10 Tips to Happier Mornings

There’s no need to rush everyone in the morning! With a little bit of planning, you could have happier and stress-free mornings.

Identify nuisance
Jot down what makes up your daily routine; this will help you identify your morning predicaments. The next morning, set a timer for each activity performed. Can any of them be skipped? Can you do two things at once? Take a closer look at what the other members of your family do and how long it takes them. Organize a meeting to gather everyone’s ideas.

Create habits
Creating good habits and sticking to them will make your mornings flow easily. It’ll also keep everyone from stepping on each other’s toes and wasting precious time. Who wakes up first, who takes a morning shower, who uses the hairdryer and in what order? Creating an organized routine may take a while to implement, especially where children are involved, but once in place, it will simplify your life.

Planning is key
Yes, planning is a big time saver! Ask your children to pack their schoolbag by themselves and ask your youngest kids to prepare what they want to bring to daycare. A strategically placed erasable whiteboard with a “to-do list” will empower everyone and take away the stress of forgetting important things. Use pictogram magnets on the refrigerator for children who cannot read.

Check the weather
During your evening routine, make it a habit to check the weather forecast for the following day. That way, you’ll know what to wear, what accessories you’ll need (e.g. umbrella, hat, gloves, sunscreen, jacket, etc.), and you save precious time in the process.

Clothing
As mentioned above, you’ll know ahead of time how to dress appropriately based on weather conditions. By getting used to choosing your clothes the day before, you will avoid running around looking for accessories all morning!

Children’s clothes
Your evening routing can also include helping your children select their clothes. Regardless of their age, let them pick out their garments, socks, shoes, hair accessories, etc. Ask them to put their dirty clothes in the washing machine.

Alarm clock
Are you a snoozer? You have three options to prevent late mornings! If you know you are the type of person who says "just a few more minutes" when you hear the alarm, you can start by setting it to an earlier time, 6;00 instead of 6;15, for instance. If this is not enough, set your alarm clock away from your bed. You’ll be forced to get up to shut it off. Finally, consider buying a sunrise simulator to wake up in a good mood at the right time!

Breakfast
Don’t have enough time to eat breakfast? Prepare your coffee maker in advance. Put all non-perishable ingredients on the kitchen table or counter the night before. You can even cut fruits to add to your yogurt or cut vegetables for a quick omelette.

Lunch
If you or the children need a lunchbox, you can save some time by preparing it the night before. Prepare extra portions; cut fruits and vegetables, add dips, apple sauce, yogurts, and everything you can put in your box and your children’s. You can ask your kids to help with this, too. It has been shown that children eat better when they choose their own meals.

Recharge

• Recharge your smart phone before going to bed.
• Save time in the morning by doing a load of laundry at night (leave a note reminding you to put the clothes in the dryer in the morning).
• Fill up your gas tank in the evening to avoid being stuck in traffic.
• Make sure that your fridge is well-stocked for breakfast time.
• Recharge your own batteries by getting enough sleep. Waking up tired is the worst way to start a day!