4 Tips to Manage Your Morning Before Work and School

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Simple Tips to Manage Your Morning Routine

We all struggle as parents to get up and get everyone ready and out the door on time in the morning. But what do you do to make things easier? Is it even possible to make it easier? I’m here to give a few tips we have learned over the years to make those mornings a little smoother for everyone.

Also, it’s important to mention that these tips aren’t always easy to get used to. It may take some time to get through that feeling of, “I don’t want to do this!” But, these tips to manage your morning routine will eventually stick and make everything that much easier.

1. Early Bird to Avoid the Noise

Get up earlier! I know that is not a popular tip, but honestly, it is life changing. I get up at least 15-30 minutes before everyone else and grab a quick shower and make my coffee before anyone else even wakes up. Having a few moments to myself make the early morning 100% worth it. Plus, I don’t know about you, but having my coffee (aka my life blood) is the best tip I can offer to manage your morning better.

2. Lunch Prep, Lunch Prep, Lunch Prep

Prep as much as you can beforehand. I know what you are thinking – “These tiny humans are still living with me at night, and I am exhausted. How am I supposed to prep things the night before?” Well, we mass produce PB&J sandwiches once a month on the weekend. It only takes about 30-40 minutes to make a month’s worth of sandwiches to toss in the freezer. We consider them the poor man’s Uncrustable (with the crust, because we aren’t wasteful!).

Then, I make sure I have yogurt tubes in the freezer to toss in the lunch box in the morning. I also keep pre-portioned snacks like pretzels or chips on hand, so I just have to grab and go. So, when that coffee is brewing in the morning, I toss everything into their lunch boxes! You’re parents, multi-tasking is what we do!

3. Dress for Success the Night Before

In addition to prepping lunches beforehand, it is also helpful to know what you are going to wear the night before. I pick out my clothes and lay them next to the bed. So when I step out of the shower in the morning, all I have to do is get dressed and go. It also cuts down on the noise I make, which helps to ensure I have that quiet time to myself to make lunches and drink my coffee.

If you can also get your kids to pick out an outfit beforehand, that will reduce the battles with them in the morning! And seriously, let them pick out the clothes. I don’t care if you want to wear plaid and flowers. As long as it is weather appropriate and you aren’t wearing tights as pants, go for it! The kids will probably hate me later when they see pictures of their outfits, but they are gaining independence and confidence. Go team!

4. It's All About the Bag Check

Make sure the bookbags are packed and ready to go, too! Check those folders the night before. This will give you a heads up if there is something due so you aren’t scrambling in the morning. It also gives you prime opportunity to reduce some of the paper that comes into the house. Toss the extra clutter-inducing paper while the kids are sleeping. You can hold onto their absolute favorites, but for the most part – enjoy briefly and then chuck it.

That's the List!

And that’s it. These four simple tips will make it so much easier to manage your morning routine. Yes, there are moments when things won’t go perfectly, because life happens. But, overall once you have this routine down, it takes no time at all to get your morning squared away.

What does your family do to make the mornings smoother? Do you pack everything the night before? Do you get up super early? Or, do you just run around stressed out and crazy in the mornings? Share with us in the comments below, or head over to Facebook or Twitter to tell us about your best tips to manage your morning routine!