Let’s face it, waking up in the morning and getting ready for the day is challenging without kids. After having my second child, I quickly realized that my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants approach to getting ready for the day wasn’t gonna cut it any longer.
If you are in the same boat, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve realized both through personal experience as well as doing lots of research about the benefits of creating routines for kids.
Check out my latest video:
Read on to learn about how to create a mom morning checklist in 5 simple steps:
Step 1: Assess your family’s needs
Before you create your morning routine checklist, I suggest first writing out or typing up a list of what needs to get done in the morning. For example, getting the kids ready for school, preparing breakfast, packing lunches, tidying rooms, brushing teeth, putting items in backpacks, and any other tasks unique to your family’s needs.
Step 2: Create a timeline
Consider what time everyone needs to be out the door and work backward to establish a starting time for your morning routine. Assign a certain amount of time to each task that both you and your kids need to get done. I also suggest adding a little cushion of time. You can always make adjustments later.
Step 3: Sequence your activities
Arrange tasks in an order that flows logically and efficiently. For example, it might make sense to start breakfast before waking the kids so it’s ready by the time they come to the kitchen. Personally, I’m not that motivated in the morning. But if you are that motivated, go for it, girl!
Multitask when possible. For example, what can you get done while you are waiting for kids to finish breakfast or make their beds and tidy their rooms?
Step 4: Include self-care
To ensure you keep at least a small amount of your sanity, I suggest including time for your own preparation and self-care. This could be a quick shower, a moment for a cup of coffee, or a few minutes of exercise or meditation. Check out our busy mom daily schedule to get your own daily routine on track!
Step 5: Create your morning routine checklist printable
It’s time to create your morning routine checklist! It’s up to your personal preferences in terms of how you want to do it. For me personally, I use a morning routine printable template which is part of my household management binder. I printed out the page and put it inside of a laminated sleeve so I can easily erase and adjust our routine as needed. See below for an example of our morning routine checklist printable:
Step 6: Have a family meeting
This part is crucial. Trust me, you do not want to skip this step. If you just introduce your morning routine checklist to your kids without first getting their buy-in, it will not be pretty, friend. Here’s what I did: I scheduled a family meeting. First, I started out the meeting by giving logical reasons why having a morning routine checklist is beneficial (this is especially good for my son who responds well to factual, logical explanations). I also talked about how mom gets very grumpy and raises her voice when people don’t listen to her. I said, “I want to not yell as much and be more patient.”
I also asked my kids how they were feeling about how the mornings were going. They told me they felt rushed, stressed, and like they didn’t know what they were supposed to be doing and that their dad and I kept asking them to do lots of things all at once. When I heard this, I knew that I had made the right call to start using a checklist.
In conclusion
Give yourself grace. Parenting is hard. Getting out the door in the mornings on time is crazy hard. Create your morning routine checklist and test it out. Make changes as necessary. Most importantly, give yourself a huge amount of credit for taking action to improve your family’s health and happiness!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a morning routine checklist?
A morning routine checklist is a simple tool that helps you stay organized and productive by listing the essential tasks and activities you need to complete each morning. It serves as a guide to ensure you don’t miss anything important and start your day on the right foot.
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How can I make a daily morning routine checklist?
Creating a morning routine checklist is easy! Follow these steps:
– Keep it simple: Include only the most important tasks to avoid overwhelm.
– Be realistic: Allow enough time for each task, considering your schedule.
– Be flexible: Adapt the checklist to accommodate changes and unforeseen circumstances.
– Prioritize self-care: Include activities that promote your well-being, such as exercise or meditation.
– Experiment and iterate: Don’t be afraid to tweak your checklist until you find what works best for you. -
Are there any additional tips for creating a morning routine checklist?
Remember, a morning routine checklist is meant to enhance your productivity and start your day on a positive note. Customize it to suit your needs and enjoy the benefits of an organized morning routine.
