It’s Time to Reset Your Home and Routines
The children are back at school and Autumn feels in full flow already! It’s a time of mixed emotions for me. I miss my daughter as I think of all the fun times we had together over the summer, but I also love that feeling of a fresh start as the weather starts to change and we can get back to our normal rhythms and routines. At last, I can reset the house, progress plans and focus on my work!
As we spent more time outside and visiting friends and family, our house felt little more than a stopping off point. Tidying was just not the priority. And why should it be?
Our home should support us to live life, containing the chaos when we need it to and being there to support us when we are ready. I think of this back to school period, as we start to enter Autumn as one of those periods where we can shift our focus. Our home has supported us and now it’s time to give it some TLC.
If you feel you’ve neglected your home over the summer, now is the time to turn your focus to a reset. Not only will your home feel fresher but you will feel calmer and more in control.
Clear the Summer Clutter
Let’s take this opportunity to clear away the last of summer paraphernalia. When you put away or release that summer clutter will really make a big impact.
There small tasks won’t take long with will make all the difference:
- Pack away beach towels, suitcases, sunhats, picnic gear, outdoor toys (if they are finished with)
- Dispose of last year’s open sun cream (it usually goes out of date after 12 months) and put those travel small toiletries in the bathroom to use up
- Pass on or store away outgrown school uniform. Pack up for younger siblings or the local school or charity shops collect uniform to sell second hand
You can also take this opportunity to use up food stuffs bought for the summer and left in your fridge or freezer. Incorporate them into meal planning or create a snack station (a drawer or basket) for any grab-and-go snacks that you are happy for the children to help themselves to after school, or to include in packed lunches.
Organise Morning & Evening Routines
You were all out of a routine for a while so take the opportunity to reintroduce organisation that will help you all get out of the house with ease and come home to a calm space.
Create a Launchpad
Create a simple “launchpad” by the door with space for all the things you need each morning. This includes hooks for school bags, PE kits, and coats, space for school shoes and anything else they will need.
My daughter has an increasing number of exercise books to carry around but doesn’t need them all every day, so we have created a home for these nearby so that she can find them when she packs her bag.
You’ll want to eliminate other items or clutter that can distract from the mission at hand – getting out of the door on time for school!
Have baskets, storage and hooks for items that are not used daily, out of the way of the main space. Store them in cupboards or bedrooms to separate them and prevent distraction.
Our launchpad area includes coat and shoe rack and a basket of things my daughter might need to use including packs of tissues for her bag, lip balm, shoe polish for a quick brush up and a pot of coins to refill her purse for the bus.
Prepare the Night Before:
Model preparing the night before and your child can take over responsibility when they are old enough. These small tasks will make each morning feel so much calmer.
- Put out uniform, underwear and other things they will use (such as a hair brush, deodorant) ready for the next day – there’s nothing worse than hearing ‘Mum I haven’t got a shirt’ at 7.45am!
- For younger children, you might gather everything you need to help them get ready in a basket and put it in the room where you will help them get dressed
- Pack up lunches and leave them in the fridge ready to go – if you have space, you could prepare 2 days at a time to reduce your workload
Give Yourself Permission for a Fresh Start Too
Now is also the perfect time for you to make a little time for you.
It’s been a busy, funny, stressful and full-on summer. You can’t poor from an empty cup, you need to reset too.
So here is your permission to make space for some selfcare. Perhaps arrange to meet a friend, walk in nature, visit a museum, declutter your home office, grab a cuppa and read some of your book or watch an episode of your favourite series.
We know that a cluttered home can negatively affect our wellbeing and improving organisation can make a big difference. So anything you can do to create calm will have a big impact.
That’s why I created my Reset Checklist to give you the boost you need.
Download a Free copy of my Checklist for ideas on how to refresh your home this Autumn.
You’ll also love the reset tips I share in my Autumn Decluttering Made Easy blog.
