“Have a magical morning!” is what we heard every day when we entered Disneyworld. Today, I have some tips to make mornings flow.
How can you avoid the mad dash that happens every day as you get the kids or yourself out the door? It’s stressful most days, and it feels rushed and frantic.
We all know the basics, eat a good breakfast, pick out an outfit, get dressed, and, if you get up early enough, exercise.
What about the other stuff? How can you prepare yourself for the day and get the kids, yourself and your spouse out the door without the mad morning scramble?
Tips for Magical Mornings
- This really helps . . . Get up before the rest of your family, even just 15 minutes. I know, I know. It doesn’t sound inviting, especially if you are tired right now. Trust me; it is worth it.
- Take time to pray or meditate.
- Do some stretches while listening to scripture or an inspirational book.
- Get showered if possible and DEFINITELY do get dressed for your first activity before you wake up kids—this really helps. As one of my clients said, when her kids were young, she would get dressed from her head to her socks before she woke her children up, and it really helped her feel put-together.–it’s ok to wear your slippers! Also, it reinforces the habit of taking care of you before taking care of others.
- Make a quick plan for the day: what’s for dinner, what’s your #1 priority for the day? Take out whatever needs to thaw for dinner. For quick and easy meal ideas: find it here. https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2016/07/cool-easy-summer-salads/Link to my Pinterest board Easy dinners: http://www.pinterest.com/jennyrossomorin/easy-dinners/
- Now you are centered and ready to wake up your spouse and/or children and greet them with kisses and smiles.
- And last of all, go to bed earlier. Allow yourself at least 7 hours to sleep and you will awake refreshed and ready for the day tomorrow.
Now go put in a load of laundry. Yay! Don’t forget to plan when to take it out too. Start a habit for when to transfer the clothes to the dryer… or you’re gonna have to re-wash it tomorrow.
If you do forget and need to rewash, I’ve done some research and experimenting. The best way to get the in-the-washer-too-long smell out is by putting a half cup of baking soda directly on the clothes, then rewash. Detergent not necessary.
And don’t beat yourself up if you cannot manage to wake up earlier one morning. The routine here is the ideal. If you only have 15 minutes to get yourself ready on any given day, you’ve got to prioritize and pick the activities that are most rejuvenating for you in the morning. ALWAYS do #4, though. It will make you feel better, more put-together.
Bonus: Tips for Getting kids’ stuff ready the night before
- Make sure homework is done
- Backpacks loaded with homework, lunch money, permission slips, etc.
- If your child tends to dawdle over getting dressed, have them pick out an outfit in evening. Better yet, have them pick out 5 outfits on Sunday!
Good Questions to ask kids before they go to school:
Do you have everything? Lunch money? Time they need to be picked up? Who’s picking them up? You, a spouse, or an older sibling?
What activities do they have in the afternoon/evening: remind them and yourself.
I promise, when you follow these tips, most of your mornings will be calm, less stressful, and yes, even MAGICAL!
