Develop a Positive Morning Routine for Your Family

When I was a child my mom sure had a hard time with me in the mornings! She would have to force me to wake up by turning on all the lights and yelling at me several times to get out of bed. Alarm clocks were no match for me!! So when I read this article by the American Occupational Therapy Association and thought it might be helpful for some of you! Here are some tips on how to manage sometimes the most stressful part of the day have an effective morning routine.

What it is: With kids heading back to school and you preparing for work and care taking every day, the morning routine can be one of the most hectic parts of the day.  Following these steps will help you get through the morning efficiently and help you get your day off to a great start.

Why you need this: Waking up on time, making breakfast, preparing lunches, showering, brushing teeth, packing bags, and getting to work and school is a lot to have to deal with every morning.  Now add multiple kids into the mix and there just isn’t enough time to wing it!  Establishing a short and easy morning routine will help you get organized without rushing all over the house every morning.

Estimated time: 30 minutes every morning.

How to do it: These are some suggestions on your routine, but you can adjust as works best for you and your family.

• Consistent Wake-Up Time. Be consistent with your wake up times for yourself and your children.  Try to keep it the same even on weekends so it won’t be difficult to wake up on school days.
• Be Positive. Although not everyone is a morning person, do your best to be positive in the mornings.  Being a positive influence will help your kids be happier and you’ll feel better as well!
• Timed Activities. Time your morning activities and try to make those same times every day.  For example, always try to keep your breakfast at about 15 minutes.  Before long your internal clock will know exactly how long you should be taking at your different morning tasks.
• Plan Ahead. Review the night before with your kids what you will need to do in the morning.  This way there will be no surprises.