As a working mother you likely have a very rushed morning routine that consists of an array of activities, from making lunches to applying makeup. In the morning you stress about getting the kids to school and yourself to work on time.
However, you can cut at least 20 minutes from your morning routine and get everyone out the door on time by doing one or more of the following activities the night before:
Make Breakfast Make a batch of pancakes and refrigerate them. Simply pop them in the microwave or toaster oven in the morning for a quickly made breakfast. What about eggs? Hard boil them at night and serve with toast for breakfast. By making the main part of breakfast at night, you'll cut significant time from your morning routine.
Shower and Blow Dry Your Hair If you shower and blow dry your hair at night you'll feel refreshed for your pending slumber. A hot shower also is a great way to unwind after a busy day. If you're worried about your hair falling flat in the morning, simply blow dry it at night, and style it quickly in the morning.
Prepare Lunches Many school lunch items -- from sandwiches to chopped vegetables -- can be prepared and refrigerated. Even hot items, such as soup, can be made at night, and heated in the morning. It only takes seconds to put already prepared lunch items in the box.
Clean Up Leave dishes in the kitchen sink and hairspray on the bathroom countertop in the morning. Put off cleaning until after work, and you'll save time during your morning routine. However, dedicate yourself to getting the job done at night.
Choose and Iron Clothing Unless your children wear a school uniform, there's likely some fuss each morning about their attire. Instead of trying to reason with them during your morning routine, choose an outfit with your child and iron it at night. Similarly, choose your clothing at night so you're not scrambling for something to wear in the morning.
Watch the Weather Forecast Avoid checking the weather on the Internet or watching the morning forecast on the news as part of your morning routine. Instead, watch the weather before going to bed for a glimpse of the next day's forecast that will help you plan the family's attire and activities for the next day.
There's also one thing you can do in the morning that will help your morning routine: resist the temptation to hit the snooze button.
