Summer is meant to be relaxing, but it can quickly turn into chaos if your home (and head) feels all over the place. For those of us juggling kids, work, holidays or just trying to keep everything in some kind of order, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Here are five simple ways to stay on top of things and actually enjoy the season without the mess and stress.
Start with a good clear out
Summer is the perfect excuse to finally get rid of the stuff that’s been building up all year, especially if you skipped the traditional 'spring clean'. You know that drawer full of random cables, receipts and batteries that probably don’t work anymore? Yep, time to tackle it. Go through your kitchen cupboards, your wardrobe, even your shed if you’re feeling brave. Be honest about what you actually use. If it’s broken, bin it. If you haven’t used it since last summer, it’s probably safe to say you don’t need it. Give your wardrobe a good refresh too, I like to take out all of the winter things and store them away until later in the year. That way it's so easy to grab an outfit without digging through winter coats and jumpers. Once you're all cleared out, baskets, drawer organisers, over the door hangers, and boxes that slide neatly under beds are good for storing what's needed. And if your wardrobe is bursting at the seams even after a clear out, it might be worth looking into fitted wardrobes. They make the most of every inch of space and help keep things like clothes, shoes and bags from ending up in a random pile on the floor.
Get a summer friendly routine going
When the kids are off school or your schedule changes during the summer, it’s easy to lose track of time. Suddenly it’s 5pm and you’ve done absolutely none of the things you meant to do. Setting a loose routine can really help keep your days ticking along. It doesn’t need to be strict. Just jot down the stuff you want to get done each day and stick it somewhere you’ll see it. Morning walk, 15 minutes of tidying, laundry on by lunchtime… little things like that can stop the whole day from getting away from you. You could also write a bucket list with your kids of all of the things you want to do during the six weeks off school, they don't need to be super expensive outings every day. Little things like making homemade cakes and lemonade or visiting family are all worth putting on there. Then you can refer back to it now and again for ideas and to make sure you're doing the things that you wanted.
Keep summer stuff easy to grab
Summer means being outside, so regardless if it's the beach or just the garden you're heading off to, it’s well worth keeping all your summer bits in one place. I like to keep things like suncream, hats, swimwear, towels, sunglasses, insect repellent together– all the things you never want to be scrambling around for while everyone's complaining by the door that they want to go out! A basket by the door or a dedicated drawer works really well for this as well. It just saves time and makes summer outings feel way less stressful.
Don’t forget digital clutter
It’s not just your home that can get messy. Take a few minutes to sort your phone or laptop too. Delete random screenshots, clear your inbox, organise your photos. It might not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference. You’ll be able to find things quicker, and your devices might even run a bit smoother too. Plus, clearing out digital stuff feels just as satisfying as tidying your living room.
