How to Make the Most of the Sunday of Summer: Back to School Systems that Will Save Your Sanity

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you – but I would never recommend something I haven’t used and love myself.

If you’ve walked down a Target aisle lately, you’ve probably seen it: the crayons, the notebooks, and the backpacks. Back to school season is officially here. You know that the sun is setting on summer, and the first day of school is right around the corner. It’s time to get prepared – and that means getting your back to school home organization systems in place.

Back to school season might make you feel genuinely excited. Maybe you love the smell of fresh pencils, the feeling of a fresh start, and the comfort of getting back into a familiar routine. Or maybe you’re feeling a bit of dread – almost a “Sunday scaries” feeling of realizing you’re losing some freedom and heading back into a very full calendar. 

This is why I call August the “Sunday of Summer.” It's the last stretch before the "Monday" of the school year hits – and just like a Sunday, how you spend it determines how ready you feel when Monday actually arrives.

However you’re feeling, one thing is for sure: having systems and organization in place before school starts is the best way to set your kids (and yourself) up for success, and set the tone for a calm school year.

What I Saw as a Teacher

Before I was a professional organizer, I was a 2nd grade teacher. Each year, I could instantly spot which students had home organization systems… and which ones didn’t.

The ones who didn’t usually walked in frazzled (and often late). They spent the first 10 minutes of class searching through their backpacks through loose papers, trying to find their permission slip or homework. Crumpled papers would fall onto the floor as they frantically searched. Their lunchboxes were often left at home, or sometimes half-packed. These students spent that time and mental energy stressing, when they should have spent it learning. 

If this sounds familiar for you and your child, this is not meant to guilt you. In fact, this is meant to encourage you and give you a solution! Children who struggle with this don’t usually struggle due to a lack of love or effort on their parents’ part – but a lack of home organization systems.

Sustainable Home Organization Systems for ADHD 

Does this describe more mornings than you'd like to admit – as an adult, too? Rushing out the door, digging through a bag for your keys, feeling too stressed and scattered to focus on the things that actually matter?

You are not alone. And if mornings and routines feel especially hard for you because you or your child has ADHD or ADHD tendencies, I promise there are simple, sustainable fixes (if you haven't already, check out my last post on working with an ADHD brain instead of against it).

The systems below are simple enough that you can have a new routine in place before the first bell rings – with less stress, less searching, and more time back in your day.

Back to School Home Organization Systems that Will Save Your Sanity

Before we begin, I want to note: You don’t need to implement all of these systems at once. The last thing I want to do is overwhelm you. Instead, pick one of these to try at a time. Commit to it for 7 days and see what a difference it makes in your mental energy and how you feel throughout the day!

1. Declutter Kids’ Spaces First

It’s very difficult to organize and set up new systems if you have a lot of clutter you don’t need. The first step should be decluttering as much as you can. Before school starts, make time to store, donate, or sell clothes that no longer fit and get rid of toys and items that are no longer used. 

Here are other often-forgotten things to declutter:

• Test chargers and throw out the ones that no longer work

• Check that backpacks and lunchboxes are still functioning and clean

• Look in those hidden pockets of backpacks and jackets to be sure everything is cleaned out

2. Try a Take-Home Folder

Does your child store loose, crumpled papers in his backpack? It’s a recipe for the backpack to quickly become a disaster zone. There is actually a simple solution for backpack management: a take-home folder. 

Some teachers supply a take-home folder, but if your child’s teacher does not, you may get your own (here are the folders I like). It doesn’t have to be fancy – it’s simply a folder with one pocket labeled “Leave at Home” and the other labeled “Return to School.” 

To make the most out of the take-home folder, this can be your child’s after school routine:

1. Check the folder the moment your child walks in the door

2. Pull homework out and put it in its designated "homework spot" for your child to work on

3. Empty the lunchbox (bonus points if you pack it for the next day)

4. Put the backpack back in its designated spot by the door on a hook (I like these for sturdy hanging), packed and ready to go

3. Get Your Kids Involved

Our children are often more capable than we realize. Asking them to take part in the after school routine will not only take the task off your plate, but give them ownership and a sense of responsibility over their belongings. It sets the tone for a calm day when they also know where all of their supplies are.

