Welcome to your Stress-Free School Year!
A school year runs on a hundred small decisions and to-dos, and most of us handle them as they come up. This week we’re going to get ahead of them instead. I’ll walk you through it one day at a time, and by the end of the week your entire school year can be planned through spring.
Start with Day 01Your 5 days
Day 01Shop Smart
Everything to shop for back-to-school, on one page. Print it, mark it up, and cross it off as you go.
Day 01: Shop Smart
Today's pages
- Day 01 workbook2 pages
- Take-Along Shopping SheetEvery kid's sizes on one page, ready whenever you find a good sale · 1 page
- All of Day 013 pages
Day 02Book It & Bookmark It
Today we're getting the appointments booked and every school login organized in one place, so the whole school year is ready to go.
Day 02: Book It & Bookmark It
Today's pages
- Day 02 workbook2 pages
- School Platform OrganizerEvery school login your family needs, in one spot · 1 page
- All of Day 023 pages
Day 03School Year Routines
Today we're deciding what your school-year rhythm looks like, so your school mornings are calm and stress-free.
Day 03: School Year Routines
Today's pages
- Day 03 workbook2 pages
- My School Day RoutineFor your kids: a before- and after-school checklist · 1 page
- My School Day ClothesFor your kids: pick the week's clothes by the weather · 2 pages
- All of Day 035 pages
Day 04The Family Calendar
Today we're getting all of the important school dates into one calendar the whole household can see, so your brain isn't the only one keeping track.
Day 04: The Family Calendar
Today's pages
- Day 04 workbook2 pages
- School Calendar Cheat SheetA checklist of every date worth adding · 1 page
- The CALM Calendar Method™How to make calendar events that carry the details · 3 pages
- All of Day 046 pages
Setting up Google Calendar? The bonus guide walks you through it.
Next: Day 05Day 05Plan-Ahead School Year
Yesterday, you loaded every school date onto your family calendar. Today, we're making sure you're never scrambling the night before any of them.
Day 05: Plan-Ahead School Year
Today's pages
Next: the bonus Google Calendar guideBonus
The Busy Mom's Guide to Google Calendar
A simple system to reduce your mental load, stay organized, and stop carrying everything in your head. Two short videos walk you through it.
Video 1: Setting up your family calendars
Video 2: The CALM Calendar Method™
Helpful info
Meet Kelly
Hi, I'm Kelly!
I'm a mom of three, a recovering "I'll just do it myself" perfectionist, and proof that planning ahead is possible for every family. I created Plan Ahead Mom to help moms set up simple family systems so they can stop just surviving the week and actually enjoy motherhood.
FAQs
How do I download and print?
Tap any page and it opens as a PDF. From there, you can print it or save it to your device. On a phone, look for the share button to print or save.
Print at 100% (sometimes labeled "Actual Size") so nothing gets cut off. Black-and-white works just fine if you want to save ink.
Do I have to do all five days in a row?
Nope! Day 05 builds on the calendar you set up on Day 04, but there's no clock running. Do one a day, or knock out two on a quiet Saturday morning. Whatever fits your week.
What if school has already started?
You're not behind. The appointments, logins, routines and calendar from Days 02 through 05 make the rest of the year easier no matter when you set them up. And the shopping list from Day 01 is perfect for the clearance sales right after school starts.
Do I need Google Calendar?
No. Any calendar your whole family can see works. The bonus guide walks through Google Calendar because it's free and easy to share, and the CALM Calendar Method™ works in any calendar app.
Something's not working. How do I get help?
Email me at kelly@planaheadmom.com and I'll help get you sorted. If it's a technical question, please include a screenshot and what device you're on.
Need help? Email kelly@planaheadmom.com