How Tampa Bay Families can Establish Home Routines this Fall | Brandon, Florida Real Estate Agent

The days of summer are slowly transitioning to the feel of fall. Of course, we’d like to hang onto the long summer days, but as much as carefree days are fun, fall is a fresh season to restart home routines for everyone in your family. 

The last few months of the year always fly by in a blur of holidays and busyness, so now is the time to get life in order so you can preserve your peace, enjoy your home, and make beautiful fall memories with your family. 

Slipping out of summer means many Tampa Bay families have sent their school-age and college students back to school. As the kids return to school, it’s a good time for the rest of us to ring the bell and reorganize our routines. But, as a mom, a busy REALTOR® buzzing around Hillsborough county listing and selling Tampa, and a community member with social and organization commitments, I understand that the balance isn’t always easy.  

Here are five tips for busy families to move seamlessly from summer to fall and establish home routines:

1. Organize a workspace for you and a homework space for the kids. Take a Saturday and get the kids in on the action, too. For both workspaces, organize commonly needed materials. For you, this might mean notepads, pens, and file folders. For your children, they’ll want to gather crayons, colored pencils, pens, paper, and any other supplies they commonly use for homework. With all your items in designated spaces and containers, your work and their homework will be smoother sailing.
2. Create a fall home strategy. First, sit down as a family and discuss any events you can put on the calendar for the next few months, from baseball games to dance recitals to work conferences. Then, carve out a time once a month to add to or edit your family’s calendar. By taking the time to look ahead, no one will be surprised when the occasional busier-than-normal week arrives, because you would have planned for it. 
3. Get a jump start on your holiday travel plans. Tampa temperatures don’t move much with the change of season, so it’s hard to consider November and December will be here before we know it. If you plan to fly to visit out-of-state family or friends for the holidays, or you’d like to do something different this year, like book a beach rental closer to home and enjoy our white sand beaches instead of snow, now is an excellent time to get a jump-start on planning. You’ll find the best deals and have one less thing to think about during the busier months ahead.
4. Take a few hours a week to meal prep. Busy weekdays filled with school, after-school, and work activities can make our evenings feel time-crunched. But, whether you find cooking relaxing or a chore, meal prepping can help ease the burden of answering the question of “What’s for dinner?” Preparing some weeknight dinners over a few weekend hours doesn’t have to be a complicated chore, but I promise you’ll feel good coming home to a home-cooked meal instead of figuring out a fast-food option. Keep an eye out for my newsletter (coming in September), where I’ll feature some of my family’s favorite recipes along with a wine pairing! 
5. Make time for the family to enjoy the outdoors. Many neighborhoods in our area, such as FishHawk Ranch, Riverhills, Bloomingdale, and Buckhorn, have beautiful parks and trails. After long days of sitting and working, everyone in the family can benefit from Florida’s fresh air. Make time a few late afternoons or early evenings a week to jump on your bikes, take a stroll, or enjoy a local park together. As our summertime thunderstorm pattern starts to fade away, late days are the perfect time to get outside and soak in the sunshine. 

Elena VIP Homes is here to help families beyond finding their next home or selling their current one. VIP service means we see you as a neighbor and fellow member of the Greater Tampa Bay community and provide our community with resources to enjoy the beautiful area we call home with those we love. For more information on how Elena VIP Homes is turning real estate dreams into a reality, contact us to give you a VIP experience every step of the way.