#1 Secret to Stress Free Mornings

My kids have just both recently moved out for college. I need a new morning routine because this has made me sleep in longer and now I don’t get my workouts in like I used to.

My three kids just went back to school (ages 14, 12, and 9). I made checklists for everybody so they know exactly what is expected and what they need to accomplish before we walk out the door…and I don’t have to run around reminding everyone what to do and asking if they did it yet. They enjoy checking things off the list and it places the responsibility on them and they don’t have to rely on me as much. That, plus a healthy breakfast and we are off and running! (Hopefully with smiles on our faces, but with teenagers, that is not always the case

My 5 years old boy will start school in two weeks. What I’m planning to do is to prepare everything the night before. The only thing we have to do is eat and dress, and ready to go.
I don’t know if it’s realistic or not yet.
I can’t wait to see more of your morning routines.

My kids are too young for school (3, 1) so our routine is quite simple: as soon as we’re up, it’s time for breakfast. Then arts & crafts OR story, and then play outside weather permitting. Snack time, then we’re off to do our morning errands. Every morning:)

Early, like 5 AM, I start my day with two glasses of cold water and a brisk walk around the neighborhood, about 20 minutes. Upon my return, my mind is settled, and my coffee is ready!

My two granddaughters live with me & both will be starting Kindergarten in 1 1/2 weeks. Routine works wonders. We all eat breakfast together & when school starts, they will each get dressed, get their backpacks ready, & help with packing their lunch. Hopefully, this will go as smoothly as I make it sound. LOL.

We do as much as we can the night before when school starts. I have a 9 & 7 year old & a 4 & 2 year old at home. I’m a stayathomer now, but when I worked part-time, we did the same routine. Here’s what we do at bedtime: dirty clothes in the hamper, rooms (mostly) picked up, clothes laid out, check backpack for what is needed. This seriously takes 15 minutes tops. When they are done, we get story time if they make the 15 minutes. They like it when I set the timer, they are tearin’ around to beat the clock! After school or immediately after supper, we check backpacks and do homework. I have a big bulletin board I bought cheap at Walmart and covered in a cheap fabric that matched my kitchen. I stick everything from school on this–their artwork, notices from school, you name it. So if we need to know about something school related, we check the board, plus their hard work gets noticed by others as well (stainless steel fridge so nothing sticks & I can’t stand picking off tiny pieces of tape!!) The kids eat the school lunches so I don’t have to worry about that and we have simple breakfasts–cereal, toast, toaster waffles, quck oatmeal. Nothin’ fancy! That’s my story, I’m stickin’ to it!

My kids (9 and 5) love to play outside in the mornings (or Legos if weather isn’t cooperating). If I don’t get them started on the morning routine before they start to play it is difficult to transition them. We now have a rule that as soon as they are ready (dressed, breakfast, teeth and hair) they can have whatever time is left to play. This motivates them to stay on track to maximize their playtime before school. They helped to make a chart (w/ pictures for the younger one) to remind them what needs to be done in the morning. We have backpacks (with permission slips, notes, homework, projects) etc. ready the night before. Also, the 5 year old actually likes to sleep in his clean clothes for the next day so he wakes up w/ one thing checked off the list.

Just finished our chaotic morning. We just added a third child’s breakfast to our morning which seems impossible now. The other two girls 6 & 8 were in a routine, but still I am asking about homework, PE clothes, brusing hair and applying sunscreen as we run out the door for school. Please, I would love your ideas! Thank you Heidi

I wake up before everyone else….tidy the kitchen, get a quick snack, and then sit down for my quiet time. I workout, and then start prepping breakfast as my kids start to wake from their slumber. They come into the room and no other conversation begins until our “good mornings” are said, and then we have breakfast and begin our day. As for a “get ready” routine, it is an hour or two before we go anywhere, and we map out the time in our heads. As we see to the end of the day or activity, then we work our way back to what it is we need. And then GO!, they are off and get ready to head out. I like it this way as we have many spontaneous things that come up for us to attend and its not something that is routine.

