Post-Vacational and Back to School To-Do List

30 August, 2019

Kids, Organization, Planning, Printables, Productivity

The holidays are over, the days of carefreeness, of having no schedules, of no immediate obligations to attend, of getting up late or no worries if you order whatever you want in a restaurant or eat a couple of ice creams … It’s over. It’s time to return to reality.

There are people who dislike routine and coming back to it annoys them or makes them sad. It is very normal, since during the holidays we can spend time however we want and we are not tied to schedules or obligations. However, I am not one of those people. I love my routine. I love my schedules and I love having a structure to follow in my day to day life. It gives me peace of mind and comforts me. What can I say, I’m a weirdo!

I love my routine. I love my schedules and I love having a structure to follow in my day to day life. It gives me peace of mind and comforts me. What can I say, I’m a weirdo!

Besides, I love my job, which means that coming back to it does not at all imply an ordeal, in fact it is quite the opposite, I have missed it and I was looking forward to returning. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t enjoyed the holidays (which have been wonderful), I just like to be active and doing productive things, and during the holidays I get a little flattened and I am not able to do much …

First of all, stay calm. It isn’t necessary for everything be perfect again on the first day you return. It’s normal for it to take a few days (or weeks) until everything returns to normal. Ideally, you should prioritize and do things one at a time.

Of course, you will each have your own tasks to add or remove, but this list is quite general and can come in handy. You have the printable version at the end of the post.

WORK

Review tasks that were pending before leaving on vacation
Catch up with new projects, tasks or meetings that have risen during the time you have been away
Review short / medium term projects to see what your priorities are
Catch up with work emails
Clear your desk and sort out the workspace

HOME

Yes, I know, it’s a bummer. But even if we don’t feel like it, we need to clean up whatever needs to be cleaned. Here is the list that I have made, but that doesn’t mean that you have to do everything on it. Figure out what you need to do and what you don’t, I’m just giving you ideas!

Check that everything in the house works properly: electricity, water, gas, plumbing, home appliances …
Ventilate the house
Wash and store clothes from suitcases if you have been on a trip
The kitchen and bathrooms are usually the critical points of the house, because they are the areas that we use the most and get more dirty. Thorough cleaning will allow you to return to your routine in a much more comfortable and pleasant way.
The refrigerator also needs thorough cleaning after summer. Throw away everything that is expired or whatever you haven’t used in a long time.
Store all summer material: mats, pool and beach equipment, towels, swimsuits, flip flops, etc … Anything you won’t use until next year.
Change the closet to the fall / winter clothes. Before doing this it’s a good idea to clean the drawers very well. In summer the house accumulates a lot of dust because the windows are open more often.
Change the bedding: take out blankets, change comforters, wash cushions and throw pillows, etc … It’s also a good idea to vacuum the mattress and take the opportunity to turn it over.
Wash the curtains. Then you can hang them up while they are still wet, and they will dry very well.
Clean doors and windows
Clean lamps and lightbulbs, which will also be very dusty.
Clean the car
Establish a list and schedule of tasks to be done around the house, and define who is responsible for each one for the new season
Go grocery shopping: prepare a list in advance and write down everything you need, to avoid unnecessary trips to the supermarket.

PERSONAL

Schedule doctor’s appointments
Catch up with personal emails
Review the expenses you’ve had and those expected in the short term to get your finances in order
Make a meal plan in case you have gained some weight during the holidays

BACK TO SCHOOL

Before you prepare anything, it’s convenient to contact the school to know exactly what your child will need for the upcoming school year. I mean, you’re not going to buy folders and pens, if your children start kindergarden, because you won’t need them.

Textbooks
Review the paperwork and forms to be submitted for the beginning of the course and after-school activities
Uniforms or specific clothing they might need (socks or leotards, tracksuits, underwear …)
Uniforms and material for after-school activities
Shoes, sports shoes, boots and / or specific footwear
Outdoor gear and warm clothing
Backpack
Pencil case with whatever they need inside: pencils, pens, erasers, glue, scissors, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, ruler, compass, scotch tape … stock up for the whole year and you will have them handy when you need them last minute …
Notebooks, planner, folders, blank paper
Calculator and batteries
Breakfast bag or lunch box
Alarm clock – I have discovered that children love them and it makes it easier for them to wake up in the mornings. There are some very cool ones that can be programmed with music … do some research and find the one that fits you best.
Prepare a morning routine for when school starts and go over it with the children beforehand
A place for everything and everything in it’s place: it’s a good idea to be clear on where everything goes before starting school, and make sure everyone knows. This way they can start the course in an orderly fashion and they will know what to do with each thing (and we won’t go crazy on the first day …)
Label all clothing, school supplies and textbooks
Wash everything you need for the first days of class
Buy or prepare breakfasts and snacks in advance for the first week
Cleaning and organizing all the material they brought from the previous course – if like me, you still haven’t done it…
Prepare what is necessary for the photo of the 1st day of school – I take one every year, but if I want to have a sign or something, I have to prepare it the day before, so I won’t get nervous if we are short on time.
Organize the first week’s agenda
Designate a study area and organize it with everything they will need, so that it’s a comfortable space and invites to concentration
Establish screen schedules: when and how long they will be allowed to use devices during the week and the weekend. It’s a good idea to reach agreements together and put down in writing what they will be, it will avoid many arguments.