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To the mom who struggles with mornings

Mornings. They can be such a challenge, but they don’t have to be.

I’m not really a morning person by nature, but I have learned to become one over the years. I have come to learn that a well executed morning doesn’t have to be complicated and while I have a regular morning routine, I have found these five things to be invaluable to me when it comes to getting my morning moving.

1. Start the night before

This is in nearly every piece of advice I give regarding mornings because it really is that important. When I plan for my morning and my day the night before, it is like I’m already one step out the door so to speak. I find that when I don’t know what I’m doing with my day from the moment I get up, I’m just not in any rush to get to it. So, I drag more and avoid doing much of anything. For this reason, I plan for my day the night before by creating a to do list that includes not only things I have to do, but also things I want to do. Here’s more on how I create an evening routine that works.

2. Make breakfast the night before

With such a large family and a tight budget, we don’t opt for boxed cereal all that often since it takes two full boxes of cereal just to feed my family in the morning. So, I make a homemade breakfast most mornings. Now before you think this sounds like too much bother, it really doesn’t have to. There are so many things that can be made and then frozen like breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and even muffins. Then there are also things like breakfast casseroles, cinnamon roles, and cinnamon bread that can also be made rather easily. Whether I am making the entire meal or just gathering ingredients, I always do something to make breakfast the night before.

3. Plan outfits prior to the morning rush

When it comes to my little kids, I prefer to plan and choose their outfits on the weekends. At least choosing them the night before gets my morning moving quicker. I don’t know about your kids, but mine need a slight kick in the pants in the morning. Having their clothes ready from the beginning serves as that kick in the pants most mornings.

4. Do a 10 minute tidy

Curious about the 10 minute tidy? It really is quite brilliant if I do say so myself. If you’ve not read it, you should do that by clicking here, then come back. Doing a 10 minute tidy in a few different zones gets me moving, which is good, and it also makes for a smoother morning since I’ve gotten a jump on getting things cleaned up, especially if I am doing this after the troops have already come through for breakfast and such. If I am heading out the door, a quick 10 minute tidy provides me with a somewhat clean home to come home to. This makes for a more pleasant afternoon or evening when I get home.

5. Get pretty

This is always part of an effective morning for me. Doing just one thing or a couple of things that make me feel pretty in the morning helps me want to get going. Wanting to be moving in the morning is always a good thing. I feel pretty when I change out my nail polish, put on some chapstick, or wear a necklace or scarf. Choose something simple that makes you feel pretty and do it every morning. Then, see how your morning gets moving.

Morning routines are important in my life as is getting up before my kids. I didn’t used to, but here is how I learned to get up before my kids. and even doing a few things to kickstart my mornings, but a little really does go a long way to get my mornings moving in a jiffy.

If you are a mom who struggles with mornings, try these tips out today!

Jennifer Roskamp is a busy, homeschooling mom of eight including teenagers and infants with everything in-between. She’s also a wife to her husband and best friend of over 21 years. When she’s not juggling all these plates you can find her writing about all things parenting, saving money, and living with purpose over at TheIntentionalMom.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.