Ah, The Morning Routine. When we manage to do it the days really do unfold much more smoothly… My New Year’s Resolution was to establish & stick to routines one little step at a time. Things are getting better, but it’s still challenging for me. I have a 2 & 4 y/o & my husband is often away from home for extended periods. My son will be in preschool again Tu/Th this Sept.

I find good mornings start with our evening routine – setting out clothes for the next day & telling my kids what the “plan” is – school, activities, errands, etc. My 4 y/o LOVES his calendar and knowing what’s coming up in the week ahead, especially when Dad will be leaving & coming home. Evenings can get crazy & my “aha” moment this week was – we don’t have to wait until bedtime to set out clothes for tomorrow! (It will likely still be done near bedtime, but yesterday we did it while dinner was cooking.) I designated a shelf for each of my kids in their closet to set their outfit on. I let my son (4) choose his outfit (then check to make sure it’s appropriate) and give my daughter (2) a couple to choose from. This makes mornings easier b/c they know where to look for their clothes and aren’t overwhelmed by choices. We have fewer clothing struggles & my kids can function a little more independently. We also pack bags & set them by the door or in the car. I set out my clothes & make sure the kitchen is picked up so breakfast prep isn’t hindered in the morning.

School morning staples: kids must get dressed including shoes before breakfast, no T.V., if I’m feeling chipper we’ll play some fun kid music. I try to have “backup breakfasts” on hand (banana, juice or milk in a cup with a lid, cereal bar or bagel/toast with PB or cream cheese) in case something happens to derail the morning, then my kids can eat on the drive to school. Our breakfasts are typically cereal or yogurt with fruit or some version of eggs. Other breakfast ideas: I keep a batch of banana-nut or blueberry muffins in the freezer and thaw individually the microwave, or chop veggies to go in eggs or slice fruit the night before (on good days!). Smoothies are another good, quick breakfast where I can add some extra produce in.

If I plan to work-out in the morning I often sleep in my workout gear & lay out any needed equipment before going to bed. With Holly’s 15 minute w/o’s this is especially do-able assuming I get myself to bed at a decent hour. (Again, something that is a daily struggle for me – but the rewards are worth it!) I also try to throw one load of laundry in as soon as I wake up and eat something before my kids get going so I don’t end up forgetting to eat in the morning rush.

I prepare lunches and lay out uniforms the night before, so all we need to do in the morning is get up, eat breakfast, clean up, get dressed and then grab the lunches and backpacks as we head out the door. I even have a timer set for 7am so that we know when the timer goes off we have 10 min to get out the door. Our whole morning routine takes an hour from bed to car. Love it!

My kids are still pretty little (3 and 1) so our routine is pretty flexibel depending on what we’re doing that day. In general though we get up and dressed, then we eat breakfast together around 8 and I ai to have my workout done by 9:30. It works well most days…

