How to Beat The Morning Rush

By Crissy Herron Gipson

Whether the office is downtown or in a converted spare bedroom, working moms have their hands full every morning. Starting on a positive note makes everyone’s day a little brighter. Here are some tried and true strategies busy women use to get the day off to a smooth start.

• Plan ahead. Weekends are an ideal time to look at the week ahead. Plan meals and shop for everything the family will need. Catch up on laundry. Double check that everyone has the school and they’ll need. Organize transportation and schedule tasks in advance to accommodate appointments or special events.

• The family planner. Wall-size dry erase white boards with preprinted calendar grids allow busy families to stay abreast of the week’s activities. Note school events, extra curricular activities, meetings, and appointments. At a glance, everyone knows what the week ahead will hold and can plan accordingly.

• Personal checklists. Each family member should have their own daily checklist showing both evening and morning tasks. This teaches personal responsibility to children and frees Mom to address personal, business, and household needs.

• Call in the troops. Let children be in charge of their own routine. By school age, a child is usually capable of choosing clothing, tracking her own belongings, and packing a lunch. Details can be added to the child’s checklist if necessary. Pictures work well for younger children.

• Evening rituals. Many families find it easier to prepare each evening for the coming day. Sometime between dinner and bedtime, children (and adults!) can lay out their clothes for the next day, double check , locate hats and gloves, etc.

• Everything in its place. Seems obvious, but bears repeating. Establish a routine location for backpacks and brief cases, shoes, outerwear, and . Get in the habit of placing keys, cell phone, purse, and other essentials in the same place each day. Disorganization costs plenty in terms of time spent searching for missing necessities.

Simple strategies and a regular routine can make the morning rush a thing of the past! With a little planning and preparation, every day can start on a positive note.

For more tips on how to manage a business while raising a family, visit http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/tips-for-moms/

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