Summer Reset: How I Prep My Home (and Mind) for Back-to-School Season

From homework stations and closet edits to calming corners and supply hacks, here’s how I prep our home (and my mind) for back-to-school season. Tips for the anxious African mom who’s done doing it all alone.

🧹 The Home Reset: Less Clutter, More Clarity

There’s something about the end of summer that feels like a second New Year. A time to declutter, reevaluate, and reset—not just the home, but my entire mindset. And as a mom of three (with a tendency to spiral when things feel chaotic), I’ve learned that prepping early helps me stay grounded when school starts.

Here’s how I prep our home for the back-to-school season without burning out:

1. Declutter the Drop Zones

You know the spot—the kitchen counter that catches all the things, the entryway overflowing with shoes, the “temporary” piles that somehow become permanent. Before school starts, I do a mini edit of these spaces.

• ✔️ One basket per kid for shoes
• ✔️ Wall hooks for jackets & backpacks
• ✔️ A wall hanging cascading file organizer for incoming papers (similar to this one on Amazon)

Letting go of visual clutter gives me space to breathe. And honestly, the kids get less overwhelmed too.

2. Designing a Homework Haven Upstairs

This summer, I started giving our upstairs living room a little redesign—and the star of the show? A designated homework station for all three kids (yes, even the 2-year-old, who mostly just sits there for vibes, but hey—it counts).

• 🪑 Each child has their own desk and chair
• 📱 A dedicated spot for iPad charging
• 📚 A drawer to hold their practice workbooks and library books while they’re in rotation

It’s a space that says we value learning, without it taking over our entire home. It’s a work in progress and I can’t wait to see how the kids grow into the space in the years to come. Bonus: it helps separate school time from playtime (and gives me a bit more mental space, too).

3. Order School Supplies Early (Trust Me!)

Here’s a pro tip I wish I had taken seriously a few years ago: don’t wait until the night before school to shop for supplies.

This year, I used Walmart’s Find Your School Supply List tool, and it was a game-changer. All I had to do was type in our school’s name, and boom—everything popped up, pre-filled in a cart. No guesswork. No aisle meltdowns. No anxiety.

🛒 You can even get it shipped or schedule curbside pickup. A true win for my overstimulated mom brain.

4. Rotate Out Clothes + Shoes (The Dreaded Closet Edit)

We all dread it. But we all know it must be done.

Right before school starts, I go through each child’s closet and shoe bin to turn over anything they’re about to outgrow. The too-tight tops, the high-water pants, the beat-up sneakers with mystery smells—they’ve got to go.

• 🎒 I bag up outgrown items for donation
• 👕 We keep a few hand-me-downs in bins for the younger ones
• 🛍️ Then I let each child pick a few new back-to-school outfits they actually love and feel good in

It’s exhausting, yes. But it saves so much sanity in the long run. No more midweek wardrobe crises.

5. Create a “Calm Corner” for Myself (Yes, Please)

Earlier this year when we refreshed our home, I knew I needed a space that was just for me. Somewhere I could go when the overstimulation hits or I just need to breathe for a moment without being needed.

So I created a calm corner in our master bedroom—and let me tell you, it has been everything.

At the center of it all? That infamous beautiful Drew Barrymore chair that TikTok can’t stop talking about. I paired it with a cozy throw, soft lighting, and drenched the room in the most calming paint color: Sherwin-Williams Nutshell. It’s warm, grounding, and gives my nervous system a hug every time I step in.

I’ve found myself hiding in plain sight in that chair more than once. And I know—without a doubt—it’s going to come in clutch once the back-to-school chaos begins.

🧠 The Mental Reset: Easing the Anxiety

• ✍🏽 I Journal My Fears: Once I name it, it’s easier to address. And sometimes, it’s not even mine—just inherited pressure from trying to do it all perfectly.
• 🤝 I Communicate With My Husband: We revisit our routines: Who’s doing drop-off? Who’s handling pick-up? The mental load shouldn’t be mine alone.
• 🙏🏽 I Let Go of “Perfect”: The kids will forget a water bottle. I’ll be late to a meeting. It’s okay. We’re not aiming for perfection—we’re aiming for peace.

✨ Real Talk: Outsource What You Can. Please.

If you can afford it, hire a professional organizer to help you tackle any one of these reset tasks. Whether it’s rotating out the kids’ clothes, reworking your drop zone, or setting up a functional homework nook—outsourcing never hurt anybody.

And listen—I LIVE for hollering at Stephanie the Soldier Maiden to arrange my life. She gets me together every time. I’m not buying into the propaganda that moms have to do it all alone, and neither should you.

💡 Hire somebody.
🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏽 Get your spouse involved.
🧾 Divide and conquer.

Do whatever you need to do to maintain your sanity, because it’s so important to start the school year on the right foot—for both parents and kids. If you’re organized from the beginning, you’ll be better off when school projects, extracurriculars, doctor’s appointments, work deadlines, and everyday life starts… lifeing.

📝 Back-to-School Reset Checklist

• 🟢 Declutter entryway & kids’ rooms
• 🟢 Rotate out old clothes + shoes
• 🟢 Redesign a quiet homework zone
• 🟢 Order supplies early (Walmart’s School List Tool)
• 🟢 Create a calming space just for you
• 🟢 Create a weekly rhythm plan
• 🟢 Protect your peace at all costs

Let’s Chat

How are you prepping for the new school year? What’s one thing you’re letting go of—and one thing you’re holding on to?

💬 Drop a comment below or come hang out on Instagram @sparkedbyamie.