Organize Now! Week 4: Organize Your Routine

Today is week 4 of the Organize Now!  Challenge.  So far I have featured ideas to organize your  Schedule, Cupboards and Closets.  This week I am sharing tips and ideas to organize your routine.  If you don’t have an organized routine day to day life may be chaotic.

Morning routines can differ from your evening routines.

Click HERE to a free print 8 x 10 morning checklist.

~ Have each family member make a list of everything they need to do.
~ Estimate how much time each task takes.

Once that is done review the list and check to see if everything needs to be done in the morning.  Is there more time in your evening routine to allow for something to be done in the evening instead?

Save time in your morning routine by making lunches, checking homework, packing bags, getting outfits ready and ironed if needed the night before to save time in the morning routine.

~ Prepare easy breakfasts.  Breakfast is essential in the mornings and you should always take a few minutes to eat breakfast.  Check out the recipe for Overnight Steel Cut Oats which you can have ready for you in the morning to enjoy with yogurt for a healthy and satisfying breakfast.

Muffins are also a great breakfast to grab on the go. They freeze well so you can defrost what you need for breakfast the night before.

Easy homemade muffins you can freeze for on the go breakfasts-
Apple Spice Muffins
Banana Zucchini Muffins
Peach and White Chocolate Chip Muffins

~ Save time stopping for coffee and take coffee to go.

~ Set up a family launch pad in your entry, laundry room, mud room.  Place backpacks, permission slips, briefcase, purse, boots, coats, keys, dry cleaning, videos that need to be returned, everything that each person needs for the day.  Have everything you can already there the night before.  You won’t be running around the house in the morning trying to find things if everything is already there.  You can find some great examples of launch pads on Pinterest.  This is something I plan on doing when my kids start school.

~ Post a checklist in your Launch pad area.  I have designed for morning and evening checklists you can download.  These will print as an 8 x 10.  You can print these at home or at your local photo store and then place them in a frame.  Use a dry erase marker on the glass to  to keep track of your morning and evening routine.

Create a routine for the evenings after everyone is home from school and work.

Click HERE to print a free 8 x 10 of evening checklist.

~ Have a set dinner time.  If time is tight, stick with meals you can easily create under 30 minutes.
~ Create a list of what each family member would like to do each evening such as chores, homework, bathing, and of course factoring well deserved downtime.
~ Set a consistent bedtime for everyone.  Rest is important!
~ Include activities such as sports, dance classes, music lessons, time at the gym into your daily routine. Mark these on your schedule so you can adjust your routine accordingly.
~ Designate time just for yourself and your family. Reconnect with family without cell phones and the TV on.
~ Set out outfits for everyone the night before.

With a set routine in place your day to day life will seem less stressful and everyone including yourself will always have a plan in place. They say it takes about 28 days to form a new habit. Gives these ideas a try for 28 days and see if an organized routine works for you.

For more tips and ideas on Organizing your life, check out Jennifer Ford Berry’s book Organize Now!

Other participates in the Organize Now! 12-week challenge
Creating House of Grace
Tapas Lifestyle
The Dayton Time
Michelle McDermott Murphy