6 Keys to a Stress-free Morning

School day mornings can be really stressful, with everyone running around like chickens with their heads off rushing to get ready and out the door. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Trial-and-error and conversations with other parents have yielded these six ways to a stress-free morning. 

1. Have A Morning Chore Chart. The best way to start the morning stress-free is to plan as much as possible the night before, such as with a Morning Chore Chart that specifies all the things that need to be done each morning and who’s responsible for doing them. The chart spells out everything from making the bed (something teenagers really hate to do) to who’s making what at breakfast. Rotate tasks every week to be fair. The chart lists daily chores, and unique tasks for specific events. At the bottom, list the things that need to be done on a specific day, like leaving money for an overnight school trip or leaving work early for a doctor’s appointment.   
2. A Place For Everything – Everything In Its Place. The second key to a stress-free morning is to know where to find the things that you need in the morning. Agree on where exactly to put your morning essentials: school bags, jackets, footwear, etc. When no one is running around looking for things, it makes mornings so much smoother. You can just grab and go. It’s also helpful to do as many morning tasks as you can the night before: what clothes to wear, packing school bags and lunches, and finishing all homework. No more last-minute homework in the car!
3. Get A Good Night’s Sleep. It may sound like a cliche but getting a good night’s sleep really is extremely important to reducing morning stress. If one person is sleep-deprived, that person often makes everyone else grumpy, too. To get a good night’s sleep you’d be wise to turn off all electronics a half an hour before bedtime to have time to unwind and shut down. If you want to make absolutely sure this happens, have your kids charge their devices anywhere else but in their own bedrooms.
4. Wake Up — Then Wake Up Everyone Else. Try waking up 20-30 minutes earlier than everyone else. That’ll give you time to get ready yourself before the morning rush starts. The bathroom is a source of competition and in constant use until everyone is out the door.
5. Stay Calm and Positive. When you’re finally ready to wake up the rest of the family, try to be calm and positive. If you’re unhappy about something the kids did or didn’t do, mornings aren’t the best time to bring it up. Conflicts are rarely resolved satisfactorily early in the morning when there’s so much to do. Put on some happy upbeat music instead. That’ll help put everyone in the right frame of mind.
6. Have A Breakfast With Lots of Protein. When you finally sit down for breakfast, make sure that the whole family gets lots of protein. You’ll all need it for the long day ahead.