Ditch the Stress- Here are 12 tips for getting out the door on time
1. Start the Night Before
This is my NUMBER ONE! Waking up to a tidy, clean, and organized environment will immediately make you feel better when you wake up. Instead of rushing around in the morning trying to find everyone’s shoes or wondering where your keys are, set aside a few minutes in the evening to get organized.
Here’s how:
- Pack school bags or work bags: Make sure everything your kids need for school (books, lunchboxes, water bottles, jackets) and everything you need for work (laptop, documents, phone charger, KEYS) are packed and ready by the door. This way, you’ll avoid scrambling in the morning.
- Lay out clothes: Choose outfits for both you and your children the night before. If you have young kids who are still learning to dress themselves, it’s especially helpful to lay out their clothes in a simple order (shirt, pants, socks, shoes) to streamline the process. For older kids, get them involved if they aren’t already, have them set out their own outfits, and give it a glance to make sure it is appropriate for the day (Temperature, school etc.)
- Prepare breakfast or lunch: Pre-make breakfast or at least set out what you need. Prepping overnight oats or a protein/ breakfast shake, or a smoothie can save you time and stress. Packing lunches the night before also ensures that you’re not scrambling for items to throw together to make a lunch they will actually eat.
- Set a bedtime routine: Ensure your kids (and you!) get enough sleep. The more rested everyone is, the easier it will be to handle the morning rush. Try to establish a regular bedtime routine to help everyone wind down and get a decent night’s sleep. Having a limit or a cutoff time for electronics can be crucial in the this being successful. Giving the kids enough notice to when that cutoff time is, is an effective way to avoid any additional fits or unneeded attitudes.
2. Create a Consistent Morning Routine
Having a consistent routine in the morning can eliminate a lot of the stress and chaos. If everyone in your household knows what to expect, you’ll avoid the back-and-forth of “What do I need to do next?” and “Where are my shoes, jacket, etc.?” Here’s how to create a structured routine:
- Break it out into steps: Create a simple checklist for you and your kids, outlining the steps to follow each morning. For example:
- Wake up, make bed.
- Get dressed, brush teeth.
- Eat breakfast.
- Take any medicine or vitamins
- Put on shoes, coat/ jacket if needed, grab bags, head out the door.
- Make these steps visible. Create a list on a whiteboard on the fridge, or a chalk board where it can be easily seen. Sometimes, it also helps if the kids each have their own area on that board that they can check off as they go. Do what works best for your family.
- Stay flexible: While consistency is important, remember that things might not always go according to plan (sick kids, spilled milk, forgotten homework). Keep a positive attitude and be ready to adapt. This also means plan for the need to be flexible. Build in those extra minutes so you have the time for them to inevitably run back in the house for the folder they left on the counter without missing the bus.
- Involve the kids: If your kids are old enough, give them some responsibility in the morning. This could be as simple as brushing their teeth, putting their shoes on, or packing their own lunch. When everyone is working together, it makes the morning smoother and less stressful.
3. Wake Up Early
It may sound counterintuitive, but giving yourself extra time in the morning can actually help you avoid the chaos. Waking up just 15–30 minutes earlier than usual can give you the space you need to get yourself ready without feeling rushed. Give yourself time for an uninterrupted cup of coffee (or two). Have time to get yourself ready so you can focus on the help they may need.
While getting up early may require some adjustment, the calm it brings can make all the difference in starting your day on a positive note.
4. Simplify Your Breakfast
One of the main hang-ups in the morning rush is breakfast. Spending time preparing a complicated breakfast just adds to the stress. Instead, simplify your options by opting for quick, easy meals that you can either prepare the night before or that are ready-to-go in the morning.
- Overnight oats: Pre-make a batch of overnight oats and add fruit or nuts.
- Smoothies: Prepare your smoothie ingredients ahead of time and freeze them in individual packs or store them in a mason jar. In the morning, just throw the pack in the blender or dump the mason jar ingredients in the blender and you have a quick, easy, and healthier breakfast.
- Granola bars or yogurt: Keep nutritious, grab-and-go options in the pantry or fridge, so everyone can eat something quick while you focus on other tasks. This is something we rely on frequently!
- Egg muffins (add sausage or bacon) or baked oatmeal: Bake breakfast foods in advance for the week, so you can just reheat and serve.
A simple breakfast doesn’t mean sacrificing nutrition. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to get everyone fed, so you’re not spending precious minutes on meal prep.
5. Minimize Decisions
Too many decisions in the morning can add stress. Make as many choices as possible the night before.
- Clothes: Choose outfits in advance, as mentioned earlier, to avoid last-minute outfit dilemmas.
- Meal planning: Plan breakfasts and lunches the night before. Even having a general idea of what’s for dinner can help reduce stress when you’re thinking about the day ahead. Prepare crockpot meals for busier days.
- Work Together: Share the decision-making load with your spouse or older kids. For example, your spouse can be in charge of making sure the car is packed, while the kids can choose which shoes they wear.
6. Prepare the Car
If you’re driving kids to school or heading out yourself, a little bit of prep can help avoid last-minute scrambling.
- Get the car ready: Make sure there’s gas in the tank! Don’t save that task for the morning, if at all possible! Having the car clean creates less stress and having any items—like school papers, snacks, or bags—in the car the night before leave less room for error.
- Carpooling: If you carpool with other families, being consistent with carpooling arrangements can help avoid delays. Plan for traffic. Give yourself the time you need to get where you need to be on time and safely.
- Extra essentials: Have items like tissues, water bottles, and jackets in the car can help unnecessary panic.
7. Smart Technology
Technology can be helpful when it comes to staying on time.
- Smart home devices: Use smart lights, plugs, and thermostats or a timer for your coffee maker to start brewing at a set time.
- Voice assistants: Use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri to help with setting alarms and reminders. Get weather updates to plan ahead.
- Pre-set timers: Set timers for your morning routine—Set a time for when to start getting dressed, when breakfast should start, or a timer with a 5-minute warning for being out of the house on time.
8. Tidy Up the Night Before
Leaving a mess from the night before can add stress in the morning, even if it’s just clothes or toys around the living room or kids’ bedrooms. Take the extra 10 minutes each night to clean up or organize and eliminate that chaos in the morning.
Having things out of place can be distracting and stressful. Organizing the night before creates more of a chance that items like shoes, bookbags, and jackets are where they need to be, making it easier to grab and go.
9. Give Yourself a Realistic Timeframe
Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Create an extra 15-20 minutes. If you think you can make it to the car 15 minutes, set an alarm 20 minutes earlier to allow for those unexpected delays. It’s better to have extra time than to feel rushed. Use that extra time for “you” time. Enjoy your coffee or tea, or smoothie and get yourself in a good mindset for the day.
10. Stay Calm
Being calm sets the tone for the entire house. If you’re stressed, the kids feel it and then they’re stressed, making them more anxious or distracted. Stay focused and get back on track, even when things don’t go as planned.
If you feel like it is too much, take a deep breath, walk into a different room and give yourself a minute to regroup.
11. Plan for Flexibility
If all of the planning goes haywire, as it does sometimes, regardless of our planning. Stick with the basics and what is essential to getting out of the house. Do what has to be done at home, like brushing, having the medicine you need, and grabbing what needs to get out the door with you. Eat on the go, brush your hair in the car. Adapt and conquer what you can.
12. Acknowledge the victories
Acknowledge when your schedules work, when your morning goes as planned, and when the kids listen. Show them that you see them and that you are proud of them for doing what is needed. Encourage that behavior for the next day.