There’s always so much to do in the summer that it can feel overwhelming at times. It’s a blast getting outside and doing fun activities like swimming, four wheeling and biking. We often spend so much time outdoors during this season that our home can become a bit neglected. We’re constantly tracking dirt and mud from outside and bringing it inside throughout the week. Whether we realize it or not, our home can get pretty messy during the summer. An end of summer checklist really helps point out a few areas that might need cleaning during this time.
Get Organized for Back to School & Work
Walmart’s got their notebooks, pens, pencils and supplies all together at the front of the store. This display can only mean one thing, it’s back to school time. Whether you have kids or not, now is a great time to start organizing your life. As far as organizing goes for your kids, you can fill their backpacks with a list of items they’ll need for the school year. As an adult, you can also get organized by purchasing a planner, making a weekly checklist of goals to accomplish and tidying up your desk area. If my space is cluttered, my mind is as well. Having a clean, mess free space at work and at home helps clear my mind and keep me focused on projects at hand without any distractions. A clean space really sets the tone for how productive my day is going to be.
Clean Out the Kitchen
The next item on the checklist is cleaning out the kitchen. Your kitchen cabinets might be stocked full of half eaten chips and snacks from summer vacations that have half heartedly been thrown back into the cabinet. It seems like time can get away from us, and some of the food and drinks in our cabinets and fridge might have expired. I would recommend investing in clear organizers for quick access to your fruits, vegetables and drinks. Having organizers to separate my food into has been a game changer for me. It is so easy to see everything that I have and grab it in a pinch. I would also recommend a tiered spice shelf if you’re like me and own a plethora of spices. Staying organized makes prepping and cooking weeknight dinners a breeze.
Go Through Clothes
Put away your summer gear and break out your jackets and jeans because fall will be here before we know it! Now is the perfect time to sort through all of your summer and fall clothes and figure out what pieces would be better off donated or passed along to a friend. You can also dig through your accessories like shoes, purses, belts, hats, etc. and consider decluttering some of those items. You might stumble across an old shirt that doesn’t suit your style now or another one that you forgot you even owned. Take the time to have your whole family sort through their clothes and accessories. You might be surprised at how many items of clothing you want to donate. Decluttering really gives you a sense of accomplishment as well as a more minimalist lifestyle that benefits you in the long run.
Switch Out Summer Decor for Fall Decor
August is such a hot month that it can be hard to start thinking about a cool down anytime soon. However, the air starts to get just a little crisper towards the very end of August and into September. August is a good time to start preparing for that transition. This transition might mean putting a few summer decor items away and dusting off the fall bin to bring downstairs. Fall decor doesn’t necessarily have to go up right away by any means, but it starts to come to mind towards the end of August. Fall decor has lots of red, orange and yellow tones that make for an easy switch from the summer season to the fall. There’s no rush to decorate, but with the seasons changing it’s in the forefront of my mind. A new change of scenery is like setting the stage for a new season full of opportunities and blessings.
Clean Out the Garage
The garage is one of the most important checklist items. It’s the perfect spot to store all of your summer rides like a boat, ATVs and bikes. If you’re out on the lake or riding on some trails, chances are you are going to bring home some dirt and mud. The garage can get pretty messy from all of the dust and junk you’re bringing back. It might be a good idea to declutter and give your garage floor, along with your vehicles, a good cleaning when summer starts coming to an end.
Family Photos
The final checklist item is taking family photos. The flowers in full bloom and fresh green grass makes for a great backdrop for family photos. Now is the perfect time to round everyone up and take some nice photos out in the sunshine. It’s important to make time to have professional photos taken to look back on and be able to share with family and friends. It might be a bit of a hassle to get everyone together and all dressed up (especially little ones) but the beautiful photos to display in your home will be well worth it.
There’s lots to be done before this season draws to an end. Summer is a great time to get out of the house and get some fresh air. August is still plenty hot to go outdoors and do the things you love before we transition to fall. These are just suggestions and definitely don’t have to be done all at once. However, even if you check one or two of these items off the checklist, it will help relieve some stress and prepare you mentally for a new season and a fresh start.