Weekday mornings are chaos as you rush to get yourself and your kids ready for the busy day ahead. Planning for the day ahead and having a good routine in place can streamline your morning and start your day off right.

Get Yourself Ready for Work First

Wake up at least 30 minutes before your children so that you will have time to shower, get dressed, style your hair, and put on makeup. Getting yourself ready for work before you wake your children will enable you to focus your attention on your children once they wake.

Make Time for Breakfast

Breakfast is an important meal that you don’t want to miss. Keep quick and healthy breakfast foods in stock for busy mornings. Fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, cereal, bagels, and orange juice are simple breakfast items. All of which can be prepared quickly on busy mornings. If you like to take coffee with you on the go, breakfast time is the perfect time to brew a pot of coffee.

Get the Kids Ready

Getting the kids dressed for the day is often the most stressful part of the morning. Have your children pick out their clothes the night before. Choosing clothes the night beforehand will allow you to have time to make sure their clothing choice is appropriate. Plus it will also reduce time getting ready in the mornings. If your child gets fussy about having to wear uncomfortable shoes or socks, switching to seamless socks may help your child feel more comfortable. Seamless socks for diabetes can also help kids who don’t like the way regular socks feel. Have your child’s shoes and socks near their school clothes so that all clothing items are easy to find in the morning. After your children have eaten breakfast and gotten ready for school, make sure they brush their teeth.

Have a Designated Place for School Items

Misplaced or forgotten backpacks and lunchboxes can cause the morning routine to take longer than it should. Instead of rushing around trying to find the things your child needs for the school day, have a plan and stick to it. Create designated areas for your children to put their school bags, homework, and other essentials. Check homework and school papers the night before. Make sure all school bags are in the proper location. Pack the lunchbox the night before the school day and place it in the fridge, so all your child has to do is grab and go. Place a lunchbox reminder near the backpacks, so it isn’t accidentally left behind.

Have Everything Ready for School

The night before school is the perfect time to prepare for the day ahead and ensure that the morning goes smoothly. Pack lunches and have the coffee pot ready to go. Ensure that your children have their homework completed and placed in their bags. Additionally ensure that pencils and notebooks are in the schoolbags and that each school bag is in the designated location. Have your child help pick out their clothes the night before school. Having everything prepared ahead of time will enable you to focus on getting yourself and your children ready for the day, grabbing the essentials, and heading out the door on schedule. Having a good morning routine in place can help ensure that the morning goes as smoothly as possible.