The start of school begins the influx of papers to sign and items to remember to take to school. If we leave it til the morning to try to take care of these things, we generally forget, or, if we remember, it just adds a layer of frustration to an already busy morning.

For school papers (permission slips, parental notices, etc.), I try to go ahead and sign it and give it back to my child immediately for them to put back in the bookbag. If it’s too rushed to handle right then, or if there is some reason I need to wait before signing it, I’ll put in on a spot on the counter where I keep the current mail, my keys, etc., so I’ll see it and remember to deal with it. I don’t put it in my desk. The desk has a fold-up panel which wonderfully hides the stacks of papers there — but it also makes me forget that there is something there that needs attention soon.

Getting piano books, P.E. clothes, or whatever else needs to be taken on certain days together is usually best done the night before. As my children have gotten older, I’ve tried to transfer this responsibility to them. But I write a little note to myself to remind them and leave it on the counter the night before (I keep a small notepad on my counter both for taking phone messages and for my little reminder notes).

If there is anything out of the ordinary (a plate of cookies for a class party, etc.), I either leave it out on the counter next to my keys, or on a table near where I keep my purse. If it’s something that needs to be refrigerated, I leave myself a note on the counter by my keys or by my purse. I had a friend who would put her car keys in the refrigerator next to something she needed to remember to take (that was before keyless remotes — I don’t know if that would be a good idea for them). For a long time I would leave a post-it note on the door to remind me of things I needed to take with me.

A couple of times in Family Fun magazine I’ve seen a neat little doorknob reminder of what things to take what day. I’ve never made it — but I thought it was really cool. 🙂 They have tons of neat ideas there!

I always get a kitchen calendar that has enough space to write notes for each day, and I try to transfer dates for upcoming events from the school newsletter onto out kitchen calendar as soon as possible. That’s also where we keep track of appointments, recitals, sports practices and games, birthdays, trips, etc., etc.

I’d love to hear what organizational tips you have, too!

For more neat tips, check out the Works-For-Me Wednesday posts at Rocks In My Dryer.