How to Eliminate the Morning Rush Around the House

Getting everyone up in the morning and out of the door on time can be a hassle on its own. Morning routines often include other tasks such as: lunches need to be packed, homework signed, clothes ironed, breakfast made and other morning activites. Morning time can be a source of stress for many families, and fortunately, this can be eliminated. Avoiding last minute tasks in the morning can make everyone happier. Read on to find out how to make morning-time less chaotic and stressful so that the entire family gets off to a great start.

First, make sure that everyone in the family is getting up in enough time to get things done. If your teenager takes 2 hours to get ready, make sure they have ample time to do so. Getting a family ready and out the door can be a challenge!

Set clothes out the night before. Don't just set them out, make sure they are ready to be worn. Clothes should already be ironed, so that you and your children can simply put the clothes on. Make sure that socks and shoes are laid out with the outfits as well.

Prepare breakfast items the night before. Do what you can to get breakfast ready ahead of time. Fill cups with juice or milk and place in the refrigerator. If you eat pop tarts, muffins or other simple foods in the mornings, go ahead and lay these out on the table the night before. Make sure the dishwasher is unloaded at nighttime so that each person can put their used dishes into the dishwasher when they are finished eating.

Pack lunches, bookbags and diaper bags the night before. If you or your children take lunches to work or school, pack them the night before and place them in the refrigerator. Make sure that bookbags, diaper bags and briefcases are packed the night before and ready to go the next morning. Homework should be completed, signed and put into the bookbags.

Make a doorknob reminder for each person to remind them of their individual schedule for the day. Take a sheet of cardstock and make 7 different boxes. Label the days of the week. Then write "Remeber to get.." beside of the day. If your child has band practice on Monday, write in "Flute" or whatever their instrument is in this section. Punch a hold in the top of the cardstock and hang with yarn on each member of the family's door.

Make a rule of no TV, radio, video games or unecessary phone calls in the mornings. These can all waste time and make mornings more chaotic. If someone is finished getting ready before time to leave, have a chore chart that can be completed in the spare time.

Make an emergency basket and keep in a bathroom downstairs or convenient for all members of the family. In this basket, keep barrettes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and other items that are often forgot and needed at the last minute. Tie a ribbon to a hairbrush and attach it to the back of the bathroom door. The brush will never be lost and is always in the same place when needed.