Aug 29 2012

20 Days to Organise & Clean your home Challenge – Pre Challenge Task 3 – Create Morning Routine

20 Days to Clean & Organise your Home for posts

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Pre challenge task header #3

Today’s pre-challenge task is to create a morning routine to suit you and your family. I have also included two printables:

The Organised Housewife Morning Routine Checklist
Blank Morning Routine Checklist

Morning Routine

Our mornings are usually like ground hog day now that the kids are at school. However, there are so many benefits of having a routine in place:

Having a regular and consistent routine ensures that I get the kids out the door with everything they need, clean clothes, lunches, notes for school
When we have a hectic morning, our routine makes me feel less stressed as I know what needs to be done
As your children grow they will learn the routine and want to help (my kids are currently at this stage and I am LOVING it), which is a perfect way for them to learn about responsibility
If I go out for the day I enjoy coming home to a tidy house

My morning routine

I shared my morning routine 2 years ago HERE. It has changed since then but please have a look at it for ideas.

6.40am – wake up and have a shower

6.55am – make my bed

7.00am – wake up kids

7.05am – kids make their own breakfast

7.10am – start preparing lunches for kids and hubby (lunchbox ideas HERE)

7.20am – kids unpack dishwasher

7.30am – kids start their morning routine

7.30am – put away dishes washed the night prior, pack dishwasher, wipe benches

7.40am – eat breakfast and relax for 10 minutes, I check my to-do list and calendar

7.50am – brush and style (braids or ponytails) girls hair, ideas here

8.00am – put washing on the line if I didn’t do the night before

8.10am – time to get myself presentable for the day (hair and a little make-up)

8.25am – give the kids countdown 5 minutes till we leave

8.30am – in car driving to school drop off

8.40am – home, put the kettle on, while kettle boiling wipe over kids bathroom basin

8.45am – My day begins, either doing housework, working on the blog, running errands, going to the gym or catching up with friends

Create your morning routine

Every family is different so please consider your schedule, the help of a partner and the ages of your kids when creating your morning routine.

Be realistic with the time you have available
Add into your routine the areas that you know you/your family need help with eg. time for chores for the kids, putting dirty clothes into the laundry, washing dishes, preparing for the evening meal in the morning

Please share your morning routine below

If you have a morning routine that’s working for you, please add it to the comments below as it may help somebody else to create their routine

20 Days to Clean & Organise your Home - Downloads

The Organised Housewife Morning Routine List (place in checklist divider)

or create your own list using the Blank Morning Routine list (place in checklist divider)

Kids Morning Routine

This is my kids morning routine chart, they started using this chart when in kindy (aged 3) this has taken the chaos out of our morning and the kids learn what they need to do each morning. I have tasks in a specific order, eg brush teeth before uniform/clothes goes on so they don’t get toothpaste splatter over their clean clothes (as kids do). I also like them having their socks on so when it’s time to go all they need to do is put on shoes not spend an extra 5 minutes to put socks on.

These routine charts are available in a range of colours in my shop, also with an option to personalise.

View Shop HERE

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Amanda

I have just done ours up yesterday as I was getting way too stressed
For the kids:
7:00am breakfast
7:20 shower and brush teeth
7:30 get dressed and pack bag
8:00 go over readers and homework
8:15 in the car

For me:
6:30 Computer off
Hang out washing and put on another load;
6:45 unpack dishwasher
6:55 prep breakfast for the ki7ds;
7:00 get the kids up;
7:10 get everything ready for DS1 to pack his bag and get dressed;
7:20 breast feed baby
7:30 hang out another load of washing;
7:45 do 15mins of cleaning chores
8:00 help with readers
8:10 hang out 3rd load of washing
8:15 in the car

I have my shower whenever I wake usually around 5am and do the lunch box the night before
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Great schedule, thank you for sharing
Snip

Our monrnings is really organised in general and since I have a teenager and a pre-teen it really go smoothly in the mornings.
5:30 get up and start their lunch
6:00 get them out of bed
6:10 do their lunch and get their breakfast ready if needed
6:30 Check e.mail and have my breakfast
6:50 get them out the door
7:00 start a load of washing
7:10 have a shower
7:30 hang out first load
7:45 unpack and pack dishwasher and do benchtops
8:00 Start cleaning/study
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  I would like to start rising early, you get so much done early in the mornings, I am trying to retrain my body clock to go to bed earlier.
  - Lisa P
    
    There are some early times listed for waking up – what time does everyone go to sleep at night…….I always struggle to get adequate sleep and being a night owl
    - http://www.facebook.com/julieanne.smith.9 Julie-anne Smith
      
      I used to be a night owl but now I am in bed at 9 and asleep by 10 for a wake up at 5:30. I found my body clock changed when I had kids and I function better in the mornings now.
    - Snip
      
      I go to be sometimes only at 11… For some reason the older I get the less sleep I need.. But have to admit that I take a 5 min nap around 3 just to get that refreshed feeling before the rush hour… Also I have to get up at 5:30 or 6 (depends on what the girls take for lunch) They need to go by 6.50 to get the bus.. And they only get home 16:30 so they have a really long day.
Elsp