When you arrive home, ask your kids to unpack their lunch box and their take-home folder, and repack their backpack for the next day. 

Bonus for ADHD families: if you or your child has ADHD, doing this together is a great way to build in body doubling – simply having someone else present and working alongside you makes it dramatically easier to start and follow through on a task. Have your child pack his lunch while you pack yours for the next day!

Not only are these hooks colorful and sturdy, but they also allow your child to easily put their belongings away when they get home from school each day.

4. Create a Back to School Command Center

I already mentioned keeping your backpack hooks by the door, but that’s not the only thing that would make sense there. Keep your family planner, hooks for jackets, trays for permission slips and school forms (like this one for a table and this one for the wall), and a bin for lunchboxes and water bottles all there, too. This makes a great place for things to land when you walk in the door, and be found easily when you’re trying to leave.

Once papers land in the tray, make it part of the routine to take them out each day and:

• Sign and return them into the take-home folder

• Put dates in the family calendar

• Trash or file them away to keep the tray clear

Don’t skip these steps with the tray. Otherwise, it will turn into a pile to sort through later!

If you’re a paper-and-pencil family, I love this family planner and this wall calendar for a command center. But if you’re more digital, the Skylight is a great option to keep everyone on the same page.

5. Post a Visual Morning Routine

A picture-based morning routine is a great way to keep everyone on track. This is especially powerful for young children, children with ADHD, and boys of all ages. 

A simple version might include pictures for:

• Get dressed

• Eat breakfast

• Brush teeth

• Get backpack

Add a timer to keep everyone moving, and instead of asking, “Did you brush your teeth?” you can say, “What is left to do on your list?”

6. Plan an Evening Routine

A smooth evening routine will set you up for a calm morning the next day. You can do the following to prepare the night before:

• Lay out clothes for the next day

• Prep lunchboxes (you could try this while you’re already making dinner)

• Consider having kids shower the night before, or even sleep in the next day's clothes if mornings are especially tough

Every task you move to the night before is one less decision your family has to make in the time crunch before school.

7. Create a Homework Caddy

Try getting a clear, lidless bin filled with the supplies your child needs for homework – pencils, erasers, scissors, glue, and so on. I love to label these bins, so there’s no question where things go. If you’re in the market for a label maker, this one is a great, standard option (although I prefer this P-Touch Cube version).

Bonus for ADHD families: open, labeled bins reduce decision fatigue and cut down the number of steps it takes to clean up, which means clean-up is more likely to actually happen.

8. Build in Time Buffers for Transitions

Whatever your morning timeline looks like, add a 10 minute buffer somewhere in the middle of it. If it takes you 20 minutes to drive to school, add 10 minutes to get out the door. Transitions are where mornings actually fall apart. A little slack in the schedule is what keeps one slow moment from snowballing into a late, stressful departure.

Start With One Home Organization System

If you take nothing else from this post, take this: you do not need to build all eight of these home organization systems this week. Don’t think of these as a checklist you have to hit all at once; think of it as a menu you can pick and choose from. Pick one home organization system that looks best to you and start there! Commit to it for 7 days, decide if you like it enough to keep it, and then try a new one if you’d like.

I promise: small, consistent habits add up. These small changes today will make a big difference in how you’re feeling come the first day of school!

My Favorite Home Organization Products

You don't need anything fancy to build a command center or a homework caddy – repurposed bins and baskets you already own work just fine. But if you're shopping for something new, here are a few of my favorite organizing products*:

• The Skylight Calendar

• Acrylic Wall Calendar

• Spiral Bound Planner

• Paper Tray Organizer for a table

• Paper Tray Organizer for a wall

• Folders

• Hooks

• Label Maker (Standard Style)

• Label Maker (P-Touch Cube)

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you – but I would never recommend something I haven’t used and love myself.

Want More Home Organization Systems and Tips?

Loved these tips? You'll love my newsletter. Sign up here for more simple systems to make everyday life with your family calmer and more manageable.

