Goodbye, lazy. Hello, crazy.

Trips to the pool: out. Back to school: in.

Many of us are entering that annual transition period when our summer state of mind gives way to a brain overload of homework, tests and extracurricular activities. This doesn't just apply to the students but also to parents, grandparents and other family members who may be affected by the scheduling crunch that hits many families each fall.

This back-to-school checklist can help keep the family schedule manageable, even as it becomes more jammed than a middle schooler's backpack. 

Homework
  

Set aside a time - and place - to do homework each day. Some kids may not want to go straight from the bus to the books, but that may be necessary if they have early evening practices or extracurricular activities. Be aware of longer-term school projects and tests on the horizon. Chip away at them little by little, so they don't become a larger undertaking at the last minute.

Also, establish parameters such as limiting screen time (TV, video games, smartphones) until the books are closed for the night.

Meals

Plan out as many meals as possible, and then shop accordingly. A well-planned weekly menu will mean that you'll spend less time staring blankly into refrigerator, wondering what to make, or running to the store for a missing ingredient. It will help you get everyone out the door a little easier each morning. It will give everyone more time to talk once the family actually gets around the table.

What a weekly menu doesn't mean is that you can no longer give into a specific craving, or that you can't call an audible and pick up takeout after a particularly crazy day. But make that the exception, not the norm. 

  Extracurricular Activities

 Before each week, map out all of the practices, games, rehearsals and club meetings that dot your family's extracurricular calendar. You can use one of the numerous scheduling apps that are available, or if you prefer old school, you can write out your schedule and color code it by child or activity.

By doing so, you'll realize in advance that your son has a student council meeting and lacrosse practice on the same night. Or that your daughter has a late soccer game the night before a big test. Or that your son and daughter need to be in different locations on the same day at the same time.

By being acutely aware of all of this ahead of time, you can lessen the chance of getting overwhelmed. Have a particularly busy night? Prepare a make-ahead meal that can be quickly reheated. Need help getting everyone from Point A to Point B (and perhaps Point C)? Ask for carpool help well in advance, so you can have some peace of mind and don't put someone else in a bind with a last-minute request. 

Fun Time/Family Time

While scheduling schoolwork, meals and activities, look for openings for your family. It's not easy, what with everyone moving in different directions, but what matters more?

Tim Maurer, director of personal finance for the BAM ALLIANCE, and his wife, Andrea, live in South Carolina with their two boys, Kieran (10) and Connor (8). They look for opportunities to build family time into their routine, whether the block is small or large.

"One thing that helps our family navigate through the demands of the school year is the establishment of rhythms that help ground us in the midst of chaos," Tim says. "These are most often fun things, like Taco Tuesdays, movie nights and game nights that can be seen as rewards for getting all of our work done.

"Then, to the very best of our ability, Sundays are preserved as family days and are designed to feel like a weekly vacation day. Sundays have their own routine that typically includes going to the beach, going out to eat and huddling on the couch to root for our favorite sports teams." 

And Finally ...

Embrace chaos. Planning your week helps in a big way. Realistically, though, you can only do so much, and things will get a little (or a lot) off track. Life happens, after all, especially when kids are involved.

Carl Richards, director of investor education for the BAM ALLIANCE, knows this all too well. He and his wife, Cori, have four children: Lindsay (17), Grace (15), Sam (12) and Ruby (9). They also are hosting a Nordic skiing athlete, Riis (19), who is training in Park City, Utah. 

"It used to drive me crazy that we weren't more on top of things," Carl says, "but my wife has finally taught me that this is indeed one of the coolest times of our lives. Our kids are all super active, and there are always people in and out of the house. We run from 5:45 a.m. until one of us presses 'start' on the dishwasher sometime before midnight. And guess what: I have learned to love it.

"I used to dream of the day when things were under control, the laundry was all done, the fridge was well stocked, meal plan in place, and budget updated. But then I realized that if that day ever comes, it will be long after all my kids are out of the house. And by wishing for it, I was missing out on today. So I have learned to embrace the chaos and focus in the present instead of expecting it to be different."