Whether or not you are in school -- or have kids who are -- the beginning of a new school year feels like a transition time to many of us. Let's talk about ways to prepare and plan to make that transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. Seasonal changes can be stressful and hectic, but proper planning can help ensure a smooth transition For a lot of us, summer is a more unstructured season. School is out of session, and longer days and warmer weather invite outdoor activities and family vacations.   The transition to the school year (whether or not you are in school or have kids who are) requires change, such as busier schedules, earlier rising, and changes in weather and routines. Maybe because we grow up measuring time by the school year, even those of us who aren’t in school still feel that sense of transition in August and September. I have no kids left at home, but I’ve still been thinking about this because our oldest daughter, a mom of 4 girls who just finished her undergrad degree, starts her first teaching job this week and has been preparing for the classroom for herself at the same time she’s getting her girls ready for the new school year.  Besides the obvious of registering for classes and shopping for school supplies, there are other things we can do to ease the transition.  Simple steps for a stress-free transition 1. Meal plans  * Come up with a list of a dozen or so meals that are easy and quick to get on the table but are nutritious and liked by your household.  * Consider trying weekly meal prep if you don’t already do it. Spend an hour or two on the weekend prepping fruits and veggies and pre-cooking soups or other meals that can be reheated during the week.  * What are you going to do about breakfasts and lunches during the week? 2. Rethink your daily routine. Be intentional about it.  * What would a peaceful morning routine look like during the school year, that would allow everyone to start the day with a minimum of drama?   * What about after-school, evening, and bedtime routines?   * How can you get the kids or others in your household involved so that you’re not carrying the full load alone? 3. Re-establish sleep schedules * Summers are often a time when we or our kids sleep in later and stay up later. Ahead of school start transitioning back to earlier rising and bedtime that allows everybody to get the sleep they need. 4. Think about transportation * Consider getting the car serviced. If the school year involves more driving--e.g., carpooling to school, sports, and other extracurriculars--now might be a good time to get the oil changed, tires checked, etc.  * Coordinate carpool schedules with friends.  * Check the current schedules for the school bus or public transportation. 5. Add the school calendar to yours (breaks, games, parent-teacher conferences, etc.) * Whether you use a wall calendar with big squares or a digital calendar, you want something everyone in the household can access and where you can see at a glance who’s supposed to be where and what's happening when. 6. Check fall/winter gear (coats, boots, gloves, umbrellas, etc.) * Make sure you have what you need in the right sizes and in good condition for every family member before you actually need it.  7. Prep summer gear for storage * Here in Texas we still have a few more weeks of warm weather, but it won’t be long before it’s time to prep the patio furniture and pool toys for winter storage. Think about summer sports gear, swimwear, etc.  8. Deep clean house