5 Tips That Can Actually Make Summer Feel Smoother

Summer (break) is here…

And while I may not have kids myself, what I hear again and again is how much summer throws everything off. More time at home. More mess. More noise. More stress. And if you're already feeling stretched thin from the end of the school year, I want to help make summer feel just a little bit better with tips that reduce the summer chaos, not add to it.

Here are five small but impactful ways to reset your space this summer!

One: You're going to want to declutter and organize your space before you head off to your summer travels. Imagine you leave for a trip, hoping for a break... and return to a house that feels even more overwhelming than when you left. Because now you also have to worry about laundry, unpacking etc...

Traveling might be fun and restful, but coming back to a cluttered home cancels that peace the second you walk through the door. Before your trip, focus on a few areas that will make coming back home so much better:

• Clear the kitchen counters and fridge

• Empty out the car

• Do as much laundry as possible and actually put it away

• Make the bed

Two: Summer means more in and out of the house. So more beach days, camps, errands, spontaneous plans and outings and more chaos when there’s no system in place. A quick and simple fix is to set up a "Summer Drop Zone" near the front door or garage (or wherever the mess piles up most). Use a basket or container and stock it with the essentials you always forget:

• Towels

• Sunscreen

• Bug spray

• Snacks

• Sunglasses

• Water bottles

It doesn’t have to be pretty, just functional. And things go right back when you come back...well minus wet towels and empty water bottles.

Three: If you're anything like me, ADHD and rigid schedules don’t mix well. Summer doesn’t need a strict routine, but it does need rhythm. A loose structure gives kids (and you) something to lean on. Try anchoring your day with just a few predictable moments:

• A wake up window

• Lunch around the same time

• A daily tidy up

• A quick evening reset before bed

It doesn’t have to be perfect. But without any rhythm, the chaos will catch up fast.

Structure protects your sanity and rhythm restores your energy.

Four: Summer = snacks. All day. Every day. I know when my nephew visits, I have GOT to stock up. So if you feel like your kitchen is already being taken over, try this:

• Create a “Snack Bin” the kids can grab from easily

• Put plates and cups where they can reach them

• Remind them to wash their dishes after each use or place them in the dishwasher instead of the sink. You don’t need a full makeover. You just need your kitchen to stop working against you.

Five: Okay so the kids are home more, right? Which means they’re contributing to the mess more. So why not make tidying up and decluttering part of their summer, too? Not as a punishment. Not as a clean your room or else. But as a regular, part of the week that gives them responsibility and helps them build life skills.

A few easy ways to make it happen:

• Pick one “reset day” at the end of each day and do it together (music on)

• Let them be in charge of one area like the toy bin, art cart, or their closet

• Create a “donation station” and let them choose what goes

Keep it light. Keep it short. But most importantly keep it consistent and fun.

Because hen they’re part of the reset, they’re more likely to respect the space they helped clear...and hopefully keep it tidy!

If you're craving a custom plan to help you reset, mentally and physically, don't forget about our recently released Daily Dose of Decluttering Guides!

Let’s make space for a calmer, simpler and tidier summer!