Tuesday Tip: How to Cut Morning Chaos

Have you ever felt rushed and a bit crazed getting out the door on time with everything you need? I hope the answer is 'yes' - otherwise, you must be some kind of super-human and I'd like to meet you! While we all have our struggles with the morning rush, which definitely seem to be multiplied if you've got little ones to shuffle out the door with you, the good news is you can cut morning chaos with just a little prep work the night before. Here are some night-before tips that are guaranteed to make for a smoother, calmer, happier morning...ahhh:

• Pack your bags (work, daycare, school) the night before to avoid a last minute scramble or worse, leaving the house without the essentials.
  
• Prep meals and snacks to go the night before. Put non-perishables in lunch bags on the counter and gather any perishables in an easy-to-grab spot in the fridge. Put a sticky note on the front door to remind you to grab fridge items before you head out the door. 
• Prep, or at least decide, what's for breakfast the night before. Have grab and go items like yogurt smoothies, whole grain bagels or homemade trail mix on hand for extra busy mornings.
• Put what you can in the car the night before - think sports equipment, items to return, special projects. This will help avoid needing to make multiple trips back and forth in the morning because your hands are too full.

My advice, do this prep right after dinner before settling down for the evening :) Just 10 minutes of preparation the night before can save you a world of trouble in the morning, which will get your whole day started off on the right foot!