week. During your family meeting, talk about lunch and dinner. Make a list of 5-7 options for lunch and dinner. Add that to your weekly online shopping list.

 

Getting organized before the school year starts is the best investment for school success. Start two weeks in advance of the first day of school to be proactive and ready for the new school year.

Organized Family Car Travel: Making Road Trips Memorable

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Organized car trips

Plan Your Route and Stops

Take time to plan your route before you start your trip. Use ChatGPT, GPS apps or maps to estimate driving times and identify rest stops, attractions, or scenic spots along the way. This planning not only helps manage expectations but also builds excitement for the trip. With Chat GPT you can estimate the stops along the way and call ahead for overnight accommodations.

Pack Strategically

Packing efficiently is key to a stress-free trip. Create a checklist for each family member to ensure essentials like clothing, toiletries, medications, and entertainment (books, games, tablets) are included. Pack snacks and drinks to keep moving along and save money. Pack the car with easy access snacks and games.

 

Safety First

Prioritize safety throughout your journey. All passengers wear seat belts at all times, especially children who should be in appropriate car seats or boosters and pets with a restraint. Take regular breaks to stretch, get a potty break and drive safely.

 

Entertain easily

Long hours on the road can be tiresome, especially for children. Build in fun with a variety of entertainment options such as audiobooks, music playlists, travel games, and even educational podcasts. Have each family member to curate part of the playlist or choose a game, ensuring everyone feels involved and entertained. Included games like Heads Up and Psych as well as other apps.

 

Maintain a Travel Journal

Documenting your journey through photos, journal entries, or a shared travel diary can transform the trip into a special memory. Encourage each family member to contribute through a shared photo album on icloud or digital travel journal.  Documenting your trip with a photo album after the journey concludes makes for lasting memories.

Expect the unexpected

No matter the most careful planning, unexpected situations arise. Embrace resilience and flexibility while maintaining  a positive attitude.  If there are detours, traffic, or weather conditions disrupting your schedule, take that time to boost the idea of “life happens.”

 

Be earth and human friendly

Always be considerate of fellow travelers and be earth-friendly in your travels. Dispose of trash responsibly, respect local regulations and customs, and practice patience and courtesy at rest stops and attractions.

 

Above all, cherish the moments spent together as a family. Whether it’s singing along to favorite songs, discovering nature along the road, or marveling at breathtaking landscapes, the shared experiences of a road trip often become cherished memories for years to come.