Hi Tawny,

The kids here have already been in school for two weeks so that's not something I associate with September anymore. For me, September means a return to college football. I *love* football - the game, the atmosphere, the tailgating, the hordes of people coming together to support their favorite team. Here in the south, college football is king and I'm a willing subject. :)

We've been in an extreme drought for some time here so I don't think we'll have much of a color change this year. I live in upstate South Carolina and, usually, the fall colors are beautiful in this area.

For me personally, September also means another year in the books. I'm a Sept. baby who's looking forward to another celebration. Yes, I count my years proudly. Sure beats the alternative! :)

Good luck with the release of Risque Business!

I love autumn; I love the cooler nights and crisper days, the turning leaves, the pumpkin and apple festivals, and yes, the kids returning to school. For my family, however, our summer schedule doesn't differ all that much from our school-year schedule. I still work full-time and the kids are in camp from 8-3 each day. The difference is that I let them stay up an hour later at night. But I will say that the routine tightens up a bit when they have homework; there's less goof-off time on the computer and television, and while they're at the kitchen table crunching numbers or composing essays, I'm in the sunroom, writing. We also tend to eat dinner earlier, which means longer evenings. I'm not as inclined to be out in the yard or on the boat until 8 or 9 in the evening. Instead, I'll tuck myself into my favorite writing spot and work until it's time to go to bed. Somehow, when it's dark outside, I don't feel guilty about being indoors writing. I've been on vacation with the kids this week, and have only gotten about an hour or so of writing in each day, so I know that if I had the entire summer off, I'd probably get very little done, LOL!

Love the colors, the foods, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, but unfortunately it all exists under the pall of what comes next: WINTER! LOL I hate winter, really hate cold and snow the more years that pass, I dream of living somewhere where we have good weather all the time. But there are many good things about fall.

Luckily, my schedule is pretty much the same year round, and I don't have to think about the back to school stuff. Summer is actually a very productive time for me, maybe more so than winter, sometimes, because in winter I feel too closed in and it's too dark, which I think makes it harder for me to motivate, though I do get work done, of course. But in spring/summer/fall I have much more energy and I'm ready to go.

Time management tip: Do things as soon as they land on your desk. Don't let piles of "to dos" develop.

Sam

It's my absolute favorite time of the year. Love the chilly weather, love the smell of the fall foliage, love the warm, cozy "nesting" feeling I get (not quite here yet, but I feel it coming on LOL). I'm not a September baby or anything, but fall still marks the beginning of a new year for me, too. I guess it's a residual effect of all those years in school still. This year I'm particularly excited, because much change will come this fall. Middle Kid goes to school this year, I've got a new job, which mean a new and hopefully improved writing schedule. I'm also hoping to make some personal changes, too (read: exercise and lose a few pounds).

The kids don't go back to school for another ten days or so, but I've been trying to get them into back into the routine over the past week. Dinner earlier, bedtime earlier, and hopefully quiet time for Mom earlier, too. I don't know that I can offer any time managing tips, but I sure as heck could use a few! LOL So far my efforts leave much to be desired. :P Oh, and I already have Risque Business, so I'll just hang for the advice. :)

For one, I love that my time is my own again, with the kids back in school, but mostly, I love back to school sales on pens and notebooks, LOL.

For Time Management...I'm all about planning meals and using my crockpot. I get my meals for the week all planned out over the weekend, do my grocery list by my meal plan, and then make sure the recipes are all posted on the fridge so that everything is there, front and center. I post the recipes on my blog (so readers know if they worked or not ;-).

Right now, it's soccer season for BOTH kids, at two different schools, so we're having a hard time eating at home all the time, but when we do, it's quick and easy!

Shirley

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It's sad, but I think I have more time during the school year. Which is wild, because last semester I was a full time student, taking more than the necessary course load, had three jobs, was on the leadership board of a few student orgs, and a staff editor for the IP journal. All I did this past summer was work (one) job, and take 2 summer classes, yet I felt I had no time.
This weekend is the last one before school starts and it's jam packed - but I'm hoping (dreaming?) I'll have more time once Monday comes along.

As for time management... I think when it's "crunch time" I am more productive - so I go on a more defined schedule. I know when I have to work, when classes are, only set times for eating (or not eating) - so it keeps things more regimented. However... I don't know who I'm trying to kid :P I'm a super procrastinator and never stick to schedules :X. In theory, however, it should work perfectly.

Tawny, you already know that Back to School is my most favoritest time ever *g* And no, I don't feel the least bit guilty admitting it. By the time the end of August rolls around my kids are seriously bored and in need of a schedule. I'm lucky in that all three of my kids enjoy school and don't mind going back.

My schedule definitely gets easier in the Fall and like Shirley, I do plan my meals and use my crockpot as much as possible.

Or else I get the kids to cook ;-)

I love autumn. The weather is comfortable and leaves are changing color. My schedule doesn't necessarily get tighter, but since students are back in school, the trains and streets are more crowded. I get more things done when I have the time to complete the task. It's harder to work when I have too many things going on at the same time. It's good to have an agenda and map out your plans for the day.

I don't get any more done in the fall than any other time of year.
Fall means college and pro football, and time to clean up the yard and garden for winter.

I'm not in school anymore and don't have kids, but I still love stores like Staples. I get all geeky about organizational and office supplies. :)

Organizational tip -- I've always been a list-maker and goal-setter, but I just started doing hourly lists for my days. For instance:

8-9 a.m. -- e-mail/blogs/online
9-11 -- work on new proposals
11-12 -- yard work/exercise
12-12:30 -- lunch/e-mail
12:30-1:00 -- housework
1-3 -- work on proposals
3-4 -- promo
etc.

Time management tips? I think I'll be taking notes on what everyone else suggests! I agree that during the summer, it's hard to feel like we've gotten much done, but I'm also trying not to press the kids too hard to have to do too much yet (just read!) During the school year, I'm just trying to get them into a general routine, so that we're all used to getting certain things done at roughly the same time/day each week. I'm not sure how to get more of a jump on things except that I do tend to turn to lists and calendars when things get crazier--it's too hard to keep it all straight otherwise, and then I do have to remember to actually LOOK at the lists and calendars after :)

And no matter how much or little time I have to use as my own, it always seems that I wouldn't mind a bit more ;)

And kudos to you, Tawny, for homeschooling! I totally admire the kind of discipline and organization it takes to make that work!

In England, September is usually the start of what we call the Indian Summer (the weather we should have had during the summer, but didn't get *g*). Although the nights will start to draw in, it's one of the nicest times of year.

Back to school, when I was teaching, wasn't always great. The amount of prep work and bureaucratic junk to be done before you can even think about teaching got worse and worse! And when I was in business, it meant a return to heavy traffic during the morning commute.

But, you can't help loving September. The colours, the smells and your last chance to go bare-legged and wear cute sandals ;)

does seem get busier, i work at a school so new students coming in and trying ot get eveyrthing set up. my borthers are in school and i acant wait unitl vacation time . lol.