3 Things To Simplify Your Morning Routine For Less Stress: Back To School Edition

Well friends, it is August and back to school plus the general shift out of summer mode is upon us, and with that comes the resurgence of morning chaos (if we let it)!

The phenomenon of morning chaos comes from two things. One, things taking too many steps to complete. And two, things being done that don’t actually need to be done at that time. But I have GREAT news! We have control over both of these things, and when we streamline our morning, it also allows for more flexibility to handle those unpredictable moments that tend to pop up conveniently at this time (like spills, a forgotten scrunchie, or a missing favorite shoe).

Whether your kids are headed back to school, you homeschool, you’re starting a new job or just wanting to tame your regular morning chaos during the week before you start your day, I’m here to help. Let’s not waste another second!

1. Clarify what’s essential for your morning.

You’re no longer going to walk blindly into your mornings or let them just happen to you, deal? You’re also not going to shove a bunch of stuff into your morning that won’t add value to you, your family or your day. When I say clarify, that’s exactly what I mean. I want you to go through this list below and ask yourself (honestly) what needs to be part of your morning (and for everyone involved) to make it great (and of course less chaotic). We’re going to do a morning time/activity audit if you will!

Before you add or allow something into your morning routine, first ask yourself:

Will this add fuel to my tank (or to others) to start the day?

Does it absolutely have to be done in the morning before work/school/etc?

Could it be done at another time and still be helpful/effective?

Do I even need to do it at all? (domestic chores, can lunch packing happen at night or the process be simplified or delegated)

Make sure whatever you have loaded up into your morning routine during the week are things that HAVE to happen in the morning to get your day started off on the right foot. Edit out everything else from your morning that doesn’t need to happen then and watch the chaos melt away!

2. Edit your “exit” zone.

You can also consider this your landing area for bags/daily essentials OR the place you grab all the things you need before you head off to school, work, etc. If you’re schooling from home, take some time to edit your learning hub/learning command center so your transition into your learning time is smoother and easier. Our exit zone in our laundry niche, which also happens to be the pass thru between our kitchen, pantry and garage. There is a lot of activity happen in one small area so it must be a well-oiled machine or it quickly turns into the hot mess express.

Here’s a few things to consider while you edit your space:

Does each item in this space support what needs to happen here?

What can I remove from this space to make grabbing our essentials for the day easier/quicker?

It is clear what each person should do here, is clearly marked, or highly intuitive so it is easy to do?

Do I have everything I need here or do I need to add anything to streamline how this space works? (more hooks, labels, rearrange a few items)

Have I given this space some breathing room (some white space) so it’s not chocked full of stuff and more flexible for us to move in and out of?

Does everyone in the home understand where everything is, what to do in here and what the realistic expectations are?

After you edit your space, give it a test run to make sure you’ve covered all the details. Walk everyone through how to use the space and let them ask questions and share feedback/share their insight to make improvements. Make tweaks as needed once you start getting in you groove during a normal week day. We learn and improve things only by living with it and by reflecting on how well it is working.

3. Carve out time to fuel + care for yourself.

Remember to do this what actually help you save time and energy over the course of your whole day, boost your mood and increase your patience/flexibility to handle whatever the day might through at you. This looks different for each person, but as the adult in the home, you need to invest time each day in yourself to care for your well-being, even in small ways right out of the gate as you start your day.

Here’s a few ideas to get your going:

Having a quality but simple/quick breakfast.

Filling your favorite water bottle up the night before to save time in the morning.

Quiet time to stretch before you join your family to start the day.

Packing a protein snack for later in the day.

Having fresh flowers out on the counter you see the most during your morning routine.

Reading a few pages in your book instead of screen scrolling.

Avoiding checking emails first thing in the morning.

Sipping your favorite coffee or tea while you get breakfast ready.

Delegating some tasks to free up a few extra minutes so you can spend more time caring for yourself.

Getting up a few minutes earlier so you can move slower while getting dressed for the day.

Listen to your favorite music or an inspiring podcast while you get ready.

Going to bed 20 minutes (or more) so you can feel more refreshed when you wake up in the morning.

Tidy up the kitchen, your bedroom or your exit zone the night before so the first thing you see in the morning is order and peace.

Test these 3 simplifying strategies in your home now to reduce the stress and chaos you feel in your morning. And remember to check back in with these whenever you feel the chaos on creeping up again…you just might need to implement a few simple tweaks to get your routine back on track!

See you in the next post!

BIG HUGS,

Kristin

More Support for Your Home + Life:

✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!

✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!

✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.