Ready to start a morning routine? If you don’t have one already, it’s time to get it started. Learn how to start a morning routine that will help you and the kids all get out the door on time. And, you’ll even have a smile on your faces because nothing has been forgotten.
Mornings are hectic! There are so many different moving pieces and people going different directions. That’s why, if you know how to start a great morning routine, you can prepare one every time there are changes in people’s schedules and activities.
Oh, mornings… they can be so stressful! There’s so much to accomplish in such a short window of time.
Do you find yourself saying any of these things?
- “Come on, it’s time to get up!”
- “Hurry and eat!”
- “You can’t find your shoes?”
- “Where’s your homework?”
- “Ohhh, where are my car keys?”
- “Has anyone seen my purse?”
Do you find your mornings as stressful as I do?
I wake up thinking I’ve got plenty of time to get ready and head out the door on time. But, then I look at the clock and see we’ve got 10 minutes till “Go-Time”. Then the panic begins … that’s when it’s rush, rush, rush, hurry, hurry, hurry. I start to panic about making it on time.
My kids never seem to be as interested as I am about being on time, so I start getting on their case. The volume of my voice increases as chaos sets in.
I don’t like to start my days off this way, I don’t like to be rushing my kids, but it’s a cycle that’s hard to get out of. So, I’ve come up with a system to help start a great Morning Routine.
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A Morning Routine for Moms
As a busy mom, if you get a good morning routine started, you’ll get yourself where you need to go and get your kids ready, too. After you get your routine all figured out, you’ll need to add a morning routine for kids as soon as possible, too.
Sign up for the FREE 5 Days to a Better Morning Challenge by Crystal Paine and you’ll Jumpstart your Morning Routine right now.
Why Is a Morning Routine Important?
You know what things are like in the morning when you don’t have a good routine established … things are chaos! Lunches and homework get forgotten, breakfast is eaten while rushing out the door, and worst of all, everyone is frazzled. No one wants to start the day this way.
Once you have a morning routine in order, you will wake up to so much less stress … so much more peace. And, we all want a little more peace, don’t we? Wouldn’t you like to head out the door feeling relaxed? Wouldn’t you like your kids to be ready to go without raising your voice at them, or rushing them?
I created a free checklist for you and a specific checklist for the kids, too. Grab it below.
A Great Morning Routine, Really Has to Start The Night Before!
What Should Be On Your Morning Routine?
This really is dependent upon who needs to get up and going in the morning and where you’re headed. It needs to include everything that needs to be done in order to get out the door at the right time.
If you are a working mom with teens it will look very different from that of a stay-at-home-mom with elementary-age kids and toddlers. You’ll have to start with a brainstorming session of all the things you need to manage. Here are some ideas:
- Wake Up Time
- Shower
- Breakfast
- Outfits
- Backpacks
- Purse
- Homework
- Exercise
- Relaxation
- Email Check
- Lunch Packed
- Coffee or Tea
What To Do The Night Before:
- Set up coffee. If you have a traditional coffee pot, get it all ready to hit the start button or set the timer. This is mine (it can make a single cup or a whole cup). If you use a Keurig (there are so many to choose from now), make sure the pods are ready to go. Set out your cup (travel cup if needed), and make sure the sugar bowl is full.
- Set breakfast out. If it’s cereal, you can get the bowls and spoons out and set the cereal on the table, heck, you can even pour the cereal. If you want something hot, make instant oatmeal. Pour the packet in the bowl and set it near the microwave, ready to go.
- Pack any bags. Pack your purse, diaper bag, gym bag, backpacks, lunch. Anything that needs to be ready to go with you in the morning.
- Look at your calendar. Check your calendar for tomorrow and see what’s ahead, see if there are things you need to be prepared for.
- Put reminders on your purse. Do you need to take a project with you? A receipt to make a return? Your lunch from the fridge? Anything you need to remember to grab or do, put a cute sticky-note on your purse.
- Plan your outfit. Get your clothes out tonight so you won’t spend 15 minutes staring at your closet in the morning. This goes for the kids, too, making sure all shoes have been found. I get most of my clothes from Stitch Fix, cuz, who’s got time to go shopping? Get $25 off Your First Box.
- Set your alarm 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to. I know we all want to sleep just as long as possible, but believe me … getting up just a little earlier will add so much more peace to your mornings. This little bit of time gives you a margin for the little things that could go wrong. Try this Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock to wake up easily.
More things to ask, specific to your family:
- Is there sports gear to get ready?
- How about musical instruments?
- Do you need special breakfast food?
- Should you allow more than 20 minutes of extra time in the morning?
If your family always eats oatmeal for breakfast, consider setting it up in a crockpot like this one. Or, are you keto and need some egg dishes? This Easy Chile Rellenos Casserole can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for warming up.
Remember to modify and customize your evenings as needed for your family.
Now, What To Do In The Morning:
- Wake up with your alarm. Don’t hit snooze 6 times. I know, it’s so tempting. But, don’t do it! Remember, you’re trying to start your day right. If your kids can be independent, wake them and have them start on their morning routines.
- Do 5 minutes of stretching and breathing. This really helps you start your day in the right mindset.
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Drink a full glass of water.
Get hydrated after a long night of rest. You can even add some lemon juice for a night metabolism kick-start.
- Shower and do your full hygiene routine. Get it all done and over, don’t leave parts of it to do later, like putting on your makeup. And, don’t do it at a snail’s pace, remember, you’re trying to get out the door on time. If you have babies and toddlers wake them now, after you’re ready.
- Make sure the kids are ready. Review their morning lists. This countdown timer is a great way to help them manage their time.
- Eat your breakfast. Please, please, don’t forget to eat breakfast. And grab that coffee, too.
- Review your reminders. Look at any reminders you put on your purse. Don’t wait until you’re walking out the door to do this. Do it when you have a few minutes to actually do what it’s reminding you to do.
- Lastly, leave the house 10 minutes early. Does this seem impossible? If you’ve set up your morning well, you can totally do this!
Practice Your Morning Routine
Doing these things may take a little practice. It won’t be easy to fully change your routine all at once, so add these steps gradually if you need. Post the checklists somewhere easy to see. You can laminate them and use a dry erase marker to check things off as you go.
Depending on the ages of your children, they can take responsibility for their tasks, too. If they are school-age, let them manage their own checklist and provide as little supervision as needed. This empowers them and prepares them for a lifetime of time management as well.
Remember to give yourself some grace. You’re still going to have rough mornings. There are still things that will go haywire and make you late. Your kids will even keep losing their shoes … it’s just a thing kids do. In those moments, hit the reset button, figure out where the misstep was and make whatever change is necessary for tomorrow.
Sign up Below and Take the FREE 5 Days to a Better Morning Challenge by Crystal Paine
Get started right away to have smooth mornings that will set the tone for the rest of your day.
