Hi everyone,
By now, we’re into the thick of summertime and there’s lots of organising that can really only be done during the summer months. After a long and harsh winter, the home and garden will need a bit of TLC. And indeed later on during the summer, some things will need to be done to prepare for the arrival of Autumn.
But let’s not even THINK about next Winter & let’s just focus on some summer organising!
Here are some of my Top Tips!
1. Make A List!
Are there lots of odd jobs or big organising tasks that you would like to see done by the end of the summer? Compile a list of EVERYTHING you would like to repair/ alter/ improve/ restore in your home or garden. Now, you’re not necessarily going to get it all done, or even half done, but having a list will focus your mind.
Back in January, I posted about the Organising Projects that I wanted to do in 2016. Did you have a think about that then too? If not, you can still get your Organising Project checklist when you subscribe to the blog (plus many other different checklists too!)
So if you print off this Project list, you could add in the areas of the house that you’d like to do over the summer.
Having September as your end goal and a list to hand, you can prioritise what you really want to get done and make arrangements to do so based on your time, your holiday plans, your budget and family help.
If you’re not sure what should be tackled and you’re a blog subscriber, keep an eye out for our new Summer Organising Checklist that I’ll be posting to the Free Resources page of Organised Chaos in the next few days!
2. Organise the End of School Paper & Artwork!
With the arrival of summer, comes the end of the school year & an influx of school paper. From projects, to artwork, to report cards, the kids arrive home on the last day of school arms laden with work they’d done during the year. Don’t leave all this in their school bags until next September. Sort through it now.
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Have a box ready for old school books to donate. An expanding file labelled with each child’s name is a good idea for their drawings, projects, test results or report cards that they want. And recycle the copy books that will not be used again. Get those school bags emptied and put away so that none of you have to look at them for the next two or three months!
3. Organise Your Car
Whether you’re off on holidays or just a day out at the beach, you’ll probably use your car more during the summer. Buy a car boot organiser or simply add a nice basket or storage container. Stock it with items such as a first aid kit, paper towels, a picnic blanket, beach towels, a torch, suntan lotion, baby wipes etc. – anything you might need regularly this summer! Having that all organised, will make getting out the door for a fun, family day out that bit easier!
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4. Organise Your First Aid Kits
Summer time means a lot more time outdoors and enjoying different activities. And sometimes that means a bump or two. It’s important to have a first aid kit well stocked and organised all year round, but why not use the summer as an excuse to get it sorted now. You can even put together a small kit for the car, as I mentioned above, while you’re at it! Items such as bandages, insect repellent, a small scissors, safety pins, sudocream, cotton balls, tweezers etc. should all be within easy reach in case of any little accidents.
5. Organise For Outdoor Entertaining:
In Ireland, we only get to eat al fresco on holidays. But once it’s not raining, even if it’s not that warm, it’s lovely to eat outdoors. A bit of organisation can make the garden an extension of your dining room.
In the covered area nearest to your garden – whether that’s a shed, a garage, utility room, your kitchen or even a small trolley, keep these items within easy reach so as to make setting up for outdoor entertainment easy!
- Cleaning spray & cloth to give outdoor tables a quick wipe.
- A supply of napkins
- A few folded dish towels for use with the BBQ
- Some tin foil & paper towels
- A small bin for rubbish
- A few blankets folded in case anyone is cold
- A tall pot or bucket for long handled BBQ tools
- Some nightlights and a lighter
So there you have it, a bit of organising now, for a carefree summer ahead!
Happy Organising!