The unofficial summer has ended. Parents and children are back in school mode. Transitions are in progress as we adjust to new schedules, set new goals, wrap-up endings and embrace new beginnings. With a full fall schedule ahead of me, I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to give up that slower, less-stressful pace of summer. Thoughts of leisurely beach days, river walks, and no alarm clock mornings occupy my thoughts.

Yet here we are. It’s a new month. It’s a seasonal transition. It’s a time to re-set and get ready for new challenges and successes. How do you do that? What successes are you striving for? There are many ways to strengthen your foundation to create successful outcomes. I’ve suggested a few strategies. Do you have any additional ones to add?

More Calm

Success can come from frenzy, but finding some calm during your day can go miles in clearing your head and clarifying your thoughts. Our successes will flow more easily if we balance life’s daily stresses with moments of calm. Where will your calm come from? For me, sunshine and water are essential. They immediate restore calm to my inner being.

More Nourishment

Success can come out of deprivation, but nourishment can supercharge your success. The nourishment I’m referring to has to do with getting enough sleep, eating healthfully, hydrating, and stimulating our minds and hearts. What can you read or learn that will provide groundwork for future success. What relationships can you develop or nurture that will enhance the journey you’re on?

More Percolation

Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, persistence, experiences and failures to get there. We can lack clarity and vision in where we’re headed. Cloudiness can bring frustration, negativity, or lack of motivation. We need time to mull things over before clarity appears. Give yourself ample opportunity to capture your thoughts. The fragments might not make sense yet, but given time, you can pull together the pieces, identify themes and move forward. Let success thoughts percolate. These are an essential part of your success foundation.

Where are you now? What do you need to strengthen your foundation for success? What will help you to move forward? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Do you wish your kids were more organized? Do you get frustrated trying to help them? I was curious about how others taught and transferred organizing skills to their own children. So, I enlisted help from a wonderful group of colleagues (Stephanie Calahan, Leslie Josel, Helena Alkhas, Ellen Delap, Yota Schneider, Diana Quintana and Aby Garvey.) I asked them, “What organizing success strategy have you passed on to your children? How did you accomplish that?”  Their responses are motivating and inspiring. My gratitude goes to each of them for sharing their personal stories with us. If you want your children to become more organized, keep reading to discover some kid-tested organizing success tips that might work for you.

What organizing success strategy have you passed on to your children? How did you accomplish that? . . .

7 Kid-Tested Organizing Success Tips

1. Small Steps

“Ever since my son was small we have worked with him to understand how to take big projects and break them into simple doable steps. For example, cleaning his bathroom breaks down into gathering the supplies needed and then cleaning the mirror, counter, sink, tub/shower, toilet and floor. We did this by sitting with him and having him think through the steps and we'd fill in the blanks when he would get stuck. Now that he is twelve, we use the same strategy for his school and extra curricular activities. We found that by giving him the opportunity to think it through first, he is quite independent with most of his work and often gets it done ahead of schedule because he has thought through the variables.“

Stephanie LH Calahan– The Big Vision Catalyst, Business Strategist, Author and Producer

2. Prompts

“The organizing success strategy that I’ve taught my children is to use external prompts to remind them of tasks or responsibilities they need to get done. So if they need to do homework, call a friend, walk the dog, put dinner in the oven, etc. They’ve been taught to set timers, phones, alarms, or use visual and written prompts. I started teaching them this strategy by asking them the question, “How are you going to remember to…” and having them work out the strategy that would best fit the task. It’s not enough to ask them to do something but ask them how they are going to remember or prompt themselves to do it.”

Leslie Josel – ADHD Specialist & Author

3. Routines

“I am a believer in having routines to structure our time, know what comes next and to be more productive. We have a clear routine that "guides" us through the day and the kids grew up with that. From the moment they wake up, through going to school and back, all the way to going to bed at night we follow a "self-care/school" checklist that helps them cross the dots of daily life and lets them know when is work time, when is play time. This also teaches them to be independent and to self-guide. As a parent it is my hope that this will stay with them and help them when they have to leave and be on their own.”

