Whether you're entering school mode with kids or returning to work after a summer break, it always feels like a big adjustment, especially that first Monday morning. Here are 3 simple hacks to help ease you and your family back into a groove, plus a bonus habit that could positively transform more than your morning routine.

keep socks by the door

Wherever you put your shoes on to exit your home is where your socks need to live. I adopted this habit a few years ago and it drastically improved our mornings. We depart from our laundry/mudroom, so I sort my girls' socks into their respective baskets immediately after they come out of the dryer (added bonus: they're in charge of pairing their own socks, so another time-save for me/life-skill learned for them!). No more running (or whining) back upstairs to grab socks, or getting sidetracked along the way or in their rooms. Why I didn't do this with my own socks sooner, I don't know! I also have a basket of to-go essentials (keys, wallet, sunglasses) and my socks need to be part of that right now.

auto-meal weekdays

Pre-kids, I loved cooking and trying out new recipes. Now wearing multiple hats as a wife, mama, home manager, and micro-business owner, I need to be efficient with my time and pull together quick, healthy meals without much prep or cooking involved.

If this is you, too, try doing meal capsules. Sounds fancy, but it's ridiculously simple. My kids' every weekday breakfasts have done wonders for our mornings. I know what to set out and my girls aren't wondering or wavering about what to eat when they're just waking up. Here's what our breakfast capsule looks like:

Cereal Monday (kids choose which cereal the night before)

Toast Tuesday

Waffle Wednesday

Cereal Thursday

Freezer Friday (choice of a homemade muffin, pancakes, or yummy baked good from our freezer)

Same goes for school lunches:

Sandwich Monday

Pancakes/sausage patty Tuesday

Soft taco Wednesday

Naan pizza Thursday

"Big Board" Friday (On weekends I do a charcuterie style spread on a "big" cutting board for lunch. My girls love it and they pack a similar version of this for the end of the week).

Each lunch includes a fruit, vegetable, and snack, which we (my girls and either my husband or I) prep after dinner for the next day. I also fill my girls' water bottles up to refrigerate overnight. It might sound incredibly boring, but novelty isn't the goal here. This system served us well for the past two years without complaints, and my girls are learning to assemble a healthy meal with minimal help (win-win!). PLUS, because you're not reinventing the wheel thinking of what to eat (again) you add back time to your entire week AND save energy and effort with the minimal prep and/or cook time. Sooo many wins!

front load your Sundays

Super simple: On Sunday afternoon (or evening), have your kiddo style five outfits for the week. They can assign them to a specific day or choose from the five each morning. Either way, this practice makes getting dressed much simpler. No more meltdowns or wardrobe indecision.

Second super simple: Prep backpacks before going to bed Sunday night. Whatever each child needs for school (i.e. rest blanket, headphones, etc.) gets put into their backpacks, then, come morning, all that's left to add is their prepacked lunch and chilled water bottle. Repeat each evening before a school day and you’ll be good to go M-F. Future you will be so grateful.

*bonus: wake up before anyone else

Ever feel behind before your day even starts? I have. For 18 months after my second began sleeping through the night, I was awoken by the needs (er, demands) of my children. For those 18 months, I woke up grumpy and tired. I completely lacked control of my mornings, which, unfortunately, spiraled into my day.

My first shift out of this rut was exercise. Slowly but surely, I made exercise a once-a-week must. Then twice a week. After experimenting with when to exercise, I found that mornings felt best for me. I loved the early AM boost it gave and didn't like waiting until the end of the day. I was still waking up with my kiddos, which meant working out would have to happen after they went to daycare...which also meant stealing time from my day. I was just establishing INTERIOR+DESIGN then, so uninterrupted hours alone to learn, think, and market myself was invaluable. The solution: wake up earlier.

Yes, I get not everyone thinks of themselves as an early riser, and you have to find what works for you and your sleep cycle. But waking up to a quiet house just before dawn is honestly magic. Read more about my 5AM morning routine here and even if you THINK you're not a morning person, I dare you to TRY. Set an earlier alarm and get up when it rings (no snoozing!). It'll change how you start your day (in control, less stressed, maybe even productive) and may just be the thing that changes your life for the better.

what hack helps you most in the morning?

Always curious to try what works for others to see if it works for me, too.

Share your hack in the Comments, and amidst this back-to-school/work routine transition, I hope you make time to take time for YOU.

Always,