Surviving Houston Summers : A Professional Organizer’s Tips for Staying Happy, Cool, and Organized

Summer has arrived! And for those of us in Houston, it isn’t just hot—it’s really hot. The kind of heat that turns outdoor activities into a challenge and makes keeping everyone happy, cool, and organized feel like a full-time job. But don’t worry, I’ve got your quickly-perspiring back! 

 Here are my favorite easy hacks to help you get through the summer with your sanity intact.

Beating the Heat: Fun & Safe Outdoor Activities

I love Houston but the long, hot summer days can be exhausting, especially when you’re trying to keep everyone safe from the blazing sun. Here are a few ideas that work well for my family and other Houston moms who want to enjoy the outdoors without melting.

Early Morning & Evening Pool Time: If you have little kids, going to the pool in the morning  – before the sun and heat gets too intense – is one of the best ways to start the day. For older kids, swimming from 6-8 is of my favorite times of day. It’s cooler, requires minimal sunscreen, and after swimming, a shower and bedtime is all that’s left. 

Getting out early reduces sun exposure and allows the kids to enjoy the water and get out some energy before it gets too hot. Plus, it tires them out before nap time for a long, peaceful sleep so you can relax or check things off your to-do list for a couple of hours post-swim. 

Shade Is Your Secret Weapon: To keep kids playing outside throughout the summer, find or create a “shade zone” in your yard where the kids can play comfortably or take breaks from the heat. Keep chairs, a picnic blanket, and misting fans in a shady spot for kids to take a break from the heat and sun. I love this shaded backyard beach from the Better Together blog.

Indoor Fun During Peak Heat: Plan indoor activities when the midday heat peaks. Think arts and crafts, cooking projects, or a dance party to your favorite playlist. I love using YouTube channels like “Cosmic Kids Yoga” to keep the kiddos active indoors. If your kids have summer reading or music practice, this is a good opportunity to dedicate 20 minutes toward those activities as part of your daily routine. 

Pro tip: Create ice cubes flavored with slices of strawberries, lemon, or cucumber, to encourage hydration and keep kids cool! 

Organization Hacks for the Playroom, Bedrooms, & Pool Area

A cluttered space adds stress, especially during busy summer days when you’re trying to keep everything running smoothly. Keeping your spaces organized when your kids are at home is challenging, but keeping your home clutter-free will help you feel calm and in control through out the day. 

Create A Tidy Up Routine: As a professional organizer, I geek out over tidying up, and I have several posts with tips and resources for doing it easily and well! Make tidying up part of your indoor-time routine. Create a game or a reward system to make it more fun. For example, you could hide a coupon for a reward under one or two of the items that are out. Once the room is clean, the kids that found coupons can come redeem them. Keeping it daily, will help keep the clutter from getting overwhelming. But if you miss a few (or many) days, don’t worry about it. You can still do the same thing. If it’s too daunting to handle at one time, set a clean up timer for 10 – 15 minutes each day until you get through it. You can still use the hidden rewards system as motivation. 

Designated Zones: Create specific spaces for different activities—reading nook, arts corner, gaming area. This helps children understand where everything belongs. You can designate quiet zones versus active zones to help keep toys and other items in designated areas instead of all over your house.

Efficient Pool Area Organization: If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, you’ll probably be using it a lot this summer! Keep your balls, goggles, and toys organized with these open-air bins. This stylish water-proof bench doubles as towel storage. And add hooks to hang wet towels and swimsuits for easy drying. Keep a basket of sunscreen on the patio and designate an area for floats, noodles and larger pool toys. 

Pro tip: Keep “fun” sunscreen around so kids resist using it less. A few of my faves include whip cream sunscreen and glitter sunscreen, and if you have an 8-12 year old girl, go for the sunscreen in a brand they like.

Routines & Schedules to Keep Life Running Smoothly

Create summer routines to prevent chaos and stress and keep bad habits from forming, such as too much screen time, fighting with siblings, or eating junk food. 

Consistent Bedtimes & Wake-Ups: Maintaining a routine helps kids stay rested and you stay sane. That’s not to say, summer doesn’t come with a more relaxed schedule. But keeping bed time and wake up time close to your normal routine will help prevent oversleeping and other changes that throw off your day.

Weekly Activity Planning: Map out the week’s activities—trips to the zoo, swimming lessons, craft days—so kids know what to expect. If your kids go to camp, have a plan for post-camp. Many camps end at noon or 2 and there’s a lot of day left if you haven’t planned any other activities. If your kids are tired after camp, you could head home for afternoon downtime and then have a late afternoon/evening activity, such as swimming, fishing, or a movie. 

Remember, your kids don’t need constant entertainment. Designate some free time each day for them to figure it out. One of my clients requires her kids to spend an hour a day upstairs, either playing together quietly in the playroom or spending alone time in their room. This is a screen-free time for kids to use their imaginations and problem-solve if they’re feeling bored. Another customer has a “creativity hour” for drawing, writing, creating a story, baking, sewing, crafting or creating a game. Her kids love showing off what they’ve come up with at the end or the hour. 

Navigating Houston’s hot summer with kids in tow is more enjoyable when you have a plan. Of course, part of the fun of summer is a more relaxed schedule, but a little bit of planning and organization offers just enough structure to keep you sane. Hopefully, these hacks help keep you cool, comfortable, and entertained all summer long!