The Busy Mom’s Morning Routine

As moms, we love our kids. But can we just take one second to acknowledge how much easier mornings were before we had them?

• Sleeping in
• No school lunches to pack
• Peace and quiet to concentrate and prepare for the day ahead.

I am pretty sure that working moms accomplish more before 7 am than most people do in an entire day. But just because you get it done, doesn’t mean it’s not rushed and chaotic (which is not a great way to start your day).

I was (and sometimes still am), the mom who:

• Struggles to get everyone out the door on time
• Often forgets items at home that you or the kids need for work or school
• Always feels rushed
• Would love to feel more organized and less stressed in the morning

If you are a working mom (like me) I am sure you are ready and willing to try anything to get your ducks in a row and out the door on time.

1) Wake up before the kids

Listen up mama: Getting yourself dressed and ready to go before the kids are awake is a game changer. While it may feel impossible to drag yourself out of bed earlier, this simple change will pay off big time. When you are dressed and prepared to leave before you even wake them up it makes everything so much easier. Instead of feeling like you are running around trying to get everyone (including yourself) ready, you will be able to focus on helping them while knowing you are all set to go. A mom who isn’t rushed or busy multi-tasking in the morning is modeling very important behaviors for her children. It will also create more time to interact positively and connect in the morning before you all go your separate ways.

2) Prep lunches ahead of time

Part of having more time in the morning means using your time on the nights and weekends wisely. School lunch prep can be a huge time-suck in the morning. Not-to-mention the mess that is created in the process. I also recommend keeping your kiddo’s favorite pre-packaged snacks that you can quickly toss into lunch bags that require zero prep such as apple sauce, cheese sticks, baby carrots, trail mix, etc.  With just a little practice, even preschoolers can pack their own lunches in the morning when all the items are prepped, organized and ready to go.

3) No Phone Until You’re Ready To Go

Depending on your level of social media addiction this will be easier for some than others. No matter what, it will help to cut out wasted time from your morning routine. Whether you are mindlessly scrolling through your feed or taking a quick minute to check your email, it’s sabotaging your goal of having a productive and calm morning. Even just a few minutes can make all the difference when it comes to being on time, Instead, get yourself ready and then schedule 10 minutes to check email, texts and social media before you wake up the kids.

4) Empty the dishwasher after dinner or before you go to bed

This is another “night before” tip that will create more time in your morning. Waking up to a full dishwasher increases the likelihood that you will just put any dishes from breakfast in the sink.

Then, you will come home from work and have a sink full of dishes…not fun! Instead, load up all your dishes right after dinner, start the cycle, then empty the dishwasher right before you go to bed. That way, when you start your morning you can put any dishes from breakfast directly in the dishwasher. Voila’ – now your kitchen is clean as you head out the door!

5) Eat the same thing for breakfast all week.

One simple way to streamline breakfast is to eat the same thing all week. This way you aren’t acting as a short order cook and you don’t have a huge mess in the kitchen when you leave for work. Think you or your kiddos would get sick of eating the same thing? Mine don’t and I usually alternate a few different breakfast items over the course of a month:

• Week 1: Freezer Waffles
• Week 2: Cereal
• Week 3: Eggs and toast
• Week 4: Bagels and cream cheese

This makes grocery shopping easier too.

7) Set up a family command center

Listen to me busy mama – this step is crucial. A family command a designated area of your home that will help you keep yourself and your children organized. It’s best to set it up next to the door that you enter and exit your home from. This is the one stop shop where you are going to put shoes, jackets, backpacks, your purse, your keys, lunch menus, monthly calendars etc. So you know where they are and can quickly grab them as you head out the door.

I hope these tips make your routine a little bit easier for everyone, especially you! 

Until next time,

Sonya