Warm Weather, Cool Routines: Organizing with Cheryl’s Summer Guide
Ever notice how summer can be both amazing and… a bit overwhelming? We love sunny days and pool trips, but suddenly, the routines that kept us on track all school year fly right out the window. One splash session can leave your home littered with wet towels, swimsuits, and half-empty sunscreen bottles—while everyone’s asking, “Where’s the aloe?” Add packing for tomorrow’s soccer camp, and what started as a fun day feels like chaos.
Let’s take back your summer! Below are 5 simple routines to keep your days running smoothly, your home in balance, and your stress levels low.
Routine 1: The Summer Gear “Grab‑and‑Go”
Summer gear seems to multiply overnight—goggles, flip‑flops, sports balls, camp backpacks… the list goes on. The key? Create a single “Summer Activity Zone” where everything lives together so you’re not racing all over the house before you even hit the door.
Pick Your Zone. Notice where gear piles up—mudroom, garage, entryway, laundry room—and claim that spot as home base.
Group Your Gear. Gather swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, goggles, and toys into labeled bins or baskets.
Store Strategically. Keep that bin by the door or in your drop zone so packing for beach days, pool trips, or park outings is a one‑stop grab.
Seasonal Swap. Tuck away winter coats and school bags; make space for summer essentials only.
Tip: Pre‑pack individual swim bags and install an outdoor drying rack or clothesline (with a laundry basket nearby) to keep sandy, wet items out of the house and under control.
With this simple summer‑gear routine, your outings go from frantic to effortless—and you’ll leave the house with everything you need (and nothing you don’t). Ready for Routine 2? Let’s keep the momentum going!
Routine 2: The Summer Schedule Overview
Nothing derails your day like scrambling out the door when you forget practice or camp. While phone calendars help, a shared, visible family calendar keeps everyone on the same page—no missed tee‑ball games or pool dates.
Choose Your Calendar Style
Wall Calendar (paper or dry‑erase): Perfect for a quick glance. Try a pastel‑colored monthly planner or a magnetic acrylic set with month, week, and day boards.
Digital Calendar: Use a shared Google Calendar, color‑coding each family member for easy reference on phones and tablets.
Set It Up for Success
Central Location: Hang your calendar in a high‑traffic spot (kitchen, mudroom, home office).
Color Code: Assign each person a color—one marker or sticky note hue per family member.
Use Sticky Notes or Magnets: For paper calendars, stick on activities so you can move events around without messy cross‑outs.
Make It a Family Affair
Weekly Check‑In: Every Sunday (or a time that works), gather as a family to review and update the week ahead.
Empower Ownership: Let kids add their own events—school clubs, playdates, or reading time—to teach responsibility.
Tip: Snap a quick photo of the calendar each morning for your phone’s lock screen—so even on the go, you’re never caught by surprise!
Routine 3: The Summer Meal Plan
Summer often brings more freedom—and more chaos. With less structure in our days, a flexible but thoughtful meal plan can be a total game changer (for your sanity and your energy levels 😉). A simple, low-prep plan will free up your time and mental space, letting you enjoy all the summer fun without wondering what’s for dinner every night.
One fun option for a summer meal plan is a weekly schedule with themed nights like: Keep It Fun with a Weekly Meal Theme
Having a themed weekly meal schedule adds a sense of ease—and a little fun—to your kitchen routine. Here’s a sample you can make your own:
🌟 Mix-It-Up Monday
Try something new or out of your usual rotation—maybe a dish you saved on Pinterest or that random recipe you’ve been meaning to try.
🌮 Taco Tuesday
Tacos are always a win. Keep the essentials on hand so you can throw these together quickly. Add toppings or sides based on what you have.
🍲 One-Pan Wednesday
Roast it all on one sheet pan or bake a casserole-style dish. These meals are perfect for prepping ahead or freezing in batches.
🐢 Slow Cooker Thursday
Toss in your protein and a flavorful base in the morning, and let the slow cooker do the work. Serve with fresh sides or veggies at dinnertime.-It-Up
🧘 Minimal Effort Friday
Reheat leftovers, grab a bagged salad, or go with a crowd-pleaser like grilled cheese, breakfast-for-dinner, or even frozen pizza. No guilt—just good food and less stress.
