14 DIY Hacks To Get Organized For Back To School
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From the snacks to the schedules, these DIY hacks will help you get organized for back to school.
Does it seem like school starts earlier each year? Do you feel like you’re never ready, no matter how hard you try?
If that feels like you, then these hacks and ideas will get you ahead of the game. Use these ideas to help your mornings and afternoons run smoother so you’re in charge of your time, not the other way around.
Wondering where to begin? Get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
Set Up A Homework Station
A homework station is super important for everyone. It needs to be a place where the calendar sits, with a list of project due dates, tests, extra-curricular dates, and contact information for teachers.
This is also the place where iPad and Chromebook chargers will stay permanently. The homework station can be in their bedroom, the kitchen, your office, or wherever you have an extra corner.
Here are a few DIY hacks that will help you set up a homework station that you child loves.
1. DIY Unicorn Pencil Holder
This unicorn pencil holder is the perfect place to keep extra pencils, erasers, rulers, and pens. It’s important to work with your kids to make their homework station a place they enjoy being.
When your kids create their own space, they will be more likely to enjoy sitting down and doing homework there.
2. Calming Booklet Printable
Help teach your kids emotional regulation with this calming booklet. Keep it at the homework station. This is a super important hack because it anticipates the days when kids come home overwhelmed, sad, or angry, and gives them words for their big feelings.
3. Milk Carton Pen Holders
These cute little milk carton pen holders are made with recycled milk containers and you can hold so much more than just pens. Label them with what you will store inside.
I like to keep things like notes from the teacher, permission slips, and extra pencils in these little boxes.
4. DIY School Supplies Organizer
You can make this school supplies organizer with things from around your house. And the best part about this is that you can keep everything separated but together at the same time.
This caddy or organizer keeps pens and markers off the desk, giving your child more room to do their homework.
5. Upcycled Old Window DIY Message Board
Turn an old window into a DIY message board. This is a great place to put reminders of test due dates, home games, and signed permission slips.
And you can usually find old window frames at garages sales for next to nothing!
Prep Lunch The Night Before
Another hack that will save you a bunch of time is to prep lunch the night before and make as much of it ahead of time as you can.
I found some recipes that will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a long time, and they are really easy to make ahead, too.
6. Breakfast Cookies
These breakfast cookies are healthy and filled with fiber. And they will stay fresh all week!
You can speed up breakfast by handing them to your kids as you leave for school. Or, add them to their lunchbox.
They’re also freezer-friendly. Make a big batch at the beginning of the month and store the extra in the freezer.
7. Circus Animal Cookie Pretzels
Kids love these bright pink pretzels – and you’ll love how healthy they are! They look like the sugary treats from the grocery store. But they are actually pretzels dipped in Greek yogurt.
These will stay fresh for about a week. I like to make a big batch of them on Sunday and then put them in their lunches all week.
8. Keto Corn Dog Muffins
Kids don’t have to know that these corn dug muffins are low-carb. Even though kids don’t need to be on keto, it’s still a good idea to give them a high-protein lunch that’s low in added sugar.
These little corn dog muffins are made with almond flour and whole beef hot dogs. They’re really nutritious and a perfect addition to their lunch box.
9. Printable Lunch Box Jokes
Kids will look forward to lunch box jokes every day. To help you stay organized, print off a sheet of them Sunday evening. Cut them up and put a pile of them right next to your child’s lunchbox.
Then, all you have to do is pack the lunch and add a printed joke.
10. Homemade Taco Lunchables
Kids will dig into their homemade taco lunchables. And you can even pre-sort and pre-fill all of the components ahead of time.
This little recipe is a fun break from sandwiches and chips everyday!
11. Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Cold Hawaiian pasta salad is another non-sandwich lunch idea that kids will love. Since this recipe is made with pineapple, it has a sweet flavor.
Little tip – make enough for yourself, too. One bite and you’ll want to eat it for lunch this week.
More Back To School Tips
These ideas are really helpful, but I have a few more that will keep you school-ready.
12. Create An Inbox Folder For School Communication
Even though Gmail and Outlook has a search bar, it can be stressful to try and remember what to search for.
At the start of each school year, set up a label or folder for school communication. Then, you can even set up an auto-filing rule. Tell it that all emails from specific email addresses will automatically be put in this folder/label.
Now you will never lose an email again.
13. Set Up Calendar Reminders
There are a bunch of online calendars that will send you reminders. We have a post about going paperless where we talk about our favorite calendar apps.
Whether you use a separate app for school activities or you use your personal one, setting reminders will save your sanity.
14. Recycle As Much Paper As Possible
Clutter is the enemy of peace. Don’t keep anything that doesn’t have a purpose. We have a post about how to store keepsakes – including your kids’ artwork.
But all those other papers, letters from the school, and advertisements about joining the PTA? Throw them away (or recycle them). Do not keep them. It will help you so much if you only keep the things that are really important.
Struggling to get motivated? Sign up to get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
More Family Organization
If you enjoyed learning about these Back To School Hacks, then here are some more tips that you’ll enjoy next:
