Getting up in the morning is hard enough for adults. For parents, it can be doubly difficult, since they’ll have to prepare both themselves and their children for a long day ahead. Sometimes the kids feel restless; other times, it can be impossible to keep their attention long enough to accomplish what needs to be done. If you often find yourself feeling frazzled in the mornings, here are a few mom-approved tips that can help eliminate a bulk of the stress:
Start prepping the night before
Knocking the morning chores out ahead of time saves you from having to do them in the morning, when you have less time to spare. There are a few things that you and your children can do on the night before:
– Preparing your kids’ lunches and snacks so that they’re ready to go in the morning when they leave for school can be hugely beneficial. It eliminates decision fatigue on your part; you can even get your children to help by asking them to pick out what they’d like to eat, reducing food waste.
– You can also ask your kids to pick out what they’d like to wear to school the night before, making it easier for them to get dressed in the morning.
– Have your children check their school bags to make sure they don’t forget to bring anything they might need.
Keep things organized
Organizational items such as baskets, bins, and containers can help your children easily find whatever they may need in the mornings, and they’re a great way to keep your home neat. Consider purchasing kids’ name labels from Sticky Monkey Labels to personalize these containers, so that each child knows which things belong to whom. You can also use kids’ name labels to personalize lunch boxes, school books and other supplies, and more.
Make sure the kids follow a good sleeping schedule
Kids get cranky when they don’t get enough sleep. Make sure they’re getting the right amount of z’s: preschool children need at least 10 to 13 hours of sleep each night, while school age kids require 9 to 12 hours of sleep for optimum rest. Form a healthy nightly routine and make sure that your children are in bed at the same time every night. It’s also good to establish a “lights out” time by asking them to turn any electronics off before heading to bed. Less exposure to blue light after a certain time will help them sleep better.
Prepare breakfast ahead of time
Most breakfast foods can easily be made the day before; refrigerate them and then easily heat them up in the morning. You can also look into food that’s easier to prepare in the morning, such as oatmeal, cereal, and granola and fruit bowls.
Set aside some time for yourself
Your home will likely be quietest during that period in the morning just before your children wake up. Take this time out to decompress and prepare yourself for the day before shifting your focus to getting them out the door on time. Use these precious hours to complete a simple meditation exercise, work out, or just take a quiet moment to reflect on yourself and the things you need to do for the day.
For more helpful ideas on how to organize your mornings with your kids, visit Sticky Monkey Labels.
