The 7 Secrets to A Stress-Free Morning

All WITHOUT yelling, bribery, or sweets. Here are my 7 best tips to a stress-free morning.

Alright. With all of that out of the way, let's dive in!

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Secret #1: A Shiny Sink

Until starting the FlyLady Cleaning System, I had never heard of this rule. It sounded nuts when I read it. Shine my sink every night, who shines a sink?

Well, I do! I have always hated to see dirty dishes so that part made sense. Just before bed I make sure the dinner dishes are loaded and the dishwasher set to run overnight. Then a quick wipe of the counters and, yes, shine the sink.

Waking up to a clean kitchen is one of the nicest things I ever started doing! Everything is clean and ready for the day which makes me feel more ready too.

Want to see what I am talking about? Check out this video!

Plan along with me in my digital planner.

Secret #2: Plan the Day

Before bed, review and plan the next day. This helps you know the plan of attack and gives you plenty of time to be prepared. Grab your calendar or planner and take a look at tomorrow. If you have any appointments, this will help to confirm times.

Then jot down the top 3-4 things you need and want to do. Don't get caught up in major project planning here. Just the main goals for the day, work and personal. Do you want to hit the gym after work? Then get the gym bag ready and put it with your purse. Do the kids have a practice? Lay out their gear so it is not forgotten.

These are all of the things you stress about forgetting in the mornings when you are rushing. Doing this the night before lets your brain dump and prepare before bed so your mind is not trying to remember it all while you are trying to fall asleep.

Designate one spot by the garage door to be your "Landing Strip/Command Station". This is an obvious place to put things for the next day so they will not be forgotten.

Secret #3: Get Some Sleep

This one may be the hardest for us night owls! Planning your sleep is really important when you work or have kids who need to be up in time for school. Moms who want to be less stressed need some sleep!

If you can possibly get 7 hrs of sleep in, you are a rockstar. However, babies can definitely make this impossible. Do your best to set up a sleep schedule for you and the kids. No excitement for an hour before bed so turning off the computers and video games can help. You should not have electronics in the bedroom according to all the medical studies although it is hard to let them go.

Decide on a bedtime and then plan to shut things down 30 min prior so that you can start to decompress and be ready to sleep.

Consider a daylight alarm clock if you struggle getting up.

Secret #4: No Snoozing!

Hello, my name is Terri and I am a snoozing addict.

Seriously! I used to hit snooze 3-4 times every morning. So my plan to have time to get ready was tossed out of the window in favor of interrupted sleep leading to a grumpy attitude.

Just get up. If you are sleeping better, this is a lot easier. Once out of bed on time, I feel like I really do have control over my day and you will too.

Treat yourself to a special blend of coffee or tea for the seasons. Yum!

Secret #5: Quiet Time

I love making my favorite coffee, lighting a fall candle, and enjoying the peace and quiet of the house for a few minutes. I read my Bible and pray but journaling is a great way to get into a thankful mindset instead of a frustrated mindset.

Leave the phone in another room and breathe. During spring and summer, I love to do this on the porch when the daylight is soft and warm. It helps mentally and physically relax you before getting busy. This in turn helps you to be more productive as well.

Secret #6: Tidy Up

While the coffee is brewing, I love to go through the mail or toss in my load of laundry for the day. This checks off my to-do list early so I am not so overwhelmed later in the day.

There are a ton of 2 minute tasks that you can do while waiting on coffee or toast. If you can't think of any, just walk into your living room and straighten up the pillows and blankets. Easy-peasy!

On the way to the kitchen to make coffee, grab your laundry basket so you don't have to make another trip.

Make a point to smile more!

Secret #7: Smile

Positivity is a mindset. Be intentional about smiling. Every time you see your reflection, smile. It will retrain your muscles to pull up and not down. As we age, frown lines form because we forget to relax and smile.

The kids see you all day, do they see a smiling mom who loves caring for them or a stressed mom who never has enough time? This thought broke my heart when I read it. I used to smile a lot, but what about now? Do the kids see me grumpy more or happy more?