August is a busy month for military families. It typically brings PCS season to a close and military kids are getting ready to head back to school. To ensure a smooth transition from the summer break, organizing your home will set you up for success.
One of the first things you can do, according to seasoned Army spouse Maria Reed, is set up a command center. Reed is the founder and CEO of the television series “Moving With The Military”. Makeovers and organization tips are showcased in most episodes because she says it helps military families feel at home.
“I’m not sure who coined the phrase, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place,’ but they were onto something. Having an organized home creates a sense of peace,” Reed shared. Being organized has a proven link to reduced stress and sleep improvement.
Reed says every time she and her family PCS, they immediately set up their own command center. She describes this as the space with the calendar, important documents, and keys to organizing the family.
“We always designate an area for what we call the command center. We have had command centers in garages, laundry rooms, storage closets. It’s the place where we know everything will flow from here. You may not have it all together in all areas of your life, but if you always have a handle on your command center — you are heading in the right direction,” she explained.
When you set up your calendar, try color coding each family member. Once you have your family’s work, school and extracurricular activities mapped out for the month, you are on your way. After your command center is established, here are a few tips for organizing the rest of your home to be ready for your kids to go back to school.
Create a file organizer
Hang a wire basket near your command center with a file for each family member. Use this to keep track of to-do’s, homework, permission slips, and all the things that need your review.
Backpack central
Buy some hooks and establish a convenient and out of the way spot for your kids to hang their backpacks. You’ll never have to run around in the morning searching if they are always in their spots.
Homework station
Create a space in your home for your kids to complete their homework. If you are unable to set aside a space, you can easily buy a plastic bin to fill with all the items they will need for completing their homework.
Related: Turning a house into a home.
Snack drawer
Buy snacks in bulk and individually portion them into small sandwich bags. When your kids come home, they can readily grab those independently instead of telling you how hungry they are while you try to get situated.
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Caliber Home Loans is a mortgage lender with a designated military lending division experienced in working with military members and their families. Visit https://caliberhomeloans.com to learn more about the home buying process.
