12 Sep Organisation Tips for Busy Families by Antonia Sanchez-Toomey
September is a great month for a reset. The arrival of a new school term usually brings a mix of excitement and slight apprehension for families, especially for us mums. The return to routine, while often welcome after a long summer break, packed schedules, and the constant juggle of work, school, and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. There’s no magic trick here—finding a sense of calm and balance is always going to be a challenge, but there’s no denying that some basic organisation techniques can make a real difference to our day-to-day while simultaneously keeping our sanity. Thankfully, we’re sharing some advice to help you stay on track.
1. Set a Family Schedule
It may sound basic, but the magic happens when you dig down into what needs to happen each day. Go beyond simply jotting down school hours and club activities in the family calendar—create a comprehensive plan that includes meal times, homework slots, and family time. Allocate specific tasks to individual family members so that it doesn’t all fall on one person. Place your visual schedule in a communal area, like the kitchen, so everyone knows what to expect each day. You’ll have less last-minute scrambles and forgotten PE kits!
Tip: Colour-code the schedule for each family member to make it easy to see who’s doing what at a glance.
2. Prepare the Night Before
Let’s be real—mornings are chaotic, especially when you’re trying to get everyone out of the house on time. To ease the morning rush, make it a habit to prepare as much as possible the night before. This includes laying out school uniforms, packing lunches, and ensuring school bags are ready by the door.
Tip: Encourage children to take responsibility for their own things. It fosters independence while also lightening the load for parents.
3. Meal Planning and Prep
A well-fed family is a happy family, but finding time to prepare nutritious meals during the week can be challenging. Meal planning may be dull and predictable, but it’s a lifesaver. Spend some time each week planning meals ahead. This way, you can create tasty and nutritious dishes while avoiding the 5pm dash down the supermarket aisle for an expensive ready meal—you’ll save money too!
Batch cooking is extremely helpful. The simplest way to do it is to double up on ingredients and cook larger portions in one go. Then, you can freeze meals for the following week, ensuring you have something ready on the busiest evenings. Casseroles, curries, pasta sauces, and pies work brilliantly.
Tip: Get the children involved in meal planning and prep. Let them choose a meal each week and help in the kitchen—this way, they’ll be more likely to eat it, and it’s a fun way to spend time together while teaching valuable life skills.
4. Create a Homework Station
The dreaded homework is part and parcel of school life, and having a designated space for it can make a world of difference. A quiet, well-lit area away from distractions will help children focus and get their work done efficiently. You might consider creating a space for homework outside of their bedrooms to avoid distractions, especially if they have access to devices. Make sure it’s stocked with all the necessary supplies—pens, paper, a calculator, and any other essentials.
Tip: Set a regular homework time each day so it becomes part of the routine. After-school snacks can be a great motivator to settle into homework mode.
5. Balance Activities
Let’s face it—our kids often do too much. It’s easy to fall into the trap of over-scheduling, particularly with so many extracurricular activities on offer. While these activities are important, it’s crucial to find a balance for everyone’s sake. Make sure there’s enough downtime for the children—and for you—to relax and for the family to spend quality time together.
Tip: Evaluate each activity to see if it’s adding value or simply adding stress. It’s okay to say no to an activity if it means a more balanced and stress-free life.
6. Take Time for Yourself
Being the organiser of everything is hard, and the mental load can leave us feeling burnt out. It can be difficult to prioritise yourself ahead of your family, work, and home, but as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Carve out time for yourself. Whether it’s a quiet cup of tea in the morning, a walk with the dog, or a few minutes with a good book, these moments are essential for maintaining your own wellbeing. Remember, looking after yourself is not selfish—a happy parent is much better than a stressed and tired one who struggles to deal with the demands of daily life.
Tip: Schedule this time into your day like any other activity—if you don’t, it won’t happen.
Five Quick Organisational Hacks
1. The Sunday Basket:
Designate a basket or box as a catch-all for the week’s paperwork—permission slips, newsletters and bills. Go through the basket every week, handle any outstanding life-admin, and reset it for the week ahead.
2. The Two-Minute Rule:
If a task takes two minutes or less, do it immediately. Whether it’s replying to a school email, signing a permission slip, or setting out tomorrow’s clothes, tackling small tasks on the spot keeps them from piling up.
3. Digital Calendar Sync:
Sync everyone’s schedules using a shared digital calendar (like Google Calendar). This way, parents and older children can see each other’s commitments in real-time. No more double bookings!
4. Command Centre:
Create a command centre in your home—a central spot with a calendar, to-do list, meal plan, and key hooks. This becomes the go-to place for keeping track of schedules and important items, reducing the time spent searching for lost keys or wondering what’s for dinner.
5. Ten-Minute Tidy-Up:
End each day with a ten-minute family tidy-up. This is great if you have smaller kids, as it becomes a fun game. Set a timer and have everyone pitch in to quickly straighten up the house. This keeps a lid on clutter and with any luck, you should start the next day with a neat and tidy space!