The Organized Mama’s Jessica Litman is used to helping clients run their daily lives and households smoothly, getting the entire family involved so it’s not just the responsibility of one person.

Raising two elementary- school-aged kids with her husband, Ben, the professional organizing expert and popular blogger with more than 46,000 Instagram followers admits this time of the year is one of the most challenging times for her Maple Grove household.

“The bus comes at 7:15, and we have to be ready,” Litman said. Plus, “I am not a morning person.”

So how does Litman incorporate what she teaches other families into her own household routine? From how to prep and what to pack, here’s how the Litman household keeps the train running on time.

Make a plan: In the Litman household, Sunday night dinners are when the family plans out their week.

“I have a little weekly calendar, and everyone shares what they’re doing. This way my husband and I can take this one to guitar or this one to dance,” she said. “And we plan out what the kids are responsible for bringing for those activities.”

Sunday suppers are also when they divvy up things that need to get done around the house. “We have tasks and chores, such as the kids are in charge of the garbage this night. It’s written on a calendar on the refrigerator and everyone has a different color (designation).”

Prep lunches: The family also uses Sundays to prepare lunches, cutting cheese blocks and fruit. Those items as well as deli meats are stored in different containers and easy to pull from the refrigerator. Snacks are organized in bins within easy reach. That way, her kids know what’s available and where things are and can assemble their lunches in the morning.

“I think it’s really beneficial for kids to be involved in the meal-prepping part,” Litman said. And “it just streamlines lunch packing more efficiently.”

Assemble the night before: In addition to chores such as running the dishwasher the night before, Litman is an advocate of her kids packing their backpacks and charging devices before going to bed. When it comes to whether her kids should lay out their outfits the night before, she leaves room for flexibility.

“If that works for your kids, then do it. My son has it all set out on a chair and it’s ready to go, but my daughter will change her mind” and want to change into something else, Litman said.

Pack separate bags for activities: In addition to school, there are also after-school activities. The Litmans keep things running smoothly by having a designated bag in the “drop zone” by the door for each activity.

“My daughter’s in a play. We have a bag with the script, pencils, jazz shoes, hair ties. If we do swimming, there’s a swim bag,” Litman said.

Litman also keeps an extra set of clothes — from shirts to socks that are versatile for any occasion that might pop up — in the car for her kids. “There have been times we’ve been running around from activity to activity. It’s good to have an emergency bag just in case,” she said.

Create Zen time: As important, Litman said, parents need to make sure to carve time for themselves amid the chaos.

For Litman, it begins with starting the morning on the right foot. She sets her alarm five minutes earlier than everyone else, timing the coffee maker so it’s ready by the time she wakes up.

“Give yourself Zen time, whatever that may be,” she said. “This time of year can be super stressful and you need to be regulated, as well.”