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Getting out the door in the morning can be a challenge for anyone, but when you add kids to the mix… it can become practically impossible.

After struggling for years to get myself and my kids dressed and out the door on time, I finally had to take a hard look at what wasn’t working in our morning routine.

How to Create a Solid Morning Routine

If you struggle to get out the door in the morning, these are some of my favorite tips to solve your morning routine issues!

1. Know Your Time Constraints

To determine how much time you’ll need, work backward.

Figure out your end time (the time you need to be standing outside the preschool door, getting your child on the bus, or meeting at your play date). Then, subtract the total amount of time (including margin time) that you’ll need to get ready, and viola! You have your start time.

If you need help figuring out how much time you’ll need, especially calculating your start time and margin time, download my morning routine template here.

2. Start the Night Before

Another trick to having a great morning routine is starting the night before. Even if you have a lot of last minute items (filling water bottles, fixing breakfast, and loading the car), there are still plenty of things that you can do ahead of time.

One tool that’s helped me set myself up for success in the morning is Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Evenings course.

3. Set Boundaries

While creating margin time will help you account for little mishaps that may occur as you’re trying to get out the door (soiled diapers, toothpaste splatters, etc.), setting boundaries will help you create a solid routine.

Make sure that you’re not making last minute decisions (signing field trip papers, digging out clothes for a “last minute” school spirit day, etc.).

Also, set boundaries for your own routine! If your kids wake up before you’re finished getting ready, allow them to play quietly in their rooms or have a fun activity, like building a fort out of the bedspread, set aside in your room while you finish.

Read the rest of this post (including more tips to get out the door on time) on Smart Mom Smart Ideas!

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