The Back-to-School Home Reset Every Busy Parent Needs
August is here which means everyone is making the last of their summer memories and starting to get their lives and homes back in order after a season of fun and being on the go.
The start of a new school year can be exciting, but it can also bring a new level of chaos to your home. Instead of lazy mornings you’re rushing to get the kids to the bus stop and instead of chill afternoons, you’re multitasking dinner, homework, and sports practices.
While all of these things are an inevitable part of life, I’m of the camp that these routines don’t HAVE to feel overwhelming or stressful! But of course they will feel that way when you don’t take the time to reset or prepare appropriately.
The good news though is by implementing a few small systems and changes, you can make a big difference in keeping your home calm and functional all school year long.
So, to help you leave some of that back to school chaos at the door, I’ve rounded up 7 practical ways to hit the “reset” button in your home to keep things running smoothly, no matter how busy your family’s schedule gets.
7 Practical Ways to Reset Your Home For Back-to-School Season
1. Create a Drop Zone for Backpacks, Shoes, and Jackets
If there’s one thing that instantly makes a home feel more chaotic, it's backpacks, coats, and shoes scattered all over the house. And if you’re a parent, then you KNOW how quickly this happens!
The easy solution? Set up a designated “drop zone” near your main entryway with hooks for backpacks, cubbies or shelves for shoes, and wall hooks or a coat rack for jackets. 🎒
This gives everything a place to live so that come morning you never have to ask, “where’s your backpack?” and you aren’t scrambling to find a matching shoe before running out the door.
And no, I’m not naive enough to think that kids are just going to magically use this space all the time – it’ll take some reminding, but if you make it the expectation, it will eventually make things easier for you AND for them!
2. Establish a Homework Hub
One of the hardest parts of the back-to-school season is getting into new routines and one of the routines that goes completely non-existent for 2 months is homework time!
This dreaded task can be one of the hardest routines for kids to get back into, which is why creating a dedicated homework hub can be key.
This special spot, whether it be in the kitchen, at a desk in their room, in the playroom, or even the dining room can help your child focus and know exactly where to go when it’s time to complete their homework.
You can also stock the space with pencils, erasers, scissors, a ruler, and extra paper so they don’t have to hunt down supplies every night. ✂️🖍️✏️
And pro tip if you have multiple kids: consider color-coding folders or bins so everyone’s work stays separate!
3. Have a System for School Papers and Forms
If you’re anything like me, then you probably can’t function with a messy counter. If the kitchen counter is messy, my brain is messy, and if my brain is messy well… I can’t do much else. 😅
One thing about back-to-school is that there will constantly be papers – from permission slips, to field trip forms, school lunch menus, and classroom announcements, it’s truly neverending and they can start to pile up reallllll quick.
Instead of letting it pile up on the counter, create a school paper station. This can be a wall-mounted organizer, a simple desk organizer, or even a magazine rack. 📄📁
Have one section for things that need to be signed and returned, and another for things to keep for reference (like school calendars) so that you aren’t getting overwhelmed each week and everyone always knows where to look when they need something!
4. Organize the Pantry and Fridge for Easy Mornings and Lunch Packing
School mornings can be hectic enough without you trying to hunt down everyone’s favorite snack in the pantry, just to find that box of crackers is actually empty.
This is where a little pantry and fridge reset with a school specific organization can come in handy!
During your school supply shopping, go ahead and stock up on all of the necessities for quick breakfasts and lunch box favorites and dedicate one shelf or basket in your pantry to “school snacks” and another to lunch staples.
Keep grab-and-go items like granola bars, crackers, and applesauce pouches in clear bins so kids can help pack their lunches (or grab an after-school snack without asking a million questions). Additionally, in the fridge, create a bin for lunchbox essentials like string cheese, yogurt, or cut-up fruit. 🍎🧀🍪
This will make packing lunches at 6:30am a little bit easier and helps you easily see what’s running low and needs to be added to the grocery list.
And if you really want to be kind to your morning self? Give yourself a little head start the night before by packing what you can ahead of time!
5. Make a Family Command Center
Nothing will overwhelm a parent more than trying to keep a mental note of everyone’s sport schedules, school reminders, and events, which is why creating a family command center for the school year is so key!
This could be as simple as a dry-erase calendar on the fridge, a wall-mounted corkboard with a monthly calendar, chore chart, and activity schedule, or if you really want to get technical you can opt for something digital like a shared family Notion dashboard or the viral Skylight Calendar. 🗓️
Whatever option you choose, make sure to include the school calendar, practice and game times, family events, daily or weekly chores for each family member, and maybe even the meal plan for the week.
When everyone knows what’s happening and when, mornings and evenings feel less like a scramble and you don’t have to spend your weekends trying to get everyone on track!
P.S. If you’re local to Billings, MT and want all the important school dates in one place, CLICK HERE to download your very own school calendar that’s been designed specifically for the Billings community!
6. Plan Outfits for the Week
If mornings are your family’s biggest struggle during the school season, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to plan everyone’s outfits for the whole week ahead of time.
While it might seem like overkill at first, it can be a true sanity savor when that kiddo who just lovessss some extra sleep (can’t blame ‘em!) keeps ignoring their alarm clock. 😴
Instead of panicking about what they’re going to wear when you’re already running behind, you can relax a little knowing that the hard work is already done. All they’ve gotta do is grab their clothes from the “Wednesday” cubby and be on their way!
7. Don’t Forget the “Reset” Part
Lastly, the whole idea behind a back-to-school home reset is that the systems you put into place will make your and your family’s life easier – but they’ll only work if you maintain them.
For this reset to continue to work over time instead of fizzling out before Labor Day, pre-determine a day each week (typically Sundays!) to reset all of these spaces and make sure they’re ready to go for the week ahead.
Use this day to restock the snack bins, clean out the paper station, put away stray shoes, and tidy up homework supplies.
And there ya have it – the back-to-school home reset that every parent needs this August to avoid the overwhelm and chaos that this season can bring.
By putting these simple systems in place, you can make your home a peaceful, organized space that supports your family’s busy schedule instead of adding to the stress!
And if you’re thinking about making a bigger change, *cough* like finding a new home that better fits your family’s needs *cough*, I’m here to help. 👀
As a real estate agent in Billings, MT, I love helping families find the home that makes organizing their life feel effortless and I’d love to help YOU find exactly that – CLICK HERE to get started.
P.S. If you’re local to Billings, MT and you’re looking for a professional to help you achieve some of these systems, let me introduce you to my favorites: The OCD Girls.
They’re my go-to’s for all things organizing and decluttering and I just know you’ll love them too!