There are a few key moments throughout the year that lend themself well to a reset. The start of the calendar year, the start of summer, the turning of each season, and of course, the start of the school year. In each of these moments, I find myself wanting to let go of what’s no longer working and create space for how I want to show up moving forward.
As someone who is – to put it mildly – obsessed with organizational tools and systems, going into the school year is an important moment to pay attention to. To be sure, I do not see organizing as a means of rigidity. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to find freedom and space in my daily life.
With that, here are the practices that I prioritize in clearing space for fall during the weeks leading up to the school year to set myself and my family up for success:
Preparing My Home
- Decluttering: I have a spreadsheet that includes every corner of my home. In each column, I note what needs to be done, what needs to be bought, and what needs to be designed. This year, I printed a slightly modified version of the spreadsheet, and dubbed it: The 50% Less Project. In the coming weeks, I will comb through every corner and attempt to get rid of 50% of the things that are in that space.
- Kids Clothing + Shoes Reset: At the beginning of each season, I comb through every clothing item of my kids. I give away what no longer fits them, recycle what is beyond repair, and write a list of what I need to purchase for the year/season ahead. I bring my kids to a nearby shoe shop to measure their feet, and then comb through shoes as well and purchase what they need.
- Kitchen + Pantry: I go through every item in my fridge, freezer, pantry, and cabinets to get rid of anything that is expired. I write a list of pantry items to stock up on, so I can buy in bulk whenever possible. If there is something I no longer need, but is not yet expired, I bring it to my local food pantry, so it doesn’t go to waste.
Resetting My Digital Tools
- Phone: I get overwhelmed when my phone gets too noisy. Meaning, if there are excess apps that I don’t use, if I forget to turn off notifications on new systems, and when my photos runneth over. I use this month as an opportunity to delete apps I don’t want, turn off all notifications, and clean up recent photos.
- Computer: Going into a new academic year is a great moment to reset computer systems. As a full-time working mom and full-time graduate student, I have so many digital tools, tabs, folders, and drives. I take a solid chunk of time and clean up my tabs, clear my LinkedIn Requests, and organize my Google Drive. Make sure my inbox is clean and clear and let go of any overdue tasks that actually don’t matter any longer.
- Tracking Systems: I use several digital devices to track my progress on certain things, particularly my physical health. I update my Peloton app with classes that I want to take. I reset my Streaks app to only include habits that are still important to me, and I make sure my Apple Watch’s interface is what I want it to be.
Preparing The Family
- Calendar: It is so critical to have one central source of truth when it comes to keeping my family organized and on track. We use Google Calendar and integrate other calendars into it to keep everything in one place. Additionally, I have a monthly paper calendar and a weekly whiteboard. In the spirit of less, this year, I’m planning to try out the Skylight Family Calendar to see if we can truly have just one system.
- Task List: I often joke, that if I don’t write down a task/project/meeting – it will not happen. This is a great time to update all of your task lists, plan for what has to get done/bought/prepared before the school year, schedule the fall, and release things that are no longer important.
- Rest: Carving out space for fun, relaxation, and simply being in the moment is so important in addition to preparation for clearing space for fall. That space created will enable everyone to feel more energized going into the year ahead.
