No kids – Why start of school year still requires organizing

Did you know that the “back-to-school” season can affect you — even if you don’t have kids at home? Surprise!

Today is a good time to start thinking about how the rush of a new school year can impact you, from traffic to doctor’s visits. Why am I mentioning this? For years, in late July or early August, I would “re-discover” these issues and get frustrated. I don’t want you to fall into the same trap.

Here’s what you may want to consider:

TIME-RELATED:

• Your commute. Traffic patterns change once children and college students return to school. You may find your route busier — or busy at a different time of day. Make a note to start leaving the house earlier each morning if you need more time.
• School buses. Remember, you must stop for a school bus with its stop sign extended. But what if it’s a divided highway? Here are some great images to help you remember when you must stop: http://www.ncbussafety.org/schoolbussafety/sbswlaw.html.
• School zones. When school is in session, busy roads often lower the speed limit for a short distance during time spans at the beginning and end of school. This may lengthen your drive time.
• The doctor’s office may have more appointments booked in August and September and children get their annual immunizations. Consider scheduling your checkup for a different month.
• Colleagues may take a few hours or days off to help their student transition into the new school year. This may impact business meetings or deadlines.

STUFF-RELATED:

• Office/school supplies may be in short supply on certain days. Order early!
• Stores selling college dorm items, especially stores near college campuses, can be extremely busy leading up to students moving to campus.

As for me, I’ve learned my lesson, you won’t find me in Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond until mid-September!

Now you know my secrets for managing time and stuff during “back-to-school” season. Which one of these will impact you the most? Let me know in the comments.