Let’s face it: back-to-school time is chaotic. No matter how organized you think you are, there are bound to be some unsigned permission slips, forgotten practices, and left-behind lunches along the way.

While no one is perfect, it’s still important to bring some organizational hacks into your home this time of year. Staying (somewhat) orderly can help ease the burden of a busier schedule—especially for younger children, who could be more easily overwhelmed by the transition.

• Avoid a drawer disaster. Keep frequently used drawers neat and tidy and you’ll be shocked at just how much time you can save by avoiding the frantic search for things in the morning. One way to avoid the dreaded drawer of junk? Put your empty cereal boxes to use by cutting them into shorter rectangles, decorating them to your liking, and inserting into drawers to compartmentalize.

• Bring homework out of the kitchen. If your kitchen table turns into a tornado of homework and school books come September, you aren’t alone. But if you want to reclaim the table as a place for family meals and nothing more, consider making a portable homework caddy, complete with all the tools kids need to get their schoolwork done—think scissors, colored pencils, markers, and glue.

  

• Create a system for clothes. Settling on a proper school outfit can sometimes be the tensest part of the morning, so avoid the inevitable battle by picking out the week's worth of clothes on Sunday night and laying them out in a specially marked area of your kids' bedroom so they know which day is which. You can even encourage them to mix and match the outfits themselves based on suggestions; just keep in mind the dress code and weather conditions!

Don’t skip out on the opportunity to get organized for the busy fall season while you still have time to comfortably adjust—you’ll be thanking yourself the rest of the school year.

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