Five Smart Back-to-School Jobs to Do Now (While You Still Have Time!)
We know you are in the midst of holiday plans and keeping bored kids busy but we promise your future self will be so grateful in a few weeks time!
🗂 1. Clear That Pile
You know the one. The mountain of school letters, crumpled newsletters, timetables, half-filled forms, certificates you meant to frame, and reminders from a committee you never quite joined. Take 15 minutes to go through it, sort by category (past it, keep it, action it), and recycle what you can.
Top tip? Invest in a simple concertina file or organiser ready for next term, one tab for each child or subject works wonders.
🍱 2. Tackle the Lunchboxes and Tupperware Drawer
Open that cupboard (yes, that one) and face the chaos. Match lids with bases, toss anything cracked, stained, or mysteriously lid-less, and give lunch bags a good wash or wipe-down. Check bottles for leaks and if the rubber seals have gone walkabout, it’s time to say goodbye.
Pop what’s still usable in an easy-to-grab drawer or basket ready for the new term.
🧦 3. Buy the Basics Before the Panic Starts
Socks. Pants. Sanitary products. Stationery. These are the little things that always catch you out the night before school starts. Be ruthless now: if something doesn’t have a pair, it probably never will.
Pick up iron-on labels, name tags, shoe stickers, and wunderweb for any uniform tweaks ahead of time, your future self will thank you.
🎒 4. Create a Grab-and-Go Zone
Designate a space by the door for all the essentials: school bags, coats, water bottles, PE kits, and shoes. A crate or basket per child is ideal. Add hooks or wall space for planners, club timetables, or a weekly checklist.
Even if the rest of the house is a bit of a muddle, this corner of calm can save your mornings.
🍲 5. Batch Cook for the First Week Back
Let’s be honest that first week back is exhausting. Not just for the kids, but for you too. So while you’ve still got a bit of mental space, pop on a podcast and do a little batch cooking.
Think pasta bakes, chilli, Bolognese sauce, or homemade fish fingers. Portion them up and freeze a few. Come September, you’ll be grateful you did.
