Avoiding the Morning Rush
- A productive day begins with a good start
- Have things prepared the night before
- Jump-start the morning with some upbeat music
Ask any busy mom what the most stressful time of day is and mornings will likely be at the top of her list.
Let's face it, everyone is tired and there is a lot of rushing around to get out the door. Add the stress of forgetting something that could potentially ruin your entire day and it's no wonder that dealing with the morning chaos wears most parents out before their day has even started.
Here are a few simple steps that can be taken to make sure your day starts out (and stays) right.
The Planning
Get Everyone Involved
Getting everyone out the door on time in the morning cannot be a one-(wo)man show, especially if you're also an online student. You will need everyone's cooperation and assistance. Therefore, all members involved should have a say in your plan to avoid the morning rush.
Sit your family down and discuss everything that needs to be done to get the day started. Then divide up the duties and discuss short-cuts that can be taken to ease the burden of time constraints. Remember that since people are motivated differently, there may not necessarily be just one way to tackle the morning to-do list.
Individuality plays a role here and should be taken into consideration when coming up with a plan for each family member.
Write It Up
Once you've come up with a plan for each family member, don't leave it all to memory. One of the best ways to make sure that all bases are covered is to come up with some sort of chart or list for each family member.
This will also help prevent you from having to constantly remind everyone of their next step.
Your chart should include each step, as appropriate when considering your children's age and personality. Be sure to include tasks such as:
- getting dressed,
- making the bed,
- eating breakfast,
- brushing their teeth,
- any morning chores,
- as well as a checklist for anything they may need for the day such as homework, library books, etc.
If your children are too young to read the list, you can include pictures to remind them of their responsibilities. Having everything in writing means there is less of a chance that something will be forgotten which makes mornings less stressful.
Set Up a Reward System
Rewards work wonders for reinforcing positive behavior. If your family is doing their part to stick to the plan and help make the mornings run smoother, reward them.
This should include yourself as well. Of course avoiding the morning chaos is a big reward itself, but an extra treat here and there can help everyone stay motivated and feel appreciated for their effort.
Evaluate the Progress
Once everyone has had some time to really try working the plan, have a family meeting to discuss any obstacles or adjustments that may need to be made. If your children feel their opinion is being heard they are more likely to keep trying to achieve a successful system.
The Night Before
Lay It Out
Is there anything more frustrating than trying to get ready in a hurry and not being able to find matching socks? What about arguing with your 10-year-old in the morning about what she is going to wear?
Laying out everyone's clothes the night before can eliminate all of this.
Bonus Tip: Don't stop with just laying out clothes. Set out shoes, hair accessories, gloves and coats. That way getting ready in the morning (even when only half awake) will be a breeze.
Another parenting trick of those really trying to cut down on the morning chaos is to have young children sleep in the clothes they'll wear the next day. Then when they rise for the day they have a jump start on the morning routine.
Prep for the Meals
There are many steps you can take the night before to get ready for the next day's meals. You can set the table for breakfast and fill sippy cups. You can get most, if not all, of the lunches packed for the next day.
If you aren't interested in fully packing the lunches the night before you can get everything ready in quick grab-and-go baggies so your children can pack their lunches themselves in the morning. Before you go to bed go ahead and stick the frozen ingredients for the next day's dinner in the refrigerator to thaw.
It'll be one less thing to worry about in the morning.
Pack It the Night Before
Backpacks, briefcases, diaper bags — they all carry essentials that you and your kids will need for the day. Taking the time to pack them in the evening will save you time in the morning and frustration from searching for items you need to take.
Getting everything gathered up and placed near the door for a quick grab is a great sanity-saving tip.
Hit the Hay Early
Feeling sluggish from a lack of sleep will not help you get moving in the morning. Make sure you and the members of your family are well rested. Calling it a night early is one of the best ways to make sure you are ready to attack a new day.
Tonight, just try going to bed 30 minutes earlier.
The Morning Of
Rise Before The Rest
Getting up and ready before the rest of your household is a great way to start the day off with a few moments of peace and quiet. You will have the chance to really wake up and clear your head before tackling the needs of others.
When the rest of your family gets up, they will pick up on your relaxed attitude and your time together in the morning will be more enjoyable.
Stagger the Wake-Up Calls
If your children are prone to arguing in the bathroom while getting ready or fighting over the box of cereal, staggering when they get up may be a solution. This is especially true if some move quicker than others in the morning.
Having your children get up at different times, or at the very least managing their morning routine in a different order, will help everyone move along and keep the peace.
Turn Up the Tunes
Forget about turning on the television in the morning: it can be too distracting and will slow everyone down. Instead, set the mood (and pace) with music.
You can start out with something slower and relaxing to gently wake everyone up — think Sting's "Brand New Day" or Coldplay's "Speed of Sound." Then once everyone is awake and getting started with their morning routine you can turn on more motivating music to really get the day started on a good note.
Try 80's classics like the Bangles' "Manic Monday" or "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! for a fun twist.
Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer and will soon be the mother of six young children born within a 5-year span. Her writing focuses on strategies for busy parents to juggle it all.
Comments for Avoiding the Morning Rush:
1 comment(s)
Lori On Saturday, April 17 2010
I am a mother of 4 and 2 of them only 3 and 4. This sounds fantastic and I am going to try this out.... Will let you know how its going after a few weeks.