Stay Organized and 'Totally Taken Care Of' This Summer with LISTERINE {#LISTERINEMom}

Although summer can mean fun and enjoyment in the form of backyard BBQs, outdoor activity classes, and spending days boating on the lake, it often also means that the whole family is running in a million different directions over the course of the season. Lessons, sports, appointments, work, chores... is it any wonder that organization seems harder to come by?

Therefore, even though summer may equate to endless months of vacation for kids, adults everywhere might need a little extra help staying on top of things and keeping up with all of the responsibilities for the family. This Memorial Day through Labor Day, take advantage of these easy tips to help make your summer stay as chaos-free and 'Totally Taken Care Of' as possible.

Use a (Physical) Calendar

While many of us have come to depend on the convenience of a digital calendar that is accessible on our computer and phone, having a paper or whiteboard calendar for the summer has the added benefit of allowing the whole family to see it at a glance. No endless questions about when so-and-so's birthday party is or what day swim lessons begin, as the calendar can field all of the questions.

Take things even further by color coding each family member's items and it will help make it even easier to find exactly who, what, where and when that you're looking for each day.

Stick to a Routine

With no school and so many hours of daylight late into the evening, it can often be easy to let kids slide into later and later bedtimes. However, if your children are anything like mine, going to sleep later doesn't automatically equate to sleeping in later. Instead, they are still up at the same time (bright and early) and the following day ends up being stressful and exhausting for everyone.

Instead, sticking to a consistent schedule (at least for the majority of the summer) and a regular daily and weekly routine can lead to a smoother, happier time for the entire family.

Take it from me, you don't want to deal with these two when they're crabby.

Take Things a Little Bit at a Time

With the kids home all summer, it can suddenly double or triple the amount of chores that need to be done. Doing laundry once a week is replaced with doing it every other day and whereas it used to be possible to keep up with the dishes, now the sink seems to forever be overflowing.

Looking at the big picture (or, more accurately, the never-ending toys strewn about and crumbs on the floor) can feel overwhelming. Instead, focusing on simply maintaining each room and doing a quick tidy whenever you have a spare few minutes can provide the benefits of being organized without making it seem like a time-consuming effort.

Which leads to...

Get the Kids Involved

Unless your children are far too young, it can easily be a part of their daily routine to help clean throughout the house. Put their dishes into the dishwasher at the end of meals, help sort laundry, sweep, vacuum, put toys or activities away before transitioning to new ones, etc.

Kids are used to having responsibilities at school, so encourage those habits to continue on with just as much importance at home!

Big playroom = Big mess

Stock Up on the Essentials

Sunscreen, insect repellent, Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages and Neosporin, allergy medications, toothpaste, mouthwash, and more — all items that we need and use... and never really think about running out of until it's too late. Another way to help stay organized and 'Totally Taken Care Of' this summer is to stock up so you'll never have to worry!

As I mentioned last month, we were thrilled when a selection of great Johnson & Johnson products arrived and it put us ahead of the game for being prepared for the arrival of spring and summer. While a few items went into the bathroom closet for safe keeping for when we need them, there has been no doubt that the LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE ZERO, and LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® were put immediately to use.

My husband and I have been using LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE ever since and I'm still just as much in love with the way that it combines six benefits in one for improved oral health. Plus, it allows for up to 7x greater fluoride uptake when compared to other mouthwash brands and makes teeth 50% stronger than brushing with a fluoride toothpaste alone.

As for my kids, the girls had no problem integrating the LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® —a post-brush mouthwash specifically designed for children ages 6-12— into their oral care routine! And I couldn't be happier with the way that it provides 12-hour cavity protection due to the added benefit of fluoride while helping clean the mouth beyond brushing alone.

The result is happy Mom, happy kids and happy mouths!

The end result is that LISTERINE is providing healthy mouth benefits (e.g. strengthening teeth, freshening breath, restoring enamel, and more) for all of us with their simple solutions and I can continue to rest easy that my entire family's mouths will stay clean, happy and healthy.

Even better, as we are now starting to run low, it's no problem to head to our local Walgreens to restock up on their wide range of wellness products that includes LISTERINE TOTAL CARE rinses. This summer we're staying organized, relaxed and 'Totally Taken Care Of!'

I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® Brand Totally Taken Care Of program. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.