It’s the end of summer, which means many families (including ours!) are headed back to school soon. In our family, mornings can feel like the craziest time of the day. It’s an absolute whirlwind getting everyone out the door with everything they need to have a successful day at school.

I’ve found that a successful, no-stress (or, let’s be honest, LESS stress) morning starts the night before. Just a little bit of planning goes a long way! Mornings that are prepared for the night before go WAY smoother and I’ve got more peace of mind when I send my little ones on their way.

Good mornings start the night before!

After dinner, before the kids start their bedtime routines, is perfect for some next-day preparation. We go over anything important for the upcoming day, especially agenda items that are outside of their normal routine. The boys tidy their backpacks so they’re ready to grab and go. I have them set their own alarms and lay out clothes so they can be as independent as possible when it’s time to wake up.

Food prep

As the boys have gotten older, I’ve loved having them prepare their own lunches the night before. It gives them some say in what they’ll eat for lunch the next day (with healthy guidance from me, of course!)! I also do as much breakfast planning as possible. Whether I’m mixing overnight oats or just setting out fruit, cereal, bowls, and spoons, every little bit helps in the mornings.

Managing your morning routine

I try to get my boys to bed as early as possible. Their little bodies need as much sleep as they can get! I have them set their alarm for 15 minutes earlier than I think they’ll need as a buffer. Keeping a digital clock in their bathroom can help kids be mindful of the time passing as well. I’ve found it’s helpful to set smaller time goals in the mornings. Rather than just saying we need to walk out the door at 7:45, we plan on being dressed and downstairs for breakfast at 7:15. This gives wiggle room for those unexpected hiccups in the morning routine. These little things free me up to get breakfast going while they’re getting dressed.

Just a bit of foresight here helps give my sons accountability over their morning and teaches them time management. It also gives me less stress in the mornings and helps us all a positive start to the day. Happy back to school, everyone! I hope it’s an awesome school year!

Photos and writing by Nancy Yen. Visit Omielife for more great ideas!

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