Slow Down Your Morning Rush
Slowing Down the Morning Rush: What I Learned on the School Run
Most mornings feel like a sprint, especially when you have more than one child. It's a real juggle getting the kids fed, dressed, lunch packed, and out the door before the school bell rings. I think organisation definitely helps, I had a lightbulb moment this morning that reminded me that's not always the case.
As I dropped my son at school, I noticed how much calmer he was after we spent a few minutes together on the oval. Just being out in the fresh air, walking on the grass, kicking the football and connecting before the day really started. Wow, it just hit me: our kids don’t just need efficiency from us in the mornings, they need connection.
Here are a few things that have worked for me:
1. Don’t Reach for Your Phone First Thing
It’s tempting to roll over and check the phone straight away but that usually floods my brain with noise before I’ve even left my bedroom. Instead, I take a few quiet minutes: wash my face, put on soft music, sometimes step outside for a quick walk. It doesn’t take long, but it makes me present before the whirlwind of “Mum, where’s my…?” begins.
2. Take the Stress Out of Lunches
School lunches can eat up half the morning. Prepping snacks over the weekend or packing parts of lunch the night before has been a game-changer. Even cutting up fruit or portioning crackers ahead makes the mornings flow with less scrambling.
3. Give Kids a Simple Schedule
I’ve found a simple morning schedule for the kids makes all the difference. I use the program CANVA to create an individualised morning schedule and if you wish to get a template of this, please feel free to email me on [email protected]
My kids know what’s expected, and when they follow the morning list, it actually buys them extra free time before we head out. But I’ve also realised that when they’re extra tired, they don’t always want to do it all alone. That’s usually their way of saying, “I need you.” Sometimes helping them isn’t spoiling them, it’s giving them the connection they’re craving.
4. Choose Connection Over Perfection
Not every morning will be smooth. Some days, you’ll forget to prep lunches, or someone will melt down over socks. Instead of pushing harder, I try to see those moments as reminders to slow down even more. Sometimes the most valuable thing isn’t getting out the door on time, it’s making sure we left the house with everyone’s emotional cup a little fuller.
Final Thought & The Takeaway
Slowing down in the mornings isn’t about being less productive, it’s about choosing connection over chaos. When I spent those extra minutes with my son on the oval this morning, he walked into school calmer, and I walked away lighter. That’s the kind of morning routine I want to create more of.
