Summer is almost over.
Well not technically….
But for most of us it seems to be over once the ads for “Back to School” start popping up everywhere.
That somehow seems to be the unofficial yet official trigger for our family that the countdown to the end of summer has begun.
Suddenly there is a strange chaotic panic and everything, which, if it ever did exist, seems to go awry.
The thing is that some of us, including myself, wait till the very last minute to get things done and if they don’t go as planned (which happens oh so often) get super stressed and mess up whatever calmness is left in our body.
So what can you do now to enjoy the last stretch of summer, be mindful and present and also be prepared for Fall all in a calm-ly fashion?
Here are a few things for a smooth season transition.
1 .DO A BRAIN BARF:
Give everything going on in your head a visual presence. Write down whatever is lingering inside your head on a piece of paper or your electronic device. You will end up with routine things like decluttering, meal planning, grocery shopping but you will be surprised to see other things make their way onto your list which have been, forever, silently lingering on in the background like a low hum. It can be a phonecall/lunch date forever promised or an email reply which was supposed to be sent eons ago.
Now that everything is right in front of you, attend to it. For starters, begin with prioritizing the tasks on the list. Next, if other people share the responsibilities with you, assign them to the right person and finally attach a deadline to it.
Trust me just doing this simple exercise, will create a massive empty breathing space in your head.
2. BACK TO SCHOOL:
If your kids are of the school-age then you have to deal with the long list of “Back to School Supplies”. Some families make this a fun event while others totally dread it. These days a lot of families are purchasing them via schools to save time and money. For all those who plan to do it on their own, please do not until the very last day as some of the specialty items can be sold out.
I clearly remember a while back when I had to literally drive around the whole town in search of a specific color and thickness binder as almost all the places were sold out and it was too late to order on Amazon….True Story!
Even if you are getting your supplies through your school, chances are you still have to shop for bags and lunch boxes and clothes and shoes and whatnot. Try to do that well in time so you do not end up compromising on whatever the stores have left in your child’s size. (Another true story). Plan and shop online/in stores early enough to get the right things you kids will actually wear rather than ones which will see the donation pile soon.
If your state participates in the Tax-Free Holiday, make sure to have your lists ready and do your homework ahead of time so you know exactly which stores to hit. If you live in Texas or are visiting Texas, the Tax-Free Weekend is August 9-12th, 2019.
3. SUMMER PURGE:
Summer is the perfect time when you add extra inventory to your homes in the form of seasonal toys, games, pool accessories and random clutter. The toys which you brought on a whim when your kids were acting out or the makeup which you will not wear in several years but the sale was too good to pass on, or how about those beach towels which now seem to exude water or the dollar store toys which every time you pass makes you wonder…but why?
Now is the perfect time to purge it so that you have less weight on the house as well as yourself.
Here are some of the storage items I generally use to store items when not in use.
4. SPACE FOR OUTERWEAR:
One fine day, when out of nowhere there is a cold front, you tell your kids to dress up in pants instead of shorts only to realize that they have outgrown them. Now is the perfect time to not only sort out the summer clothes but the winter clothes as well so you exactly what to buy when the cool weather rolls in.
Make sure your donation piles consist of items which will actually be used and not battered, torn, faded items. You will be surprised at the type of things people donate. Use these sturdy bags for the donation which resist tearing.
5. LUNCH IDEAS:
Summer break is the perfect time to try new recipes and see what your kids love to eat the most which is nutritious too. Bring them in the kitchen and let them whip up a recipe which later becomes a part of their lunchbox. Do not over complicate. Have a base recipe and just dress it up.
While you are here, also check out the 10 MUST-HAVE SCHOOL LUNCHBOX ACCESSORIES.
Excite them more by letting them choose a new lunchbox of their liking and get in the habit of using a reusable water bottle (there is enough plastic already).
Now that most of the planning has been done and things are almost in order you can get back to enjoying the cabana as your kids enjoy the pool and the dripping popsicles (no harm in dreaming right :)) It is only a matter of time before the back to school stress and chaos begins, but since you have everything in control, thanks to the step taken above, you will be not be walking on eggshells.
Think about it, the way we approach a moment decides whether we will conquer it or become frazzled. So before your body tenses up, take a deep breath and remind yourself, it is just one of a million moments. Enjoy the last weeks of summer break, being fully present and mindful and making fun memories and traditions which will live on forever.