School starts back up for my three boys and me in a few weeks. Here’s our routine: All three of them get up early so they can have some play time in the morning. Before 7am, my eldest screams up the stairs, “MOOOOOMMMMM!! The bus is coming in 10 minutes!!!!” I scramble out of bed, swearing under my breath, then fall downstairs to make lunches, yelling at the boys to pack drinks and snacks, check the “to bring” list through bleary eyes, and make sure the backpacks are packed, then quick kisses and they are shooed out the door. I remember that they didn’t brush their teeth, and run down the driveway with toothbrushes for a quick touch-up. As they board the bus I’m yelling directions at them, “Don’t forget, you have to stay after today, and we leave right after I get home for your oboe lesson!!!” I lament the fact — again — that I couldn’t get myself up in time to work out. Coffee or tea to make, my youngest is now urged to eat while I climb in the shower. I rummage through the closet to find something not only clean but also not in need of ironing. I double check to make sure my youngest has on clean clothes as well. The phone rings. My eldest left home his music, and he has band today, and could I possibly drop off the music in the office. I rush my youngest and slowest child through breakfast, slug down some coffee (it’s definitely a coffee day), then paw through the cupboard for something I can eat on the way to work. Trail mix will have to do. The remaining child and I brush our teeth, check his backpack, and I run around the house trying to find my laptop. Found, I trip over a pile of shoes as I search for the only ones that will go with the outfit I chose. Not there. I run upstairs to my closet, throwing shoes all over my bedroom in my search. Run back down, yell at the child to get in the car, grab my trail mix and coffee and…. nobody fed the cats. I drop everything on the cubbies bench, pour food, refresh water, then run to the van. At the bottom of the driveway I remember that I left the music in the house. Back up the hill, run in for the music, stub my toe on the way out. I’m bleeding. Rush over to school to drop off the music. Drive my youngest to the before-school sitter, who informs me, oh, by the way, I won’t be able to help you out tomorrow morning, so could you find someone else? Smiling on the outside, groaning on the inside, I get a quick kiss from my son, and am finally on my way to school.

And this is a relatively easy morning.

I hope to get a routine. I have a 16, 14, 12 and 10 year old. The 14 and 10 are more organised. I struggle with the other 2. Sometimes my mornings become upset especially when we get caught in the traffic as I’m a working mom. I hope to get more ideas from you Holly and your son Tyler!

I get up to get breakfast and school lunches done, which I have down to a system. I wake the kids around 6 and they come down and have breakfast. Usually it isn’t hectic unless uniforms weren’t washed or something like that and then I have to get a load done. Once I take the kids to school I get my workout in and then head into my day. (School starts at 7:15 for everyone from my 2nd grader to my Freshman so it is an early day for all of us.)

My stress comes from getting a healthy breakfast into all of them when none of us like eggs. (We live in the Philippines and fruit is great but some of the other foods that people talk about aren’t available.)

I like lists and check sheets, but my eight year old isn’t so fond of them. I find myself wasting time and effort when I go to the trouble of creating these. We keep it simple, foster independence, and do our best to get everyone up and out the door by 7am — but none of us are morning people and the snooze button is a temptation I find hard to resist! Packing all lunches and snacks the night before saves so much time and assures good eating choices throughout the day. One cool thing I came up with last fall is this: purchase the closet sweater shelves with 5 small cubbies. Plan out the outfits for the week with one in each section. We can think ahead to art day and gym day and have the proper attire ahead. If we do this ahead it’s one less thing to think of and make time for once the week is in full swing. We also keep to the rule of no screen-time for anyone before the morning lists are done.

Would love to hear your ideas, Holly!

Lunches get made the night before. I don’t hit the snooze button. I drink water and have brekkie as soon as I get up as these helps me take lots of deep breathes and be more patient when the kids are messing!!!

Well we are still on school holidays… however the night before i set the kitchen bench with plates, cups and spoons for the kids. Cereal and vitamins also… wait on the bench. In the blender waits my protein powder, oats…. ready for the next day to add spinch and almond milk.

Clothes are decided upon before kids go to bed… plus beach bag packed and ready by the door.

Kids ~ Emmanuel is 5 & Marcus is 16 months.

I have found it easier to have everything ready the night before and this helps our morning run much smoother.

Upon waking i drink a litre of water, kids scutter into the kitchen and oj and vitamins had. Breaky served… At this time I perform my 15min workout/interval.

Then shower quickly with bub, PWS is drunk and we are out the door to the playground, run errands and off to the beach by 10.

Morning schedule is busy but smooth and everybody has a routine. Keeps us organised.

