Being organised in the morning can help to miminise the stress of the morning rush. Whether you are a new parent, or you’re juggling getting your children to childcare and heading off to work, you are certainly not alone in your situation. Every family can struggle with the challenges created by starting a new day and the daily commitments they have to meet.
It is the parents who set the tone in the morning. The truth is, if mum or dad are stressed out, anxious or disorganised then the children pick up on that too. If you model positive behaviour, your little ones will pick up on that very quickly and do the same.
By setting the tone for the morning rush as a positive and focused one, your child is likely to feel more secure and settled and ready for the day ahead. To tackle the morning rush effectively you need to:
Whether you are parenting a newborn or dealing with the school run it is useful to have a schedule. During the morning rush you may not necessarily be at the top of your game, so having a schedule gives you something to look at and a structure to follow.
You may want to record your schedule on the family calendar or print out a hard copy and leave it on the fridge so everyone can see it. Regardless of the strategy you use, make sure it is something everyone has easy access to. That way, no one can say they weren’t aware of what was organised for them.
Before attending to the needs of others, you need to organise yourself first of all. In the morning rush the demands of your little ones means there will be very little time or opportunity to tend to your own needs. You need to ensure you’ve mapped out what you’re doing the night before. While you may have to rush through getting yourself ready you’ll find it far easier if you have everything you need for the day ahead close at hand.
Before you head to bed each night you must ensure you’ve done the following things for yourself.
The truth is, that when we throw children into the mix it is easy for the best laid plans to go astray. This is perfectly normal. A schedule and being organised means that you’re less likely to struggle during the morning rush. However if your little one is unwell or has slept badly the night before, then sometimes it can be difficult to keep to the schedule.
The key here is to be flexible and have a back up plan if possible. If your little one has spattered food on your work clothes just as you head out the door, make sure you’ve got an “emergency outfit” that you can change into if needed. If they are unwell, you may need to change or cancel your plans for the day ahead.
You cannot plan for all emergencies, but just by being organised you will find when crises occur you will be able to cope far better with them. You will also find that by implementing a schedule and organisation into your morning that everyone benefits. The morning rush should become far more manageable as a result.