May is JUST around the corner, and you know what that means: an ever-increasing demand on our time, energy, sanity, and wallet. Between sports, school, other extracurriculars, birthdays, special occasions, and everything else, May might feel like an endless to-do list, where you are constantly running from A to B, forgetting about C, and resenting D. I’d love to share my top three tips to make this your least overwhelming May yet!
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
This might seem a little on the nose, but it’s worth saying. Grab your go-to planner, pull all the different calendars, notes, syllabi, etc together, and write everything for everyone down in that planner.
The objective- a master calendar with all the important dates & tasks in one centralized place.
Things to include:
- Big tests
- Projects
- Assignments
- Practices and games
- Concerts
- Parent/teacher conferences
- Days kids are out of school
- Other important dates
- Appointments
- Big events
- Special events
- Vacations/Travel/Expected Visitors
- Anything and everything else in between for everyone in the family
Now that you know when everything is due (you won’t be surprised by last minute science fair projects if you can help it!), start working backwards one date at a time. Think about the logistics, the resources, and expenses for each of those items on your list.
Start Taking Action:
- Assigning rides to and from activities for the kids
- Put the requests in for work on the dates you need to leave early or go in late
- Add notes for your budget and shopping lists, and schedule those special shopping trips
- Set aside time to work on those special projects
- Working to resolve conflicts by making arrangements
- Check off those graduating senior to-do’s on time
- senior pictures
- send out graduation announcements
- plan the graduation party
- extended family travel arrangements
This may seem daunting at first, but should only take you an hour or two to plan the next two or three months!
Tip: If you know something is coming up, but don’t have the details, make a note to start that conversation.
2. Expect the Curveballs
The reality is, there is only so much you can do to prepare, especially with all that’s going on in the world (looking at you, virus-that-shall-not-be-named).
Contingencies (and contingencies for your contingencies) will help you be prepared for last minute changes. You won’t feel overwhelmed, or stuck in decision paralysis, because you already have a backup plan to put into motion.
Tip: This also means reading policies and action plans for school activities and extracurriculars. (I know, I know… who has time for that? But, if we’ve learned anything in the last two years, it’s that things can change instantly).
3. Communicate
Communication is vital. Talk to your kids, partner, and support team. Try to communicate any conflicts early on to make alternative arrangements where you’re able. Pinpoint the days you have to be three places at once, and figure out who can help you get those kids where they need to be. (Offer the same help to others when you can!)
Send out weekly reminders to the family/support team who have responsibilities for the week ahead, do last-minute transportation and availability checks. Make sure your kids know what they have going on for the week, what they need each day, and who is responsible for getting them there.
Go through your centralized-planner and make sure you have all the supplies and resources you need to get through the week (ideally, you’ll do this when you have time to shop for what you still need!) Try to keep these things organized as well, so you aren’t searching the house in a panic.
In these stressful and busy seasons, over-communicating isn’t a thing. I’ve never encountered a mom chiding herself for over-communicating, but I have regretted assuming that things were squared away, under-communicating, and realizing that they were, in fact, not squared away.
That’s it! While it may feel overwhelming to take the time to plan, then create backup plans, and then communicate those plans, you’ll hopefully find yourself navigating May with more ease than before.
How you do you get through these busy seasons? Share in the comments!