Helena Alkhas– Professional Organizer & Virtual Assistant

4. Practice

“My kids are amazing, organized parents! They are list makers with a family calendar in their kitchens. They organize not only their closets, but also their children’s clothes.  Each has a file cabinet with easy access, simple filing. How did this happen?  It’s all about talking the talk and walking the walk.  Living in a home with organized parents created the expectation that organizing is an important life skill.  We focused on strengths, talked about organizing, and down played perfectionism.  They practiced as teens and young adults.  Now as parents of young children they have created organizing solutions in their own homes.”

Ellen Delap, CPO®  – Professional Organizer, Productivity Consultant & Family Manager Coach

5. Preparation

“August is traditionally Back to School month and there's tremendous marketing pressure to get out there and buy. The girls, high school juniors, know that I'm not going Back to School shopping unless they've inventoried their closets and desks, assessed their needs and wants, and de-cluttered their space.

Piles of paper, old homework and folders head to the recycling bin, used up school supplies are thrown away, and clothes they've outgrown and are usable head to the donation pile. Next, they create a prioritized list of their needs and wants. I assure them that they'll always get what they need and occasionally what they want. What they’ve learned is that, in order to make room for the new, we simply have to let go of the old and outdated!"

Yota Schneider, Seasons of Change Certified Master Coach – Life Transitions Coach, Workshops & Retreat Facilitator, Blogger, & Mindfulness Meditation Practitioner

6. Completion

“There is a saying that goes like this: Don’t put it down, put it away. I used this saying over and over with my two boys. When they were very young I asked them to put something away when they were finished with it. This translated to games they were playing with when they were very young. As they grew older this saying could also be applied to things like clothes (in a laundry basket or hung up), dishes in the dishwasher, homework in the correct binder, and taking things they belonged to them back to their rooms.”

Diane N. Quintana, CPO®, CPO-CD®– Professional Organizer & Author

7. Letting Go

“By organizing and decluttering with my kids since they were very young, I've taught them how to let go of things they no longer use or love. For one of my kids, letting go didn't come easy. It required a lot of patience and a long-term focus on my part, as we spent hours going through her stuffed animals, clothing, toys, and books. I always let my kids make the decisions, and never let go of anything behind their backs. In the process, I've taught them that letting go is a natural part of life and maintained their trust.”

Aby Garvey – Professional Organizer, Author, & Online Class Instructor

I love this collection of strategies from my colleagues! As a parent with two daughters in college and beyond, I have spent a lot of time teaching them organizing skills. The investment was worthwhile. I marvel at how they’ve integrated those skills regularly and naturally into their lives. Here are some more articles about transferring organizing skills to our children:

Failing Your Way to Success by Linda Samuels

Moms’ “To Do” Lists by Linda Samuels

Cutting the Organizing Umbilical Cord by Leslie Josel

11 Tips to Conquer Your Child’s Clutter by Aby Garvey

Which organizing success tips resonate with you? Do you have additional ones to share? Come join the conversation.

It’s that time of year. Leaves are turning, classes are starting, and new school supplies are flying off store shelves. The other day I came across an old pre-printed pad, “A Note to School from Linda Samuels,” which I no longer use since our daughters are in college and beyond. Seeing the notepad made me think about all the years of excited anticipation we had preparing for school to begin.

Are you and your kids ready for the transition? Take a deep breath. Getting that organizing piece working for you can make a big difference in your days running more smoothly. Here are my top seven tips for an organized, joyful school year.

7 Organizing Help Tips for Back to School

1. Cycle

Giving closure to the previous school year helps us get ready for this year. Sort through last year’s school papers (preferably with your kids.) It’s an excellent opportunity to review what was accomplished and what they were most proud of. It gives you a chance to create a mini time capsule representing last year. Be ruthless when you sort. Save what’s most meaningful and recycle the rest. Store the “keepers” in a large envelope. Write your kid’s name, grade, and year on the outside. Store the envelope in a larger container. Add a new envelope at the end of each school year. 

2. Capture

Establish a place to put the current school papers as they enter your home. You can use bins, binders, boxes, or any container that’s easily accessible. As art, graded papers, or programs come in, put them in their designated spot. You might want a separate container for each kid. When the container gets full, you can do some editing. Then the “keepers” can be stored in their year-end envelope, as described above.

