Back to School Routine Tips
The lazy days of summer are winding down, and for busy moms, that back-to-school rush is right around the corner. But don’t panic—we’re not diving in just yet. This is your chance to hit reset and ease into a new season feeling calm, organized, and ready to conquer it all. Keep reading to see these Life Before Back-to-School tips with 7 Ways to Reset Your Home!
🔽 Watch on YouTube 🔽
🎥 Watch the quick video above — then scroll for more freebies, links & resources below!
Here are 7 simple ways to refresh your space and routine before the school bells ring:
1. Create a Family Command Center
Designate a space where everyone can stay on track. A chalkboard calendar, hanging file folders, and labeled baskets for each kid make all the difference. Need a quick DIY? Use clipboards and Dollar Tree bins to create a custom station in any hallway or nook.
Use your wall calendar to get ready for back-to-school by adding important school events to your calendar (back-to-school night, etc.). It might be important to include which days your child has special activities (like gym class so they remember to wear sneakers).
SHOP THESE COMMAND CENTER SUPPLIES
Encourage your children to check the calendar every morning and evening. We keep our calendar by the garage door so we can glance at it for any last-minute reminders before we head out. You wouldn’t believe how many times we’ve forgotten about activities (field trips, etc) and noticed it on the calendar as we were heading out!
2. Streamline Your Morning Routine
Mornings don’t have to be chaos. Prep outfits for the week, stock a grab-and-go breakfast bin, and use a checklist so kids know what to do without being told (a thousand times 🙃).
Reset Hack: Use a rolling cart or hanging organizer to set up each child’s weekly outfits by day.
I’m a big fan of checklists. If your child doesn’t have a daily routine checklist, you can print this one that I made for free.
The checklist is simple and includes everything that they should do when starting their day and ending their day. Start this morning and night-time routine 2 weeks before school for the best success!
3. Declutter High-Traffic Zones
Entryways, kitchens, and craft corners get trashed over the summer. Take 15 minutes a day this week to declutter one space at a time. You’ll feel a major mental lift when the clutter is gone!
If you don’t have a mudroom, make one! All you need is a small wall to install hooks and a few baskets and you have a space to place school belongings.
Here’s my post of how we transformed a closet into a mudroom for less than $30!
Lunch boxes and backpacks can hang on the same hooks or you can keep lunchboxes in the kitchen. We have a large basket on top of our refrigerator that I throw the lunch boxes in when they are empty which has worked for us for years!
If you are not a fan of keeping your children’s artwork, you can toss it as it comes in the door or chooses to keep 1 or 2 special items to display in your home (framed in the family room, on the refrigerator or scan them/take a picture for a digital file). There are many different ways to organize school artwork and paperwork, and the basket system by the door combined with my fail-proof system here works for our kids.
See this Hack to Declutter Your Space in 15 Minutes or Less!
4. Stock Up on School Essentials Now
Avoid last-minute scrambles by buying supplies early. Use a printable shopping list, label everything, and keep extras in a school stash bin for mid-year restocks.
Affiliate Pick: I use these clear binsand label makers to keep supplies organized all year long.
Designate a homework station
Our son likes to use the kitchen table. Both are acceptable for us since I created some Portable Homework Stations (see them below) that they can use anywhere in our home. That being said, you may not want them doing their homework in certain areas of the home.
Designate a homework spot for them and let them try it out the first few weeks (they may feel comfortable in a more permanent setting like a desk in their bedroom). Discuss when homework will be completed. Will it be right when they get home or will they have a snack then homework? Make a plan so you can keep a routine for them to adjust to right away.
Get school supplies organized before school starts so you are not scrambling to get items. Create a Homework Station and set a rule that all items in the station are for homework only. This rule means that all items need to be returned to the station/caddy and put away after homework is finished.
Make this Dollar Tree DIY Portable Homework Station with Free Printable Chalkboard Labels!
Get your school supplies checklist in order and have your child help organize their new school supplies in their backpack before the first day of school.
5. Reset Your Meal Planning System
Back-to-school means back to what’s for dinner? Make life easier by planning ahead. Set up a rotating menu, prep some freezer meals, and print out lunchbox idea lists.
Free Printable Alert: Grab my Simple Meal Planner for Busy Moms—it’s a game-changer!
6. Update Your Digital Calendar + Printables
Sync everyone’s schedules—school pickups, sports practices, work meetings—into one digital calendar. Then print out key ones (like weekly routines and chore charts) and hang them where the family can see them.
✨ Shop My Printable Routine Planners Here
7. Create a Reset Ritual for Yourself
Before the school year starts, carve out one quiet morning or evening for you. Light a candle, make a cup of coffee, and plan the upcoming month in peace. A mental reset is just as important as organizing your home.
Need some busy mom inspo? Check out my ChatGPT prompts to help busy moms here
👕 Bonus Reset #8: Refresh Everyone’s Wardrobe
Back-to-school season is the perfect excuse to declutter the closets and update everyone’s outfits—because let’s be honest, no one wants to start a new school year with last year’s too-small jeans or worn-out sneakers 😅 Read How to Create A Year-Round Wardrobe Capsule here.