Good morning everyone! I definitely need to have a schedule even though my kids are what most of us call pre-teens!!!!! Or at least thats what they correct me on. Even when my kids were very young I tried very hard to put them on a schedule or routine and it would start off great but when you have a newborn and a 2 yr. old not to mention i was a nursing mom and i had a job outside the home and it’s like some of the other moms have mentioned I had 1 cat & 4 dogs, a newborn, a 2 yr. old and yes a husband! My schedule was a little chaotic i would get up after nursing my baby in bed until about 5:00 am. get outta bed go to bathroom go get the baby to change her diaper nurse her abit more she falls back to sleep and then go check in on my son while he sleeps then grab my coffee. Oh! Then it’s time to feed my cat and let the 4 dogs out so the cat can eat by this time it’s about 5:20 maybe 5:30 am.depending on how much sleep i got time to let the dogs back in give them 1&half scoops of food each for breakfest by this time i add somemore coffee to my cup and try to sit and watch the weather channel for about 1/2 hour go have my shower go and check on my kids again before i go do my circle check which is part of my job when your a school bus driver takes about 15 minutes go back into the house check on the babies 1 more time give them both kisses and run out the door. Be at my first 3 kids by 7:10 am. I would be finished my school run about 9:00 am. Go back home by then baby needs changing and feeding my 2 yr. old would be awake by this time so i would make him oatmeal and toast and juice, try and throw a load of laundry in and by 9:30-10:00 am. I would try to get to the gym at least a couple times a week, but like Kathy from #27 was saying i too have had many mornings where every thing that can go wrong! does. Even if you have a schedule! I remember several mornings where i was tripping over the dogs or the cat because them seem to know that as soon as i come downstairs or like Kathy says fall downstairs! You know if you start your morning off with your children screaming & crying and the cat meowing at you and the dogs are barking to get outside and a husband thats still in bed than you have a very good indication that your not going to have a stress free day by any means. (lol.)

I love starting my morning with 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with almond butter. I put the almond butter on the bread first then stick it in the oven for a few. I like to have a couple of pieces of turkey bacon with this (I just throw it in the microwave). This is so good with a glass of almond milk. When I’m done I sip green tea throughout the morning and on my way to work. Sometimes I put a little honey in my tea.

I have an almost 2 year old. I’ve found when I can get time before he wakes up in the morning to get alone with God in His presence and read my bible it makes my day so much better! I’ve even noticed the difference in my son when I get to do that and when I don’t. The days I get alone with God are much better than the days without!

I try to take care of every variable the night before. Kids clothes laid out, lunches packed for daycare. Just before they get up I use our downstairs shower (blessed silence) and then our day begins. With everything already done we have pretty stress free mornings and usually make it out of the house on time. When the plan goes south and we start to run late I just try to be as flexible as possible and remember that we’re still in our salad days .

Last year I switched from a late night to an early morning schedule to accomodate the children. The rule was, whomever could wake Mama up (that would be me) before 7 am got to pick the breakfast. If it took extra groceries it would be next day’s breakfast. The kids LOVE that! We had pancakes, sausages, eggs, crepes, fruit salad, yogurt concoctions, chocolate milk, potato, steak, fish, you can’t imagine what they come up with.

This year since I’m working 2 hours each morning, I leave when most are sleeping and come home when they are all freshly awake and ready for breakfast. (and soon, homeschool).

Here is my routine:
Push snooze twice (up at 6:04)
Make coffee
Hop in shower
Do face and hair while coffee brews
Eat a protein plus something for breakfast
Work, pick up something yummy for lunch
Home to make protein plus another breakfast
Housework til lunchtime
Whatever needs done after lunchtime.

If it is sunny all plans are on hold and we all pile outside. Housework will wait, but the sun will not.

Our mornings are constantly filled with ‘hurry up’, ‘get a move on’, ‘stop mucking around’. Little ratbags I get up around 5.45am, do my work out, shower, kids up around 6.45am, breakfast, I get ready for work, husband gets the kids lunches made, the kids pretty much get ready on their own (they are 4 and 6). Once they are ready they get to watch tv. I put a load of washing on, make my green smoothie to drink in the car. Then we are out the door at 8am.