Morning Time Savers
Why does it seem like we’re always in a rush in the morning? Whether it’s running around to get ready for work, or to drop the kids at day care or school, or trying to make it to the gym, there just never seems to be enough time once that alarm clock buzzes to get everything done. Here are some tips to help you save time in the morning so you won’t have nightmares of what’s to come once the sun rises!
Prep Breakfast the Night Before
It may be hard to think about breakfast when you’ve just had dinner, but if you prepare your morning meal, and breakfast for the kids the evening before, you will save a good amount of time the next morning. You can even let your kids decide what they want the night before so there are no morning battles. One breakfast idea you can make the night before is a simple breakfast burrito. Take a whole wheat soft tortilla and fill with scrambled eggs, cheese, and some diced veggies. Wrap tightly and pack securely in a plastic baggie or container and place in the fridge. When morning comes, place on a plate, microwave for a minute, and you’ve got a hot and on-the-go (if needed) breakfast, chock full of protein. Another idea for the sweet tooth is a yogurt, granola, and berry parfait. The kids can even help assemble. Take a glass and alternate scoops of yogurt, granola or other cereal, and chopped berries. Keep alternating until the glass is full and cover up in the fridge. This breakfast makes for a great after-school snack if you don’t wind up eating it for breakfast the next day. So, just like you prep your coffee maker the night before, you can now prep the whole meal too.
Pack Your Bags, Pocketbook, and Backpacks
We’ve all found ourselves scrambling in the morning to pack school assignments, work gear, pens, paper, hand wipes, keys, and whatnot, and half the time, we wind up forgetting something anyway. When you pre-pack everyone’s gear the night before, you’ll have more focus and won’t be as likely to forget something. Plus, even if you do, you’ll be sure to remember about it by morning. Here’s a good opportunity to teach your kids to be responsible for their own belongings and you can check it once they are done packing. There just would not be enough time for this lesson in the early morning. Additionally, all the junk the kids (and maybe you) have left all around the house will be neatly packed away, so you won’t feel as overwhelmed come bedtime.
Lay Out Your Clothing
Pick out your outfit the night before. Let the kids pick their clothing too, so there is no argument over what to wear in the morning. Lay out the clothing so they don’t wrinkle on a shelf or dresser, even the underwear and socks. The kids may even surprise you by getting dressed all by themselves in the morning if everything’s already prepped for them. You’ll have more time to get ready without having to think about what you are going to wear, and you may even have some extra time to sit down and enjoy that yummy breakfast you prepared the evening before!
What do you do to save time in the morning rush? For more info like this, please visit All My Children.
By: Melissa A. Kay