3. Land

Create a place for backpacks, coats, and notes to reside. When kids come home, they will know where to put their belongings. Cubbies work well, as do hooks. Make them easily accessible in terms of their physical placement in the home and the heights at which you place things. The easier you make it, the better chance you will establish the “place it here” habit. Consider adding a whiteboard or other communication center in this area to leave notes, messages, and essential items for kids to remember. Before bed, have your kids make sure that all needed items are ready in the “land” area for the following day.

“Giving closure to the previous school year helps us get ready for this year.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

4. Center

One of the essential ingredients for school success is establishing a place to do homework and readily available school supplies. When it’s time to do that science project, it’s no fun if you have to hunt for the markers. Review your current supplies to see if any items need to be replenished. Create a zone for the supplies to reside. If your kids like to move around to various locations to do their homework, put together a portable tote, bin, or rolling cart to hold the supplies. Whether they prefer working on a desk, bed, or the kitchen table, the supplies can “travel” with your kids. 

5. Assess

Fall is a natural time to review clothing needs. Organize with each kid separately. Go through their closets and drawers. Remove any items that no longer fit, they won’t wear, need repair or cleaning. With the “do not want or fit,” donate or save for younger kids if appropriate. Make a shopping list of items that are needed. Remember that less is easier to maintain than too much. Factor in how often laundry is done. Especially if it’s done frequently, you may not need as many clothes. Getting dressed is so much easier and less stressful when everything fits, is clean and organized.

6. Resources

This is the time of year when back to school tips and suggestions are abundant. Many of my organizing colleagues have great wisdom to share. Some of my favorite tips and posts are Leslie Josel’s Student Organizing Pinterest board, Helena Alkhas’ school paper organizing system, and Ellen Delap’s Back to School Tips to Organize Your Home. You can also find inspiration on my Pinterest board, Oh, So Organized School Days!

7. Perspective

With transitions come new patterns, more to-dos, and extra stress. Reminding ourselves to enjoy the moments can be helpful. They go so fast. A few years ago, I wrote a guest post for Working Mother, Moms’ ‘To Do’ Lists about getting things done, parenting, and appreciating the various stages of our children’s lives.

What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized for the school year? I invite you to join the conversation and to share your best tips and resources. 

It’s fall! It’s fun! It’s a time of possibilities and change. Kids are going off to school. Leaves are changing colors. Acorns are dropping from the trees in droves. I’ve been traveling quite a bit the last few months including North Carolina, Boston, Curacao, Austin and DC. When I was in the fabulous city of Austin for the NSGCD conference (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization,) I enjoyed visiting Allen's Boots and trying on some gorgeous cowboy boots. As I was about to write this post, my mind took a slight detour in connecting the words boot with book. So, while a boot tour could be fun, instead, I’m doing a book tour.

Let’s go back to possibilities. I’m in the midst of my Fall Book Blog Tour for The Other Side of Organized and having a great time! You never know what might happen. Already my book has traveled as far as Australia (thank you, Claire McFee) and in many places around the United States. Two special people, Crystal Patriarche and Stephanie Elliott of BookSparksPR are coordinating the events. They are amazing women and I couldn’t have done this without their expertise and guidance. Thank you, Crystal and Stephanie.

Of course, no tour would happen without the wonderful, generous people that are willing to host. The tour to date has included guest posts I’ve written about Paper Clutter, Dreaming, Technology & Life Balance, and Motivating Kids to Organize. There are lots more exciting happenings coming like guest posts about "Organization with a Sprinkling of Chaos," Q&As, book reviews and giveaways. My deepest gratitude goes out to all the people that have hosted my book tour so far. We’re going strong with many more stops to make. Below is a partial list of blogs visited to date:

• Almost Organized – Robert Carr
• Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom – Bethany LeBedz
• Five Minutes for Books – Dawn Mooney
• Neat Streak – Melanie Dennis
• Organize With Sandy – Sandy Jenny
• Organize Your Life Now – Claire McFee
• Rubbermaid – Erin Gentry
• Penelope’s Oasis – Penelope Guman

Please visit these blogs, leave a comment, enter a giveaway or just stop by and say “hello.” It’s wonderful to get out there, meet so many of you (even if it’s virtually) and share the conversation.  Check back often for the latest updates. I invite you to join me on Twitter @LindaSamuels, Oh, So Organized Facebook page, sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter or leave a comment on my blog. I personally invite you to join in the conversation about possibilities, organizing and life balance.