Morning Tips for Busy Moms
Pressure.
I’m sure you’ve felt it.
The alarm clock rings and it’s off to the races. Before your day gets started you’re already behind, and if it’s anything like most mornings at my house, without any pre-planning, it’s a chaotic crazy mess, leaving everyone in the house feeling overwhelmed and in a bad mood.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
No matter what your household is like in the morning, these 3 MORNING TIPS FOR BUSY MOMS can add order and joy to any morning.
CHECKLISTS
Checklists can give your kiddos a sense of direction and even empowerment at the ability to perform a specific set of tasks without asking Mom or Dad what they have to do next. By putting a checklist in my girls’ hands they can easily see what step is next or what they might be forgetting (specifically important with my ADHD child).
You can even add pictures for the little ones who can’t yet read.
Type up a list of your child’s duties, laminate or put it in a page cover, give them a dry-erase marker, and set them free.
At the House of Mack we have checklists for the morning, after school (which must be completed before ANY TV time), and bedtime. You can get a copy of the CHECKLISTS we use here.
PLAN YOUR MORNING
The idea of planning your morning the night before might sound odd but stick with me.
How many times in a rush to get the kids out the door and get to work on time, have you been sitting at a red light, when “ding,” you remember the supper you were supposed to thaw or the folder you were supposed to sign.
Have you been stopped in your tracks by the last minute, “But it’s tie-dye day or hat day” comment from your child as you are already 5 minutes late and about to miss the bus?
Going through your morning with your husband and kids can be helpful in avoiding any last-minute morning debacles.
In your nightly meeting you might discuss who’s picking up the kids and make sure there aren’t any changes in their schedule. Does anyone have any appointments the next day or early morning meetings? Any special assignments due, wardrobe needs (like spirit day or pajama day)? What was the plan for dinner, does anything need to be taken out to thaw or thrown in the crockpot? The topics are infinite and will vary for your family, but planning your morning the night before can be extremely helpful.
Have the kids pick out clothes for the next day (or even the week if they aren’t that picky), make sure their bags are pre-packed with all the necessities for the next day, and even ask them what they want for breakfast.
You’ll be amazed how planning your day the night before can dramatically change your morning.
PRIORITIZE ALONE TIME
The morning hours are some of the most important to set the tone for how your day will go. As busy, working mom’s we often get little or no free time to recharge and reset our batteries.
If you’re like me, you are already running low on sleep, so the thought of getting up early and not “being productive” is a hard concept to swallow.
But here’s the thing.
Even 5-10 minutes of silence reading a book, drinking your coffee, journaling, praying, or any combination of quiet, stress-free activities can set your energy off in the right direction.
Never underestimate the importance of filling your own cup first.
Mornings can be chaotic and hectic for any busy mom, but by pre-planning your day, empowering your kiddos with quick checklists, and spending some time to fill your own cup, you can start any day off on a positive step.
In this together,
Sonya Joy