I don’t know about you, but mornings are the most stressful time of day at our house. We are frequently in a hurry, the kids are lagging behind, we’re angry and yelling….you get the picture. Side note: it’s usually because someone doesn’t want to wake up.

We are far from having “smooth sailing” mornings, but I feel like we are getting closer. Today, I am going to share a few things we’ve learned that make our mornings run more smoothly.

1. Do as much prep the night before as you possibly can

The night before, we get our clothes ready for the next day. We pack lunches. We lay out the necessities for tomorrow’s breakfast. We put water and coffee in the coffee pot and set the timer. We put our book bags by the front door. We get everything ready for the next day that we possibly can.

2. Check your agenda the night before.

If you’re like me, you’re a list maker. The night before, I like to look at my agenda and see I need to do tomorrow. I check out my to-do list and see what items are more pressing than others. I get a feel for what the day ahead might hold.

3. Get up fifteen minutes before you think you need to.

This one is sometimes easier said than done, but if you give yourself that extra 15 minutes to get moving and get out the door, you’d be surprised how much less stressful your morning is.

4. Don’t go all out for breakfast; a simple grab and go breakfast will work just fine.

Around here, we love instant oatmeal and waffles we make ahead of time and freeze. They’re quick to heat up and easy to eat when you’re in a hurry. Plus, when you have several small mouths to feed in the mornings, simple is better.

5. Leave ten minutes before you’d planned to.

When you leave early, you don’t feel rushed. When you are rushed, you are more likely to forget things. Leaving earlier ensures you have adequate time to travel safely to your destination.

What tips have you tried for a less stressful morning? Have a wonderful weekend.