Organizing for ADHD (& Anyone Who Feels Overwhelmed): 4 Practical Tips for a Calm Space

I'm not a therapist or ADHD clinician. I'm a professional organizer who's worked with many clients with ADHD, spent years teaching children with different learning styles, and has learned a tremendous amount from ADHD experts. Whether you have ADHD, suspect you might, or simply feel overwhelmed by clutter and constant distractions, many of these strategies can make everyday life easier.

Picture this: You walk into a room, only to forget why you went there in the first place. You know you needed to get something, but what was it? 

Suddenly, you remember what you needed – a pair of scissors. You look around. There are piles of objects on tables: books piled on a shelf haphazardly, papers stacked high that need sorting, and that chair in the corner that catches all the things. You created each pile to serve as a reminder of tasks to be dealt with later – each one a project started, but not finished. 

You can’t find the scissors, and now you’re resigned to just buying another pair. You’re frustrated – but it’s happened before, and you’ve just accepted that this is how it is.

If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. This is the reality for many of my clients. And please know this: you have nothing to be ashamed of, and organization is possible for you. You just need personalized advice for how your brain works. 

How I’ve Seen ADHD Affect Organization

Executive Functioning

One term you'll hear often in ADHD discussions is executive function. Think of it as your brain's management system.

Executive function helps us plan, prioritize, remember, switch between tasks, estimate time, and finish what we've started. But when those skills are challenged, simple tasks can feel surprisingly difficult.

If you struggle with organizing for ADHD, it doesn't mean you're lazy or don’t care. It means you need systems that will reduce your decision fatigue and mental load.

In The Classroom

As a second grade teacher for 25 years, I learned something that has stayed with me long after I left the classroom: every child learns differently. Some needed to move while they learned. Some thrived with visual reminders. Others needed information presented in completely different ways. 

The best teachers don't expect every child to fit the same mold; they adapt their teaching to fit the learner. I’ve come to realize organization works the same way. 

With Clients

Over the years, I've worked with many clients who have ADHD, and I've spent a lot of time learning from respected ADHD experts and organizers. Most recently, I listened to The ADHD Field Guide for Adults, which reinforced many ideas I've seen firsthand in clients' homes.

While I've never been formally diagnosed with ADHD, I do recognize several ADHD tendencies in myself. I often have lots of ideas competing for attention, can jump between projects, and sometimes rely a little too much on visual reminders. Learning more about how ADHD brains work has helped me become a better organizer, not only for my clients, but for myself as well.

Before we dive in, I want to be clear that I'm not an ADHD clinician or therapist. I'm sharing what I've learned through years as an educator, a professional organizer, and someone who genuinely enjoys learning from experts in this field. If you'd like additional support, I've recently added an ADHD Support page to my website that shares more about how I help clients create organizing systems that fit the way they think.

Why Traditional Organizational Advice Doesn’t Work for ADHD

Most organization tips and tricks out there assume that once you create a system, it will just stick. They don’t account for how hard it might be to start a task, or how mentally exhausting everyday tasks feel. 

But if you have ADHD or ADHD tendencies, that’s exactly the type of advice you need – advice tailored to how your brain works. If you feel disorganized, it’s likely not because you’re lazy or lacking motivation. It might be how your brain processes information. 

If your brain struggles with prioritizing what to do next, estimating how long something will take, or finishing what you've started, traditional organizing advice can leave you feeling frustrated instead of successful. The key to good organizing is that it should reduce the amount of thinking your brain has to do.

4 Tips for Organizing with ADHD

1. Reduce The Steps to Organization

Every extra step makes a task a little harder to complete. If you can reduce the number of steps it takes to stay organized, you’ll set yourself up for success. 

Here are some ideas:

• Instead of hanging up jackets (which takes several steps), use a hook by the door for your coats.

• If putting away snacks takes opening up several doors and containers, try using a clear bin without a lid so you can just toss them in.

• Create a landing zone for items when you enter the house. For example, if you always drop your keys on the counter instead of the keyhook, get a bin for the counter to contain the keys and anything else you need to get out the door.

