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When I first became a work at home mom, my mornings were always very stressful. Every morning I had to wake my girls up, get them ready for school, shove my husband and girls out the door in time for me to greet my daycare kids for a long and productive day. Over the years I have learned quite a few ways to alleviate most of my morning stress, so in an effort to help my readers out, I decided to compile a list of 5 tips on how to have a stress free morning.
If you are a work at home mom or dad, then you know that your home is your office and once you kiss your family good-bye and shut the door behind them, that your official work day has begun. With that said, it is important to alleviate as much morning stress as possible. Here are my 5 favorite tips on having a stress free morning.
- Every night before bed, it is important to have everything ready. I have trained my girls to lay out their clothes for the next day each night, place their back packs by the front door and prepare most of their lunch the night before. Having them do this not only teaches them time management and independence but it also prevents a lot of running around in the early hours trying to find the perfect shoes that match their outfit for the day.
- My school aged girls are now 8 and 9 years old, so last summer I taught them how to set their alarm clock each night and actually wake up to it. This saves me time in the morning but also removes the stress of having to wake them up while not trying to wake up my baby girl who gets to sleep in.
- Even though I am not my husband’s mama, in order for my morning to be stress free I have to make sure that his items are in place. If I didn’t do this then each morning he would be running around trying to find his keys, wallet and cell phone, so each night I make sure to place all of his items in one central location.
- As you might already know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day but often times can be overlooked because mornings can be too rushed or stressful to take the time to eat. For my family, I prepare my Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal the night before so that they can have a hot, healthy and ready to go breakfast.
- To get my husband and I motivated to start our morning I make sure to have our coffee ready! This might be the most important tip on having a stress free morning. I first discovered our new favorite coffee, McCafé coffee, while strolling the coffee aisle at Walmart. They have 8 amazing flavors to choose from and are available in premium bags and coffee pods. Our favorite is the French Roast dark coffee because it’s made with 100% Arabica Beans and it wakes us up!
I want to share with you my recipe for Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal. I promise that this will help alleviate quite a bit of morning stress. In addition, the great thing about this oatmeal is that you can incorporate your favorite ingredients that will give you that morning boost you need for a stress free morning and it goes perfect with a cup of McCafé coffee.
I chose to use fresh apples, I left the skin on some of them, craisins, milk, maple syrup and cinnamon. I love the combination of apples and cinnamon.
- 1 cup steel cup oats (not instant)
- 3 apples (with or without peel)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup craisins
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Clean and cut apples into bite size pieces (you can peel or not peel)
- Place all ingredients into a slow cooker
- Cook on Low for 7-8 hours
- *Tip- Before you cook the Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal overnight, first prepare it during the day so that you can decide on the perfect oatmeal consistency and how many hours is best to cook it.
What is your biggest stress in the morning? Can you add to my 5 tips on how to have a stress free morning?
Written by: Aimee Fauci
These are great tips! I am so bad at getting things prepped the night before, but I’m really working on getting better at that! It makes such a difference.
I love the McCafe coffee! =) My biggest thing is just waking up early before my daughter does. If I can wake up earlier, I can get much more done and I feel so productive!
Great tips. I need to work on destressing my morning. lol
HI,
I agree with Mammhole. The best tip is getting everything out the night before. My only problem is if the weather changes, then I must rethink my outfit. I found you in the FB Grow Blog group
Janice
thank you for the reminders – mornings set the tone for the whole day =)
love this! Was just telling my husband how stressful it can be in the morning. Thanks for the tips!
Such a great list! It really helps to have everyone else in the family organized to keep things stress free! And those oats look delish!
I lay out EVERYTHING the night before. I plan my lunch, my outfit, and my day the night before. The night’s I don’t do it, well… let’s just say I always regret it in the morning.
Mornings can be the worst if not properly planned out in our houe. Too many people going too many directions. I HAVE to have my coffee each day.
My DH likes to keep everything ready for office the night before. I on the other (when I was working) would still stress myself out in the morning but I make my girls keep everything ready for school the night before.
Mmmm…Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal and a cup of McCafé coffee sounds like a great way to wake up! I do most of what you suggest to help make our morning routines less stressful. I definitely find preparing the night before helps greatly! Thanks for sharing your tips! #client
That oatmeal looks absolutely delicious! Would never have thought to make something like that in a slowcooker.
My husband would love you… LOL. I’m trying to get more organized myself and I can see how getting them organized may help me out.
I would love to be able to have a stress-free morning. Usually my boys drive me crazy taking too long getting ready for school.
My mornings aren’t stressful at all. It’s my afternoons that drives me up the wall. These tips are amazing!
Great tips! I always try to prepare as much as I can the night before. Smooth sailing if I do! Which in the morning? Is needed.
I love your tips! I homeschool my kids, but I still like to have our mornings go smoothly. That way we go into lessons in a good mood. And yes, coffee is important, too! Don’t know what I’d do without it. 🙂
Those are all good ways to have a stress free morning. I usually have the kids prepare their items overnight as well. Makes it so much easier to get up and go in the morning.
Having everything rounded up the night before is key to getting out the door on time in the morning. I love your oatmeal recipe! I need to make it soon!
It is all about the coffee in the morning, that is for sure!
My tips involve two cups of coffee and a protein 🙂 Oatmeal is a great choice.
McDonalds Mc Cafe? Wow, that’s cool. They are always branding themselves clever ways. I wonder if we will see their burgers in the freezer section too? Too much? lol
I read “slow cooker cinnamon apple oatmeal” and thought to myself, “please oh please have a recipe for it!” SURE ENOUGH. This looks fantastic. Can’t wait to whip it up and transform my mornings!
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These are awesome ways to chill your morning out. It’s always nice to get a head start on your morning the night before.
AGHHH – mornings are THE worst. I am hoping to put these tips into action to make next week less stressful! Thank you!
Oh they have these in the KCups now! I so am going to have to get them and try them out!
My kids and I eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 6 days a week. I use the plain no sugar one and they love the different flavor ones from Quaker Oats. You’re oatmeal looks delicious! I have to say we love of Kurig, for an easy cup of coffee on the go!
Things do go more smoothly when you prepare the night before. Great tips!
Laying out your clothes the night before has to be THE best advice I ever took. I started as a child and even now I follow through. Saves so much stress. Thank you for sharing 🙂
I need to work on making my kids more independent. And that oatmeal looks delicious.
I try to do everything I can the night before to make mornings less stressful. The more I can do then, the less I have to do in the morning.
I adore McDonald’s coffee so I bet these are just the perfect cup of coffee in the am – at home, without having to actually change and drive! I love oatmeal, however, finding the oats here in Italy is nearly impossible and can cost a lot!
My kids are a fan of oatmeal but I am not. I did however cook a french toast bake in the crockpot a few weeks ago and we got up the kitchen smelled like heaven. I need to find more meals I can cook overnight for breakfast. These are great tips and having things ready the night before is the key.
French Toast Bake, what? That sounds so good!
I love that oatmeal – I can almost smell it! I sit down breakfast always helps me start my day. I need to dig in before I get going.
That oatmeal sounds and looks amazing!! I need to follow more of these tips, by the end of the day I’m barely holding myself up and slack on finishing the days chores. I only thing me and husband actually do is lay out clothes and make sure the french press and coffee bean grinder is clean and set up and line up our selection of beans for the following morning.
My trick is to get as much done the night before. It saves me a ton of time in the morning.