No More Morning Meltdown: How to Streamline Your Morning Routine

<p><i> Mornings. Most of us don't like 'em, but they're a fact of life. So how do you make the morning game of 'beat the clock' more bearable? Try these tips.</i></p>

<p>A few weeks ago as  I was looking for missing shoes, trying to convince my daughter that  she would not die if she had to eat a piece of toast instead of  pancakes, looking for my keys (which were in my hand the whole time)  and generally rushing around trying to get everyone out the door, I  swore to myself for the 437th time that I need to organize my  mornings a little better. But seriously -  where do you even start?  After some trial and error, I've found some tips that (usually) work  at my house. </p>

<p>To make a long story short, if you want  your mornings to go a little smoother, you'll have to start the night  before. I know, I know. No one wants to think about the morning  during your last precious moments of free time at night. But a little  pre-morning planning really does go a long way toward simplifying  your morning. Here are some things to try:

<ul>
<li><b>Check the Date</b><br />
Keep      deadlines and reminders on a calendar and check it every night - and be sure to look a few days ahead as well. That way you'll      remember your children's project due dates, sports practices and      doctor appointments or lunch dates, and can prepare for them the      night before.
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<b>Check the Weather</b><br />
Sounds      simple, right? Well, it actually is. Knowing the weather forecast      for the next day will help you with the next step.
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<li>
<b>Get Dressed before Bed</b><br />
Ok,      not literally. Just try to select clothing for yourself and/or      children (including their shoes) before bed. That eliminates some of      the hassle of finding 'just the right outfit' during the morning      rush.
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<li>
<b>It's in the Bag</b><br />
Working      on a big presentation for work? Children completing their homework?      Once all the paperwork is finished, repack briefcases and school      bags so they're ready to go in the morning. And remember - you can      make your children responsible for repacking their own bags!
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<li>
<b>Kitchen Night Shift</b><br />
Deciding      what to pack for lunches the next day - and actually preparing as      much as possible the night before – makes it much easier to simply      drop the lunches into school or work bags.
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<li>
<b>Kick Your Coffee into      Gear</b><br />
Drink coffee every morning? Get your coffee maker ready      at night. If you can program yours to start at a certain time, do      it. If not, you can at least get the coffee measured out and  put in      the filter the night before. I mean really - the sooner you can      get to your caffeine in the morning, the better.
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<p>There are also some things you can do  weekly to help your mornings go off without too many glitches:

<ul>
<li>
<b>Write it Down</b><br />
Take some      time each week to update your deadlines & reminders calendar and      to see if there's anything you can do ahead of time to be fully      prepared.
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<li>
<b>Get the Goods</b><br />
Make sure      you're stocked up on lunch fixin's and easy breakfast foods so      you're not dining on peanut butter-covered cardboard. And if you      like to drink coffee on the go, invest in a travel mug or disposable      coffee cups with lids. (It will be kinda like Starbucks in your car,      but you'll save more time and money.)
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<b>Fill 'er Up</b><br />
Who has time      to get gas in the morning? Not me. Try to make a weekly trip to the      gas station so you're  not caught on empty.
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<li>
<b>Wardrobe, Please</b><br />
This      may take a little extra time initially, but the payoff can be well      worth it. When putting clean clothes (or dirty clothes, your choice)      away, try to keep outfit pairings together. Like to wear a certain      shirt with that great black skirt? Hang them beside each other in      the closet so they're easy to find. Some people even go so far as to      hang coordinating necklaces on the hanger with the shirt, but I'm      not up to that level of organization yet...or maybe ever.
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</ul>

<p>The best way to streamline your  mornings is to start at night. I know - the last thing you want to  do at night is 'morning stuff,' but trust me. If you implement these  tips (or even just a couple that sound easy) you'll thank me when  morning comes. Or at least after you've had some caffeine. </p>