• Move items closer to where they’ll be used, like a bin of shoes and socks that stays by the front door.

2. Use Visual Reminders

You don’t have to rely on memory to complete daily tasks. Instead, use visual reminders to keep yourself on track and reduce your mental load. 

Here are some ideas to incorporate visual reminders in your home:

• Label your shelves

• Use clear containers (so you can see what’s inside without having to open them up)

• Store like items together 

• Keep a running to-do list somewhere you will see it, like your fridge or bathroom mirror

• Put important items where you’ll naturally see them 

3. Target One Organizational System That Isn’t Working

Many of us spend a lot of time and money searching for the perfect organizational product, container, or planner to help us “finally get organized.” When it doesn’t work, it can leave us feeling like we’re the problem. 

I promise: You are not the problem. Instead of trying a new system or product, try targeting one system that isn’t working. Change one thing about it (and one thing only). Give the new version seven days. Keep what is working for that system and let go of what doesn’t. 

Let’s say you pinpoint laundry, because you never finish folding and putting away your clothes and cannot find what you’re looking for in the morning. Maybe instead of folding the clothes no one sees – like your pajamas and socks – you throw those into your drawers, unfolded. That one small change can make a big difference in your decision fatigue (and therefore, your ability to complete the task of folding laundry).

4. Split Organizational Projects Into Small Tasks

It can be overwhelming to look at a cluttered room and decide where to start. Allow yourself to only focus on one thing to organize at a time – one drawer, one countertop, or one donation bag – and then celebrate that as progress.

Try this: 

• Set a timer for just 15 minutes.

• Choose one small area instead of an entire room.

• Stop when the timer ends, even if you're on a roll.

• Take a quick before-and-after photo.

• Pause to notice how the space feels now.

• Celebrate! Let this motivate you on your next project.

Remember, you don’t have to clean an entire room to make progress. Cheer yourself on with the small wins.

Give Yourself Permission to Let Go of Perfection

As a professional organizer, I love beautiful containers and neatly labeled drawers. But a gorgeous organizational system that doesn’t get used isn’t doing you any good. 

When you’re organizing for ADHD, it’s key to reduce the number of decisions you have to make. That might mean your space doesn’t look Pinterest-perfect… but if it makes your everyday life easier and keeps you on track, that’s worth its weight in gold. 

That could look like having an open basket of shoes by the front door instead of neatly stacked shoe shelves and cubbies. Or maybe throwing backpacks and purses on hooks instead of tucked away in the closet. 

When your home works with your brain instead of against it, everyday life becomes a little calmer, a little easier, and a whole lot less stressful. And that’s what good organization is all about. 

Resources on Organizing for ADHD

The following work has helped shape how I think about organizing, executive function, and creating homes that truly support the people who live in them. And be sure to check out my support page on organizing for ADHD!

• Dana K. White – Get reality-based cleaning, decluttering, & organizing

• Cassandra Aarssen – Learn your organizational style

• Lisa Woodruff – Learn the skill of organization 

• KC Davis – Get compassionate, judgment-free tips

• Russell Barkley – Learn more about ADHD and executive function 

• Edward Hallowell – Learn about strengths-based ADHD perspectives

Simplify Your Life with More Organizational Tips

Loved these tips? You’ll love the All In Place Organizing & Design newsletter. I share monthly tips to help you create calm, functional spaces that actually work for the way you live. Subscribe to the newsletter here for strategies and inspiration.

Why Summer Always Feels Chaotic (And How to Prevent It)

Every year, we look forward to summer.

Longer days. Vacation plans. Cookouts. Time at the beach, lake, or pool. A slower pace.

And then somehow... by mid-July, many of us are wondering what happened.

The house feels messier. The calendar feels fuller. Meals become more random. Papers pile up. Routines disappear. Suddenly you're asking yourself why life feels so hectic when summer was supposed to be relaxing.

If this sounds familiar, you're not doing anything wrong.

Summer naturally disrupts the established routiines that support daily life during the rest of the year.

The good news? A few simple systems can help keep things from unraveling.

