8 Ways to Simplify Your Family's Routine in 2017

If dinnertime in your house ends up feeling like a mad dash and often ends in a frantic call to your family's favorite pizza spot, it's not you who needs to change your ways; it's your pantry. Shopping in advance and keeping your favorite essentials in stock can make a huge impact on the way your family eats.

"I can make anything with eggs, whole-wheat pasta, frozen spinach, and onions; those are my four main staples," Jenny Rosenstrach, author of Dinner: A Love Story and the blog of the same name, told us. "And maybe some quinoa. We do a big weekly shop on Sundays at Trader Joe's. We pile in the organic chicken: breasts, thighs, and drumsticks. It's affordable, healthy, and easily accessible."

Regardless of how well organized, coded, and labeled a playroom starts out, all it takes is one playdate to turn everything upside down. The key to being able to get it all back where it belongs? Only keep the toys that they actually play with, have all of their components intact, and are age appropriate. Donate, toss, or store the rest. Repeat as necessary.

Financial woes are one of the top causes of marital discord, so make a concerted effort to keep your family's budget in check in the New Year. If it means fewer nights out on the town and more family game nights, all the better!

I tend to view the sign-up sheets that are occasionally posted outside of my son's preschool classroom as some sort of barometer of maternal worth. Volunteer to take charge of the inclement weather phone chain? You betcha. Prepare an hors d'oeuvre for 30+ for a teacher-appreciation luncheon? On it!

The other day I was waiting for pickup with another mom, who shook her head at the aforementioned luncheon sign-up sheet on the wall and said, "I'm just too busy. I offered to write a check as my contribution." It hit me like a ton of bricks — There's nothing wrong with admitting you're just too busy. If you don't make your cookies from scratch or get your kids' Halloween costumes at a big-box store, it's not the end of the world. Do what you're able to, and for the rest, take the path of least resistance.

Weed out your toxic friends — if you think you may have one, you probably do. Your time is too precious.

It's a delicate balance — offering your kids every possible opportunity available without overscheduling them . . . but you'll know if you crossed it.

Avoid the last-minute scramble to find a babysitter, panic over a forgotten birthday party, and other familial stressors by figuring out a calendar system that works for all involved parties (including the kids, if they're old enough to take responsibility).

With a little advance planning, you can probably figure out a way to cut your visits to the grocery store and drugstore in half. Keep ongoing lists of what you need either on your phone or on a notepad in your bag and only shop when you really need to. This doesn't just save time — it saves money, too!