kiddi
As anyone who has kids will tell you, if you are not organised, the morning routine for school days can be a chaotic race against the clock.
Between waking the kids up, making sure they are dressed and fed, and getting them out the door with enough time to catch the bus or drive, there is so much you need to do. So, it’s no wonder you are always exhausted!
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The key to having a stress-free morning routine revolves around following a well-structured plan of action.
With that in mind, here are some things you can do to ensure the first part of your day runs a lot more smoothly.
1. Make Sure Your Home is Tidy
Mornings are already hectic enough without the added stress of searching for missing shoes or school supplies at the last minute, getting everyone dressed, fed, and out the door on time is no small feat. Add in the stress of searching for lost shoes, misplaced homework, or a missing lunchbox, and it can quickly become overwhelming. But here’s the good news: creating a tidier space isn’t about having a spotless home—it’s about making mornings a little less chaotic and a lot more manageable.
A clutter-free environment helps kids feel more in control and reduces those frantic, last-minute scrambles that leave everyone feeling stressed before the day has even begun. And if the thought of decluttering feels daunting, that’s completely understandable—you’re already juggling so much! Start small. Maybe it’s designating a basket by the door for school essentials or clearing one shelf at a time. Progress, not perfection, is the goal. Every little step you take is a win, and each small change helps create a calmer, smoother start to the day for you and your family.
If it has been a while since you did a clear-out and purge, you’ll probably have a lot of things you need to get rid of. So, call a company like 1300 Rubbish professional services Gold Coast that can dispose of these items for you.
2. Prepare the Night Before
A stress-free morning routine actually starts the night before because strategically preparing in advance can significantly reduce the amount of last-minute scrambling you need to do.
One of the first things you should do is make sure the kids have the right clothes for the next day. So, check with their schedules to see if they need their sports day gear and if their uniforms are clean and ready to wear. It is a good idea to get them to hang them up in a highly visible spot in their room, which will help them get ready quicker in the morning.
They should also organise their school bags, and you should make their lunches the night before, using lunchboxes as a way to introduce them to new foods.
Additionally, make sure they have done their homework. The last thing you’ll want is for them to be trying to answer complex quadratic equations or write down accounts of major historical events at the kitchen table when you are trying to give everyone the hurry up.
3. Wake Up Before Your Kids
We all need a bit of time to ourselves, so before the morning rush starts, it is a good idea to enjoy some.
Waking up even 15–30 minutes before your children allows you to start the day in a more relaxed frame of mind. Particularly if you use this quiet time to enjoy a cup of coffee, do some light stretching, or meditate.
4. Be Strategic in Who You Wake Up First
If the kids rely on you to wake them up, then it pays to be strategic about who you do so first.
The first person you should wake up is the one who takes the longest time to get ready because it will be stressful if they are the last one to start this process – which will result in delays.
5. Make Breakfast Simple Yet Nutritious
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and kids need to eat something nutritious that will help them focus and stay energised in class.
Unless you are all early risers, weekdays are not the best time to make elaborate fry-ups or dishes that require prolonged preparation. Therefore, it is a good idea to prepare simple yet nutritious breakfasts that will give them plenty of sustenance.
Some good options to consider are good quality porridge, wholegrain toast with peanut butter, Vegemite or avocado, yogurt with fruit, and a smoothie packed with fruit, milk, and oats. You can find some more ideas here.
Try to avoid giving them sugary cereals or processed foods that can result in them experiencing energy crashes later in the day.
6. Minimise Distractions
Mornings should be focused on getting ready for school and work, and if this continually proves to be an issue, then you need to minimise distractions.
Set a rule that TV, tablets, and phones are off-limits until everyone is ready to go. Additionally, try not to do too many household chores during this time, as this may end up further delaying you.
7. Be Calm
It doesn’t help anyone if you are stressed, snappy, and irritable, particularly in the morning when time is limited. For this reason, you should do everything you can to stay calm and create a relaxed atmosphere as you all get ready.
A good way to do this is to always speak in a positive and encouraging tone (although the occasional gee-up never hurts). Additionally, you can play calming music and, if worse comes to worst, incentivise kids with a treat if they get out the door by a certain time.
It is amazing how much they will hurry up if they are offered a carrot instead of a stick!