Why Summer Feels So Different

For most of the year, our lives are built around routines.

School starts at a certain time. Activities happen on predictable days. Work schedules tend to be consistent. We know when we're grocery shopping, doing laundry, and handling household tasks.

Then summer arrives and everything shifts.

Children are home from school.

Vacations and weekend trips pop up.

Visitors come and go.

Sports schedules change.

People stay up later and sleep later.

Meals happen at odd times.

Even adults without children often find themselves spending more time outdoors, traveling, entertaining, or saying yes to spontaneous plans.

None of these things are bad. In fact, they're often the best parts of summer!

The challenge is that when routines disappear, many of our organizational systems disappear right along with them.

The Myth of "I'll Get Back to It Later"

One of the biggest mistakes I see is assuming temporary disruptions won't matter.

You skip sorting the mail for a week because you're busy.

The laundry sits because you'll catch up after vacation.

The pantry gets a little disorganized because everyone is grabbing snacks on the go.

You tell yourself you'll deal with it later.

Then later arrives, and suddenly there are six weeks of postponed decisions waiting for you.

So small problems become overwhelming projects.

That's why summer organization isn't about maintaining perfection.

It's about maintaining enough structure that things stay manageable. 

Here are some ideas to help you do just that…

Focus on Your Essential Routines

During summer, I encourage clients to identify their "Bare Minimum Routines."

In other words, what are the few routines that keep life running smoothly?

You don't need your entire school-year schedule.

You don't need a color-coded calendar and a perfectly meal-planned month.

You just need a handful of habits that prevent chaos.

For example:

• A daily 10-minute reset before bed

• One designated laundry day

• A weekly calendar check-in

• A simple meal planning session

• A place for incoming papers and mail

Think small.

The goal is consistency, not complexity.

Create Summer Landing Zones

Summer often means people are constantly coming and going.

Pool bags.

Beach towels.

Sports equipment.

Sunscreen.

Water bottles.

Flip-flops.

Without designated homes, these items seem to migrate throughout the house.

Consider creating a temporary summer zone near your entryway, mudroom, garage, or back door.

Keep frequently used summer items together where they're easy to grab and easy to put away.

When everything has a home, cleanup becomes much faster.

Plan for the Travel Ripple Effect

Most people plan for the trip itself.

Fewer people plan for what happens before and after.

Travel creates ripple effects throughout the household.

Laundry piles up.

Mail accumulates.

Groceries expire.

Suitcases sit half unpacked.

One simple solution is to schedule a "travel reset."

Before leaving, spend 30 minutes doing a quick house reset.

When you return, unpack within 24 hours and run a load of laundry immediately.

Future-you will be incredibly grateful.

Keep a Family Command Center

Summer schedules often change at the last minute.

Doctor appointments.

Camp schedules.

Visitors.

Vacation plans.

Neighborhood events.

A shared calendar system becomes even more valuable during summer.

Whether you use a wall calendar, a planner, Google Calendar, or a combination of tools, make sure everyone knows where to look for information.

The fewer places information lives, the fewer things get forgotten.

Lower the Bar

This may be the most important tip of all.

Summer is not the season for perfection.

It's a season for flexibility.

Your house may not look exactly the way it does in October.

Your routines may be simpler.

Your kitchen may be a little busier.

That's okay.

Organization isn't about creating a perfectly controlled environment.

It's about creating systems that support the life you're actually living.

And summer life is wonderfully different.

A few simple routines, a few intentional systems, and a little advance planning can help you enjoy the season without feeling like everything is falling apart.

Because the goal isn't to have a perfect summer.

It's to have a summer you can actually enjoy!

The Sentimental Organizer’s Guide to Letting Go

How to Declutter When You’re Sentimental

Decluttering is hard enough when it’s just about letting go of things you no longer use or need. But when the items are tied to memories, family history, or loved ones who are no longer with us, the process can feel overwhelming. As a professional organizer—and a sentimental person myself—I understand this deeply. I’m still working through my own parents’ and grandparents’ belongings years after their passing, so I know firsthand how complicated and emotional the journey can be.

