Well, I know you don’t want to hear it, but it’s time to start getting ready to go Back to School.  Maybe this time is for you, or maybe it’s just for your kids.  But no matter what, getting anyone ready to go back to school is never a fun job.  And neither is going back to school after an awesome sunny summer.  I am no longer in school, but I always dreaded having to put my beach stuff away and pull the backpack out.  Of course, I did enjoy being in school with all of my friends and learning about things in my favorite subjects.  College was even more enjoyable because I was learning about subjects I wanted to learn about.  So, if you will be going back to school at the end of this month or getting your kids ready to head back, here is a check list of things you might want to tackle prior to that first day.

• Purchase your supplies.  Pick up things like paper, pens or pencils, folders and notebooks, notepads, erasers, markers and crayons as well as backpacks or bags.  Children usually receive a list from their teachers of supplies they will need.  If you’re in college, don’t forget a tape recorder just in case your professor allows you record lectures.
• Clear up your Clutter.  This may not seem like a Back to School necessity, but if you want to be ready for the next busy school year ahead, you will want to be clean, cleared and prepared.  You can go to the extreme and get rid of old clothes before you buy new ones for the year, kids toys and make your room completely clean.  But if you don’t feel you need it, then just go over all your old school supplies and throw out anything that is thrashed.  Also clean up your desk and get it ready for all the homework you will have!
• Set up your schedule.  If you have a child in school who is also involved in after-school activities, you might want to create a schedule calendar with each child’s schedule color-coded.  That way everyone knows what their schedule is as well as when they will have down time to do homework or relax.  If you’re in college, post your class schedule so that you never forget which class you have on which day.  Plus, if you work, you will want to be able to plug in your work schedule to ensure nothing is overlapping.
• For younger children, you may need to contact the school for an physical examination schedules, registration requirements, school policy’s and to make sure they have any updated contact information.
• Make sure you have everything you will need to make lunches for your kids.  You know a lunch bag or brown bags, plastic sandwich bags, bread, lunch meat and healthy snacks.
• Gradually move bedtime earlier and earlier.  If you are in college, this may seem silly.  But if you have early morning classes, you will want to be able to get up on time and if you automatically change your bedtime one day, you will probably fall asleep in class.  Your kids will also need a gradual change.  To help with these tasks, consider buying an alarm clock too!