If you’re a parent who has returned to work, or even if you’re a parent – full stop – you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say the words – morning rush madness!
How many times have you had the best intentions of leaving the house on time but at the last minute…BOOM!
Toddler meltdowns.
Sibling arguments.
Forgotten lunches.
Unfinished homework.
Missing socks.
Spilt milk.
You could be excused for thinking that the ‘Organisation Gods’ have decided to disrupt every one of your plans to kill the chances of leaving the house on time. You’re a competent, intelligent person. Surely, you can leave the house ‘on time’. It can’t be THAT difficult to master, can it?!
Oh, but it can.
As a parent of two beautiful children, I know first-hand that mornings can be chaotic and unfortunately, this can create unnecessary pressure in our lives.
The good news is that leaving the house doesn’t have to be a stress-fuelled frenzy IF you follow these 5 Simple Steps.
// STEP 1. REVIEW THE SCHEDULE
Scientists believe that studying before bedtime is best for retaining new information. The same is true of reviewing your schedule before bed. The simple act of reviewing what’s on for the next day gives you time to process information and prepare mentally for what lies ahead. The LIFE SORTED APP makes recording the activities of each family member simple. It also means you won’t have to scrounge around looking for information from multiple sources – the mouths of babes, permission forms on the fridge, or magical notes in bags that always seem to appear ‘the night before’ the trip.
// STEP 2. IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PREPARE
One of the reasons the morning is so busy is that there is so little time between when you wake to when you leave the house. Instead of rushing, use the night before to organise your ‘tools’ for the following day. Sometimes, it’s the littlest people in our lives who are the busiest. From music lessons, to swimming to school and social events, there’s never a dull moment. Organising your clothes helps you to identify if there are any items missing (think socks, hair ties, changes of shoes, ties etc) and gives you the chance to seek them out while there is no time-pressure. Consider hanging clothes in an easily accessible place and stashing musical instruments, tennis rackets and sports bags nearby the door so that all you have to do in the morning, is grab and go!
// STEP 3. MAKE LUNCHES IN ADVANCE
If slapping bread together while the kids are chasing each other around the kitchen, the TV is blaring, and your toast is burning, doesn’t sound like the ideal conditions for preparing lunches – then STOP! You can choose to make it easier on yourself by making lunches in advance. As a morning time-saver, some people freeze sandwiches in advance. Here’s a step-by-step sandwich freezing guide to show you which ingredients work best. Or, if you’d prefer to prepare salads the night before, consider trying out a salad in a jar. Who knows, this might even encourage the kids to make their own lunch!
//STEP 4. KEEP YOUR HOME DECLUTTERED
An organised home can help you to feel more organised and less overwhelmed. Having excess clutter in your surroundings can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information. A study undertaken by neuroscientists at Princeton University found that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress.
// STEP 5. DELEGATE TASKS
As a mother of two beautiful children who are now 16 and 18, I learned the value in delegating tasks to family members to share the load and the importance of encouraging self-responsibility. Having a morning routine and delegating particular tasks to each family member can help to speed up the time it takes to complete tasks such as unpacking or reloading the dishwasher, packing the car or feeding pets.
