You might read this title and think “Wait, it’s only September!” Yes, the summer is winding to a close; you’ll blink and it’ll be the holiday season. That means it’s time to clear out that summer clutter before the busy holiday season starts. September is the perfect time to reset your house, declutter, and set yourself up for a new chapter.
Evaluate Your End-of-Season Activities
By this point, several of your summer activities are probably winding to a close. This is a good time to think about what tools and toys you used over the summer and whether or not you still need them now. This is the time to store sports equipment, gardening tools, and other items you won’t need until the next summer. Make sure you find a home for them that is both out of the way and easily accessible for next year. If you find there’s something you still need, but only for a short while, start thinking of where you’ll want to store it, and set a date for when you need to put it away. Having that commitment to store your things on the calendar will remind you that it’s time and help prevent things being left out all year.
Begin to Rotate Your Clothes
Depending on where you’re located, now is the time to start rotating clothes and making space in your closet for warmer gear. This can be a great excuse to go through your closet and get rid of anything that no longer fits or you no longer wear. You can do the same with clothes you’re pulling out - you might find you don’t know why you set it aside in the first place! This will be a slow process as the season gradually changes, but getting a head start will help you prepare for the odd cool days. When you’re storing clothes, keep them in an air-tight space to prevent mold or mildew. Store them somewhere that’s easy to reach and you’ll remember where it is next year. Depending on your space, you might store them under the bed, in a closet, or up in an attic.
Plan Early
Part of staying organized and prepared for the upcoming season includes staying on top of your schedule. Before you know it, the holidays will be on top of us, and it can be tough to plan it all out while you’re also busy with work and school. Take some time to plan out your season, keeping an eye towards any traditions you know will be coming up. If you always travel or host for the holidays, do what you can now to start getting ready. This might be as simple as setting some dates on the calendar, or you might begin to pull out decorations and tools you want to have on hand. You can do this for non-holiday events as well; if you know that your child has a big event coming up, or you have a work conference you always attend in the fall, start looking towards those dates and think about what you need to accomplish by then. Having it on the calendar means you’ll have that reminder, and you won’t accidentally double-book yourself when things are tight.
Head Back to School Strategically
Back to school shopping inevitably adds to a household, but it doesn’t have to add to your stress and clutter. Before you begin back to school shopping, take an inventory of what you have leftover from last year, what can be reused, and what needs to be replaced. You can often reuse folders, calculators, art supplies, and occasionally notebooks and pencils. You can help your child personalize reused items with stickers, washi tape, or special pens and pencils. The same goes for clothing - work with your kid(s) to evaluate their wardrobe. Whatever doesn’t fit can be donated, and you’ll get a good idea if something needs to be replaced.
The best way to avoid stress and discombobulation is to plan ahead. Starting early and thinking ahead towards events, holidays, and new seasons will help you and your family feel prepared and organized for the upcoming months. Take some time now to wrap up the summer and get ready for your new schedule and new adventures.