🛍 Back-to-School Outfit Ideas for Teen Girls
This year’s teen girl must-haves are all about casual-cute comfort with confidence—think Nike socks, Stanley cups, Birkenstocks, crop tops, bodysuits, and the classic Jansport backpack (yes, it’s still a thing!). ✨ I created a full shoppable teen girl style guide with everything she needs to start the school year feeling her best.
👉 Click here to see the outfit guide for teen girls
👟 Back-to-School Shopping for Teen Boys
When it comes to teen boys, simple and sporty wins. Tall Nike socks, Adidas slides, graphic tees, tech-friendly backpacks, and clean sneakers like New Balance or Blazers are the go-tos. ✨ I also made a shoppable guide just for teen boys, so you can cross their shopping list off in one click.
👉 Check out the teen boy outfit guide here
📦 Amazon Back-to-School Shopping Made Easy
From planners and fridge bins to lunch gear and label makers, I’ve rounded up the best Amazon finds to help you prep your home and routines—without leaving the house. ✨ These are my go-to items I’ve actually used to make the school transition easier.
👉 Shop my full Amazon Back-to-School List here
🍂 Early Fall Wardrobe Ideas for Moms
You deserve a reset too. Whether you’re running errands, working from home, or just surviving drop-off in style—I’m sharing a few cozy, transitional outfit ideas that will take you from summer to early fall with ease. ✨ Think soft linen shorts, ribbed tanks, layered neutrals, and comfy-chic sneakers with green accessories (my go-to right now). Follow me on the LTK app to see what I’m wearing each day for Fall!
👉 Get inspired with these mom wardrobe staples for fall
💌 Ready to Reset?
Use this week to breathe, prep, and take small steps toward a smoother fall season. Download your free Reset Checklist below and stay tuned—next week we kick off the Back-to-School Series for Busy Moms!
GRAB THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESET PRINTABLE PACK!
Feeling overwhelmed with back-to-school chaos? The Back-to-School Reset Kit is your ultimate printable toolkit to help busy moms reset, organize, and refresh before the school year begins! 🎒✨ This bundle includes everything you need to create smoother mornings, a more organized home, and stylish spaces—all using easy, affordable tools you can print at home.
- 🎁 WHAT YOU GET:
✅ 7 Ways to Reset Your Home + Life Before Back-to-School
A printable checklist to help you mentally and physically prep for the new season. - ✅ Daily Routine Charts for Kids
Visual checklists for morning and evening routines—empower your kids to be independent and on time! - ✅ Homework Station Labels
Crisp, clean chalkboard labels for creating a portable homework caddy—perfect for small spaces and busy families. - ✅ First + Last Day of School Photo Signs
Celebrate those big moments with printable bunting and chalkboard-style signs. - ✅ Printable Educational Wall Charts
Beautiful and functional! Includes a cursive alphabet chart, multiplication table, world map, and periodic table—great for homeschool rooms, bedrooms, or learning corners. - ✅ 3-Page Family Schedule Pack
Includes:
– Done-for-you weekly schedule
– Printable family to-do list
– Time-blocking strategy sheet to help you stay on track🖨️ INSTANT DOWNLOAD
• PDF Files (Sized for 8.5×11″)
• Print at home or through your favorite printing service
• Reuse year after year!
💡 Perfect For:
• Moms prepping for the school year
• Organizing small spaces & command centers
• Quick home updates on a budget
• Anyone needing a reset + routine boost!
👉 Ready to reset your space and your sanity?
Add this Get-It-Together Pack to your cart and start printing today!
The first few weeks back to school can feel like a whirlwind for moms—early mornings, packed lunches, homework, and new routines. It’s easy to put ourselves last, but this season is exactly when we need to prioritize a little self-care. For me, that means creating a peaceful moment at the end of the day with a few simple favorites: I turn on my pretty diffuser with calming oils, wrap up in my softest throw blanket, spritz my favorite room spray, and enjoy the cozy glow of flameless candles. It’s my reminder that I deserve a reset too—and that even five minutes of calm can make a world of difference.
Wrap up about Back to School Routine Tips
Create routines and a plan that will help your family using these back-to-school readiness tips and tricks. Set up a calendar with all family member events. Decide when and where to do homework. Create a homework station with all the supplies needed to complete assignments. Create an organized area and system to place backpacks, lunch boxes, and school papers.
Grab my Free Printable Back-to-School Checklist to get organized before the first day!
Psssssttt…Right now I’m offering a FREE 3-Day Course to Organize your Kitchen FOR GOOD! The free course includes instructions, tips and pictures for how to de-clutter, simplify and organize your kitchen in only 3-days! Hurry up and sign up here! (Course instructions will be sent after subscribing).
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links or a sponsored post. All opinions are always 100% mine and I don’t partner with any product or company that I don’t use and love. Please see our Full Disclosure for more information.
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