Pulling It Together

The Morning Routine

Today is the first day of the rest of your life...and you're already running ten minutes late. Between wardrobe malfunctions, missing car keys, and your 3-year-old literally crying over spilled milk, your morning can sometimes leave you ready to crawl right back into bed.

Make mornings easier on yourself, and everyone else who is counting on you, by implementing some basic organizing strategies that are so simple you can manage them even before you've had your first cup of coffee.

With a little preparation and a few tools from See Jane Work, you can make every morning the start of another productive day.

Keep the Kitchen Stocked

Waking the family to the smell of homemade blueberry pancakes sounds so delightful when you read about it in a magazine, but in reality fifteen extra minutes of sleep are going to win out over measuring cups and mixing bowls any day of the week (or at least Monday through Friday.)

Tell Aunt Jemima you'll see her on Sunday and then make sure to keep the basics like bread, cereal, milk, juice, jam and of course coffee, in stock.

• Make trips to the supermarket more efficient by keeping grocery coupons, notes, receipts and ingredient lists together in an Accordion Organizer.
  
  
• The Eat Sheet from Mommy Track'd has room to list your weekly menu on one side and your grocery list on the other.
  
  
• If cold pizza and a Diet Coke is your idea of a complete breakfast, you may prefer a less structured grocery list. The Small Clipboard from No. 2 fits in your shopping tote and includes 75 sheets of lined paper and a pencil.
  
  

Start Each Day with a Plan

There's an old saying that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. Divine hilarity aside most of us have at least some idea of what we need to get done in a day. If planning your day also involves planning someone else's day, make sure your scheduling system can accommodate multiple timetables.

• The Mom Agenda has space for filling in weekly plans and extra rows for keeping track of kid's schedules, work schedules, school schedules and more.
  
  
• For those of us trying to walk the tightrope of work and family there is The Balance Sheet from Mommy Track'd. Divided into two sections, one side for your Work To Do List and the other side for your Home To Do List this helpful note pad can go with you from the Board Meeting to the Den Leader Meeting.
  
  
• The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it is also the brain. The Mom Agenda Kitchen Folio has clear plastic pages and removable tabs to keep soccer schedules, school menus, and class rosters all together and easy to find.
  
  

Set Yourself up to Succeed

Nothing throws the morning off like having to turn back to get something you forgot. Avoid U-turns and delays by getting everything you need for the day laid out, packed up and put together the night before.

• If you park in a locked garage, consider putting everything but your wallet and keys in the car. If that's not an option, a durable, multi-purpose bag like the Chelsey Henry Work To Play Bag can hold everything from your lap top to your lunch sack.
  
  
• The Triple Hook Strip has small hooks for keys, magnets for notes and reminders, and a clever top hook feature that can be used to hold your hat or your mail. Hang it next to the door and then train yourself to put your keys on the hook every time you come in.
  
  
• Make any doorknob into an organizer with the ingenious Doorganizer. Sturdy canvas pockets hold lists, mobile phones, and mail, and an attached key loop eliminates searching through coat pockets and handbags.
  
  

As you work out your morning routine, keep in mind that life is unpredictable. Flat tires, traffic jams, and the flu can't be planned for. Some days you will hit every green light, and some days you will hit every red light so always allow some wiggle room in your schedule. Like the spare change you keep in your top drawer, a few spare minutes might just save the day, or at least give you time for a second cup of coffee.

If one of our ideas or products works for you, or if you have a solution you’d like to share, please let us know at ideas@seejanework.com.