How to Organize a Morning Routine

If rush hour begins before you've even left your driveway--or while you're still in your kitchen, for that matter--it might be time to take an honest look at the roadblocks that are keeping you from merging onto the Morning Miracle Mile.

Instructions

1. Before organization can even begin, you've got to be honest: What are the underlying reasons that your mornings are all about rush-rush-hurry-hurry, instead of savoring the last sip of coffee? If there were more minutes between the time your alarm goes off and the time you walk out the door, you wouldn't be reading this. You need more time. Set the alarm for one hour earlier than you usually wake up. Then, when the alarm sounds, get out of bed and get moving.

2. Once you've figured out that more time would be nice, start making a list of all the tasks you complete in an average morning. Are there things that can or should be eliminated? For instance, are you trying to do laundry so that you can wear your favorite shirt? Are your kids hitting you up at 10 p.m. to get that favorite pair of pants washed and ironed before school tomorrow? Get your nighttime tasks done at night, like dishes, laundry or anything else that's clogging up the morning routine--and leave the simple acts of showering, dressing and eating for the morning. Speaking of showering and eating, can you get the shaving done at night? Are you trying to make time-consuming meals in the morning? If so, stop it. Keep it simple. Most people need a dose of water on their face in the morning to wake up, but try to get the time-consuming tasks done at night, like washing hair or nail painting.

3. Now that you've idenitified a few things that can be eliminated, let's see what can be added to your morning to make it less crazy and more calm. What time is breakfast served? That's right --served. If you have young children and you're making three or four trips into the kitchen from other parts of the house just to pour milk, butter toast or heat up oatmeal, you are actually running a restuarant! Set a designated meal time and put breakfast on the table at that same time every day. One menu item will be served, with no exceptions. By giving yourself a timetable and everyone else as well, you are setting yourself up for success. If breakfast is served at 7 a.m., the whole crew knows you'll be available for hair duty from 7:15 to 7:30. Every task has its time slot, and every time slot has its task.

Tips & Warnings

• The key to any successful operation is organization. By setting guidelines for yourself, and your family, everyone knows what to expect and when to expect it.

• Announce the new routine in advance. Talk over any concerns and be open to ideas presented by your mate or children.