How are you doing this summer? For me, summer is a constant juggling act between my desire to relax and have fun and my desire to have structure and be productive. I am trying to set the bar a little lower this summer by focusing my attention on organizing three zones that I know will have the greatest impact on our summer. Rachel Nielson and I talked all about these three areas and practical takeaways for resetting this summer in her 3 in 30 podcast. Even though Rachel has become a friend of mine in the past year and a half I was still totally fangirling and so incredibly honored to be featured on my favorite podcast.
Here are the takeaways I shared on how to easily reset 3 spaces with summer in mind:
Takeaway 1
Be prepared with car organization. There is nothing...NOTHING worse than being on a road trip, or even a fun summer outing with kids and being unprepared. After many times being stuck with wet and muddy clothes after an adventure, kids with sunburns or who looked like they had been devoured by mosquitos, or finding myself in need of scissors, bandaids, or even a plastic fork because the drive-through forgot to include one...I started to get prepared. It has been so nice to have all the essentials that I need and know that if there is an emergency or even an unexpected opportunity for an adventure, my car is equipped to support the fun. I love photo boxes for organizing cars with center consoles. Zipper pouches are great in glove boxes for container different categories of items. A little forethought and a few of the right organization tools in the car can set any summer fun up for success.
Read more on Car Organization Hacks: How an organized car can change your life.
Takeaway 2
Identify pain points and create customized systems in the garage - Is your garage filled with shoes or sports equipment? Are their bikes all over the place or are you always tripping over scooters? I have run over two skateboards and 3 bikes...no joke. So I feel you. Maybe the tools have gotten out of control or half of the garage is overrun by camping gear that never gets used. Whatever it is, identify what makes you groan when you enter your garage and create a vision for how you hope your job will be used in the summer. I change my garage organization during the summer months. We move all our ski gear and sleds out of the way and make swimming items, rollerblades, and other outdoor activities. We love to camp but only go camping 1 or two times a summer. Because it is not a regular activity we keep our camping items in the basement storage room to clear our garage space for more frequently accessed items. When you are selective about what goes in your space and then intentional about the systems that you are creating, garages can be a place that is easily maintained and not a source of frustration every time you come and go from your house. Finding solutions for garages is much easier than other spaces because there are so many great bike racks, scooter stands, slat wall systems, and other great tools that you can find that help makes things accessible and organized.
Read more on Garage Organization Tips: Do it Like a Professional.
Takeaway 3
Get your kids involved in creating systems for their spaces. When they are invested, they are much more likely to maintain systems. The summer is a great time to work with kids on their systems because they are home. I like to reset each of my kids' rooms with them in the summer. I also ask for their support when organizing our toy and Lego storage and when sorting through school papers and deciding what to keep as memories. It's a great time to connect and let them express what is important to them in their personal spaces. Give them ideas. Ask them what they want to keep and how they can be successful in keeping the space clean. It's fun to see how much more easily they maintain systems when they have had a say.
I have several blogs about creating organizing systems for kids:
I hope you found these tips helpful! I promise it is possible to have kids and have a clean home. It may not always be clean but it will be easier for you and your kids to tidy up at the end of the day, which will make a huge difference in the life of your whole family.
Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing business in Utah (Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Logan, Utah County, and St. George), California (Bay Area, Los Gatos, Hillsborough, Atherton, San Jose), Denver, CO, and Phoenix, AZ. She loves creating order and systems out of chaos. Her specialty is finding a way to continue the aesthetic of any home to every cupboard and drawer. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.