🔥 Grill & Chill Saturday
Make Saturday your casual cookout night. Burgers, kebabs, or grilled veggies are all quick, low-mess, and perfect for summer evenings.
🥣 DIY Sunday
Use Sunday to prep for the week ahead. Let everyone fend for themselves with simple options like smoothies, sandwiches, or snack plates. Bonus: It’s a great opportunity to get the family involved in next week’s plan.Another great rule of thumb for meal planning is to cook as much ahead of time as you can. Batch-cook your grains (rice, quinoa, pasta) for the week, pre-cut all the veg and fruit you’ll need, and marinate your proteins. Doing as much as you can pre-cooking will eliminate some of the hassle of summer dinners. One great way to meal prep for the family is finding what “cold” meals everyone likes. While the name isn’t appealing, having a pasta salad or the ingredients for a simple sandwich/wrap is an excellent alternative.
Time-Saving Meal Prep Tips
Want to really take the pressure off? Prep these basics once and enjoy the benefits all week:
Cook grains in bulk (rice, quinoa, pasta)
Chop veggies and fruit ahead of time
Marinate proteins or portion them into freezer bags
Also, consider cold meals. They’re easy, refreshing, and often kid-approved. Pasta salads, wraps, and build-your-own sandwich stations are perfect when it's just too hot to cook.
Routine 4: The Car Drop Zone
Let’s be honest—your car might be working harder than you this summer. Between road trips, camp drop-offs, spontaneous pool stops, and errand runs, your vehicle is probably collecting more than just miles. If your backseat has become the Bermuda Triangle for coffee cups, random toys, and donation bags that never quite make it to the drop-off… you're not alone.
Add kids into the mix—plus sand, sticky fingers, and the occasional “found” caterpillar—and suddenly your car feels less like transportation and more like a mobile storage unit. Let’s take it back. With a few quick strategies, your car can be functional, clean(ish), and ready for whatever summer throws your way.
Create a Car Command Center
One of the easiest ways to control the chaos is by using a backseat organizer—this could be a foldable crate, a reusable tote, or anything sturdy that won’t tip over every time you take a turn.
Inside your organizer, group items into easy-to-access categories like:
Essentials: Sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
Snacks: Non-melty options like granola bars, pretzels, applesauce pouches
Hydration: Reusable water bottles for each person
Tech: Extra phone chargers, headphones, or car adapters
Clean-Up: Small trash bags, extra napkins, or even a lint roller
Extras: Band-aids, sunglasses, spare masks, a mini first-aid kit
This setup becomes your go-to Summer Gear Grab-and-Go Zone. Instead of making a dozen trips in and out of the house, everything has a home in the car—and stays organized.
Routine 5: The Summer Fun Bin
Being self-sufficient starting young is an essential skill, and allowing kids to entertain themselves without screens is so important for their developmental health. So, when you hear “I’m bored” this summer, take full advantage of the warm weather and create an atmosphere where the kiddos can make their own fun! Let’s prep the Bored Buster: A kit to save your sanity…
There are a couple of different ways to approach this. The first option for the fun bin is designating a clear bin, or bins, filled with easy activities you don’t have to oversee. Think things like outdoor chalk, bubbles, card games, water balloons, and coloring books. There are a lot of free resources for kids available, too! Print out a bug scavenger hunt or a nature coloring page for them to use, encouraging learning throughout the summer.
Another option for the Summer Fun Bin is filled with spontaneous outings. These are pre-planned options already determined by your family. Letting the kids choose what they are doing that day will allow them a sense of responsibility for planning and deciding what is worth their time. Some options would be going to the zoo, hiking a local trail, going on a picnic, walking to the park, swimming or going to a splash pad, or reading at the library. Filling the bin with screen-free activities lets your kids choose how they want to spend their summer and make memories.
Whether it’s running through the sprinkler, spotting fireflies at dusk, or creating a sidewalk masterpiece, each square on the bingo card invites a small, joyful adventure that kids of all ages (and grown-ups too!) can enjoy.
Don’t let summer slip by in a blur. These routines are designed to help your family stay on the same page, work together, and make room for what matters. A little planning now means fewer headaches later, and more space for the fun, laughter, and sunshine you’ll remember. Let this be the summer you enjoy each other and the season!
