Before vacation mode sets in, get organized

As we head into summer, most of us are more than ready for a break. We’re desperate to complete our long, end-of-the-school-year to-do lists and hit the pool or the beach. I get it.

Parents are exhausted and kids are feeling a combination of tired, anxious, excited, sad and happy. Although you probably feel like you don’t have even one minute to spare over the next couple weeks, I am going to recommend a few additions to your already jam-packed schedule.

I know, I can hear the virtual moans, but doing these three things will give you a real sense of accomplishment as you close out the school year, save you time between now and August and, maybe most importantly, give you some peace of mind.

CLEAN OUT THE CAR

You’ve logged more hours in your car since the beginning of the year than you’d like to acknowledge – shuttling kids around, going to and from work, and running errands. Now is the perfect time to thoroughly clean out your mobile home. Remove everything from the trunk, center console, glove compartment and seat pockets, and give it a thorough cleaning. Either wipe down the surfaces and vacuum the floors yourself, or take it to the carwash. Don’t just put the items you’ve removed in a bag and set it in the garage – actually go through the items and put them away, toss them or give them away. This should only take 30 to 60 minutes.

UPDATE THE CALENDAR

Summer schedule changes are both refreshing and stressful. To save time and keep frustration to a minimum, make sure your house or family calendar is updated, visible and accessible to everyone. The desire for a less structured and hectic summer makes people want to forget about keeping a calendar, but the changes in routine make a calendar even more necessary.

Use a whiteboard or a large paper calendar to jot down all major dates from now until the start of school. Include camp start and end dates, vacation dates with details such as flight times, when you’ll be hosting visitors, and even when back-toschool events are scheduled. Encourage family members to update and add to the calendar.

EMPTY BACKPACKS

Go through your kids’ school papers and artwork. I am aware this is the last thing you or your kids will want to do after school ends, but it’s not going to be any more fun if you put it off for months or years. Empty the backpacks and bags filled with artwork and the contents of their lockers. Put report cards, school photos and a few representative pieces of work, awards and favorite projects in a labeled file or box. Perfection is not the goal here. Getting it done is.