The good news is that being sentimental doesn’t mean you can’t declutter. It just means the process might look different for you, and that’s okay. Here are some practical steps (and some compassionate reminders) to help you move forward when you’re decluttering sentimental items.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Take Your Time

There’s no deadline for grieving or for letting go. Sentimental decluttering isn’t something you can—or should—rush. I often remind my clients, and myself, that we don’t have to clear everything in one sitting.

It might help to set gentle parameters, like:

• One box at a time.

• One hour per weekend.

• One category (photos, letters, clothing) per season.

This approach prevents overwhelm and gives your heart space to catch up with what your hands are doing.

2. Start with the Easier Stuff

Not all sentimental items carry the same emotional weight. Some things are infused with deep memories, while others are just “extras” we’ve kept out of habit. Begin with the items that feel less charged.

For example:

• Greeting cards with no personal message inside.

• Duplicate kitchenware or knickknacks you don’t actually use.

• Items you kept just because they belonged to someone else, not because they truly matter to you.

These easier decisions build confidence and momentum so you’re better prepared when you get to the harder pieces.

3. Redefine What It Means to “Keep” a Memory

One of the most freeing mindshifts for sentimental decluttering is realizing the memory isn’t inside the object—it’s inside you. The item is simply a reminder.

If you want to preserve a connection but can’t keep everything, consider alternatives:

• Photograph it. A picture of your dad’s worn-out work boots or your grandmother’s favorite teacup still tells the story, without taking up space.

• Create a memory box. Choose one small, intentional container for your most meaningful items. Limiting the size forces you to prioritize.

• Repurpose. Turn your mom’s old scarves into a quilt or have jewelry resized so you can wear it instead of storing it.

This way, you honor the memory without letting stuff take over your home.

4. Ask: “Does This Represent the Person, or the Clutter?”

When I went through my parents’ belongings, I had to remind myself that not everything they owned represented who they were. A stack of old bills? That wasn’t my dad. A chipped mug from the back of a cupboard? That wasn’t my mom.

Instead, I chose to keep things that truly captured their essence:

• My dad’s pocketknife he carried every day.

• My mom’s handwritten recipe cards.

• Family photos that showed them laughing.

If you keep the items that most reflect the person and let go of the rest, you preserve their story in a way that feels intentional.

5. Share the Love

Sometimes the hardest part is feeling like letting go means losing the connection. But passing items along can be a beautiful way of sharing your loved one’s legacy.

You might:

• Offer special pieces to family members or friends who would appreciate them.

• Donate useful items to a cause your loved one cared about.

• Gift keepsakes to grandchildren, nieces, or nephews so the stories continue in future generations.

Letting something leave your home doesn’t mean it disappears—it just finds a new chapter.

6. Create Rituals of Letting Go

Decluttering sentimental items often stirs up grief. Instead of pushing those feelings away, give them a place. Create a ritual to acknowledge what the item meant before releasing it:

• Light a candle and say a few words of gratitude.

• Write a short note about the memory the item evokes.

• Take one last photo and tuck it into an album.

These small acts can make letting go feel more like an intentional choice and less like a loss.

7. Be Gentle With Yourself

Decluttering sentimental items is not just about organizing—it’s about healing. You may feel sadness, guilt, relief, or even joy, sometimes all at once. That’s normal.

Here’s what I tell my clients (and myself):

• You’re not “failing” if you can’t part with something yet.

• You’re not obligated to keep everything, even if it was a gift.

• You’re allowed to keep items purely because they make you smile.

Progress is progress, no matter how slow.

Final Thoughts

As someone who organizes homes for a living, I can tell you that decluttering sentimental items is one of the hardest tasks my clients face—and one of the hardest I’ve faced myself. The process isn’t just about sorting through things; it’s about navigating memory, identity, and love.

If you’re sentimental, you don’t have to change who you are in order to declutter. Instead, honor your emotions while creating space for the life you’re living now. Keep the treasures, release the rest, and remember: the love and the memories aren’t in the boxes in your attic—they’re in your heart.