Energizer_Bunny
08-28-04, 11:38 AM
Here are some ideas to help:
A launch pad - Basically, you designate a spot in your house near the door that you use when you leave in the morning. This is where the backpacks live, coats, shoes, and anything else that needs to go with you in the morning (your briefcase, signed papers to go to school, etc.).
You can put in shelves, cubbies, hooks, add baskets, boxes, whatever will keep things neat and under control. This idea eliminates the mad rush in the morning, as long as you remember to get it ready the night before.
The night before is a valuable concept, too. Get everything ready the night before - tomorrow's clothes (socks, shoes, underwear, jewelry, the works), as much of breakfast as you can put out, lunches packed and in the firdge, coffeemaker ready to start - you get the idea. It makes a huge difference. The night before is also a great time to check your planner (you do use one, don't you?) so you know what you've got going the next day, and can add anything you might need to your launch pad.
Sundays are also a great day to organize for the week. Take another look at your planner, and see what's up for the week. You can get a whole week's worth of getting ready and "launching" at once. If you can manage it, picking out a week's worth of outfits (for everyone) and hanging them together in a designated area of the closet can save you loads of time during the week. Just make a rule that no changes are allowed! Sundays are also great for throwing a couple of roasts in the oven; you can often cook two roasts at once in the oven, and that can give you at least 4 dinners if you plan it right.
One last tip - stock up on school supplies. Not just the notebooks, pens and pencils, but stuff that your kids might not have on their school supply list, especially if they're older - things like markers, colored pencils, and glue. Don't forget construction paper, poster board, and report covers. The idea is to anticipate those speical reports and projects that crop up (seemingly at the last minute) and that necessitate a late night trip to whatever store might still be open. A real life saver!
By Brenda Nicolsion
A launch pad - Basically, you designate a spot in your house near the door that you use when you leave in the morning. This is where the backpacks live, coats, shoes, and anything else that needs to go with you in the morning (your briefcase, signed papers to go to school, etc.).
You can put in shelves, cubbies, hooks, add baskets, boxes, whatever will keep things neat and under control. This idea eliminates the mad rush in the morning, as long as you remember to get it ready the night before.
The night before is a valuable concept, too. Get everything ready the night before - tomorrow's clothes (socks, shoes, underwear, jewelry, the works), as much of breakfast as you can put out, lunches packed and in the firdge, coffeemaker ready to start - you get the idea. It makes a huge difference. The night before is also a great time to check your planner (you do use one, don't you?) so you know what you've got going the next day, and can add anything you might need to your launch pad.
Sundays are also a great day to organize for the week. Take another look at your planner, and see what's up for the week. You can get a whole week's worth of getting ready and "launching" at once. If you can manage it, picking out a week's worth of outfits (for everyone) and hanging them together in a designated area of the closet can save you loads of time during the week. Just make a rule that no changes are allowed! Sundays are also great for throwing a couple of roasts in the oven; you can often cook two roasts at once in the oven, and that can give you at least 4 dinners if you plan it right.
One last tip - stock up on school supplies. Not just the notebooks, pens and pencils, but stuff that your kids might not have on their school supply list, especially if they're older - things like markers, colored pencils, and glue. Don't forget construction paper, poster board, and report covers. The idea is to anticipate those speical reports and projects that crop up (seemingly at the last minute) and that necessitate a late night trip to whatever store might still be open. A real life saver!
By Brenda Nicolsion