10 Back to School Hacks For Stress Free Mornings

No matter how organized you think you are, there seems to be a few new wrinkles every school year. Schedule changes, new activities, or maybe some changes at home.

And you never know what children may be juggling mentally. So when everyone is rushed, it helps to have a few things in place to start the day with a bit less stress.

10 Back to School Hacks for Stress-Free Mornings

Set a Separate Alarm for 10 Minutes Before the Bus Arrives.

The fastest 10 minutes of any day are those minutes just before the school bus arrives. Just when you think you’re ready, there’s a missing shoe, or someone needs a permission slip signed. Then it’s a mad dash to the bus stop. Maybe having an alarm go off ten minutes before the bus arrives will help prevent those emergency road trips to school.

Morning Alarm via Good Housekeeping

Backpack Stations Save Time

Having a dedicated place for things we use every day like shoes and backpacks just makes sense.

Backpack stations via iHeart Organizing & Crafty Southern Mama

A File Box Will Encourage Kids to be Organized.

As kids get a little older, they’ll start receiving papers for assignments, school clubs, sports or other activities. Or they may have things of their own they’d like to save. Having their own small file box is a back to school hack that’ll benefit your child as well as you. It’s a great way to learn organization at an early age.

    File box via Good Housekeeping

Take Pictures of Art Projects

I have boxes, and boxes of drawings, report cards, and holiday art projects that I couldn’t dare throw out. “The kids will appreciate having these one day“, I always thought. Until one day, I showed my daughter all that I’ve been treasuring, and her response was, “throw it out…I don’t need it“. Ouch!

So, taking pictures is a good way to save the memories – and space.

Art snapshot via Krazy Coupon Lady

Dedicate a School Snack Drawer.

If you’re packing lunches each morning, anything you can do to shave off a few minutes makes your morning less stressful. And it’s also easier to see when you’ll need to make a run to the store.

Snack drawer via Good Housekeeping & iHeart Organizing

Use a Week At a Glance Planner

I used to think I could either remember appointments or just add a quick reminder on my phone. But after missing dental appointments, sports practices, and school functions, I finally realized that being able to look at an entire week at once is the only way to go.

As kids get older and have more activities, it’s nice to be able to flip to any page and see an entire week. This can be a back to school hack for students also, to learn organization skills they’ll need in college.

Week at a glance via Good Housekeeping

Use a Simple Task Chart

Hanging up a simple task chart is a good way to gradually give kids some ownership over their schedule. It clarifies simple tasks and helps kids to develop a sense of responsibility as they check things off.

Task charts via iHeart Organizing  & A Spotted Pony

Use a School Lunch Cabinet

Having a dedicated cabinet for something we do every day makes sense. I guess if I can have a coffee cabinet and a liquor cabinet the kids should have a lunch cabinet. Grabbing snacks, drinks or containers from one place saves precious minutes.

School lunch cabinet via iHeart Organizing

Pick Out Clothes for the Week

I remember the mornings when one of my kids would ask me, about 8 minutes before the bus arrives, “did you see my jeans?” And suddenly I’d realize I forgot to throw them in the dryer. 

Those mornings are history if you spend five minutes on Sunday night loading your organizer. And they’ll never wonder on Friday morning, “Wait, did I already wear this shirt this week?“

Clothes for the week via Krazy Coupon Lady

Create a Homework Station

It’s a shame to lose focus because you’re wandering around the house looking for a sharpened pencil, an eraser or a highlighter. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but having everything in one spot definitely makes homework easier.

Homework station via Bowl of Lemons

Final Points

The start of September has always felt more like a new year than “New Years” does for me. With the summer ending, the weather changing and kids starting a new school year, it’s a good time to evaluate things and make life easier. Hopefully some of these back to school hacks simplify your mornings as much as they’ve helped ours!

If you want to save this for the start of the school year, feel free to pin it!