3 Simple Tips to Get Ready for the Back-To-School Season

On a scale from 1-10, how 'back-to-school' ready are you?

It is officially August, and for most families it is a time of year that fosters a frenzied atmosphere. While summertime may be synonymous with R&R, this time of year for people with school-aged children can signify just the opposite with adjusting back into weekday routines, coordinating pick-ups and drop offs, planning after-school extracurricular activities and let's not forget, going back-to-school shopping -- the (shopping) list goes on.

My own kiddo will be starting TK at a new "big kid school" (as he calls it) this month and I can say that I am at about a 9 out of 10 back-to-school ready in terms of logistics (emotionally, that's a different story). After we returned from our family vacation in July, I set out to get his school forms completed and check off his school supply list. His new school uniforms are all washed and as I am writing this, I am also putting a menu together for his packed school lunches (yes, multi-tasking at its finest).

Here are several things that I did to help me stay ahead of the back-to-school game:

BLOCK OFF TIME

I blocked off time in my calendar to take care of certain things like school forms and shopping. For example, since I knew getting school forms might take a while to get processed, I made sure to put this task on my actual calendar in early July. A to-do list can also work, but if it is on my calendar then I am usually more likely to take care of it right then and there.

SHOP EARLY

I shopped early to avoid feeling frantic about acquiring school supplies at the last minute. Of course, there's nothing wrong with waiting for those back-to-school deals. For me, having the peace of mind that my kiddo has everything he needs for school well in advance is worth the extra buck or two (if any). Taking a look at the school supply list early also allows you to take inventory of what school supplies you may already have so you don't end up over-consuming.

TAKE THE DAY OFF

I am taking the first day of school off work to treat day one as a sort of test-run. I know that not everyone may have the luxury and flexibility to take time off work for their kids' first day of school. If you have this option, I encourage you to take it so that you can get through drop off and pick up without worrying about hopping into a meeting or reaching a deadline.

If you are struggling with getting organized for the back-to-school season, then it might help to try these suggestions (they're not too late to implement!). You might even take it a step further an consider hiring a professional organizer/KonMari™ consultant to help you develop some tidying skills to practice now and for the entire year. Check out the official KonMari™ consultant website at Hire a Consultant – KonMari | The Official Website of Marie Kondo to find a tidying consultant near you.

Cheers to the 2025-2026 school year!