4:15am Wake Up
4:20am Get up and get dressed
4:30am Gather things for work
4:40am Leave for work
7:15am Return from work
7:20am Iron shirt for the man
7:30am Make breakfast for the man
7:40am Load of washing in the machine
7:50am Load of dishes in the machine
8:00am Hang washing
8:10am ………nap/shopping/paperwork/housework….whatever takes my fancy for the day and hence I’m super disorganised!!!
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Wow you have such a busy morning J
  - Elsp
    
    The joys of being a swimming coach! I’ve got no idea how people with kids get things done!! I struggle enough with just me and the man and both of us working!!!! Props to all the parents!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.maher.946 Lisa Maher

A set time frame doesn’t work for me, a dead line to get things done stresses me out to much get everything done on the dot. With a 1 and 2 year old I do everything in 30 minutes blocks to get the tasks done and if my girls want to help I’m not stressing over the time frame. I have a easy morning routine.

6am wake and make bed
6 – 6.30 cuppa with husband and the girls before he is off to work
6.30 – 7 sit down with the girls for breakfast and then computer/tv time
7 – 7.30 dishers and washing wipe over lounges and tables etc
7.30 – 8 brush girls teeth and i have a shower tidy bathroom while showering
8 – 8.30 dress girls make girls beds
8.30 – 9 hang out washing put more on water vegie garden freash water for the dogs
9 – 9.30 put 1 year old to bed cuppa and story time with 2 year old
9.30 – 10 start days reno’s/jobs/outings
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Thank you for sharing your routine, I love seeing how every body else works as we and families are all so different J
http://www.facebook.com/naomi.malone3 Naomi Malone

the only thing I add is some exercise early in the morning! I have to drag myself out of bed at 5.30 to do it, but am always glad I did, as it gives me space first thing in the morning to think through my day, and I feel energised afterwards! Plus if I didn’t do it then, it wouldn’t happen!!!!!!
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Early morning is a great time of day to exercise.
LeSha Howard

My Morning Routine

Feed the Baby

Eat breakfast

Exercise

Put baby down for nap

Clean the house

Take a shower
Eat lunch

Feed the baby

Cook dinner

Clean the kitchen

Feed the baby

Work on crafts/homework/business

Put baby down for the night

End of day

The times are variable lol
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Thank you for sharing your routine. Exercise is one I need to try and add back in soon too.
Hannah

Mine isn’t overly complex at the moment because I’ve got a 9mo and I’m only working a day a week.

6:00 – feed baby

6:30 – out to lounge room, cup of tea and turn on sunrise

6:40 – husband leaves for work

6:45 – breakfast for mum

7:00 – put a load of washing on

7:15 – breakfast for baby

7:40 – wash up

8:00 – baby goes down for a sleep

8:10 – hang out washing

8:15 – have a doze on the couch

8:45 – get dressed

9:15 – baby wakes up

9:30 – Play School – mum prepares snacks and lunch for baby if we’ll be out for lunch

10:00 – dress baby

10:15 – out for a walk
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  That’s a great routine, love the doze on the couch, much needed with a little one J
Kim

I had a little chuckle at this. I know I NEED a routine but we are terrible at it. Mainly as DH does shift work, DS is 8 months old and dictates our sleep patterns and i’m pregnant with #2 and getting dressed is a chore at the moment BUT when I have a good day we all crave routine so I think we will set up a routine and stick to as much as we can. Maybe DS will sleep in for once
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  As long as you have it as a guide that’s the first step J
Nadia – The Everyday Blessings

I’m following along with the challenge, I love it! I’ve done up a blog post with my morning routine and added your button to my blog so others can join in as well

http://theeverydayblessings-nadia.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/my-morning-routine-and-20-day-challenge.html
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Wonderful, I’ll pop over and have a read soon.
http://www.facebook.com/tammy.longson.1 Tammy Longson

I am very grateful for these wonderful tips. Is there any chance that the downloads could be available in black and white (as well as colour) ?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000662581294 Belle Lipiec
  
  I just print them out on my black & white printer & they come out good
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  I’ll see if I can easily convert to b&w J
- http://www.facebook.com/julieanne.smith.9 Julie-anne Smith
  
  You should be able to set your printer preferences to black and white before you print (in the print dialogue box).
Leigh

Leigh
My daughter (and son for 2 days a week) have one hour on the bus to get to school so our mornings are prettey well under pressure. We need to leave the house at 7.40 to get to the bus stop.
6.30- everyone gets up
from here on the Miss 8 gets herself ready- she has a written routine she follows prettey similar to The organised Housewife’s.
I prettey much just do what I can in the space of time I have! Feeding Master 5 and 4, showering and dressing myself, dressing the boys whilst hurrying everybody up. Two days a week I have boot camp(circuit) at the community hall 7 ks away so those days I don’t have the morning shower.
This all does get prettey higgeldy piggeldy so I looking forward to getting my mornings more structured- which will help everyone!
I would love to be directed to anyone elses morning routine of people in a similar situation- well out of town!!
http://www.facebook.com/natalie.alleblas Natalie Alleblas

I have this golden rule that we must all be ready to go by 8am. That way I know if we aren’t ready that we really need to get a move on (and often my 2 year old will need a nappy change just as we are walking out the door, meaning that I am no longer on time but late!).
And if we are ready early, and the weather is nice, I can get the kids bikes and/or scooters and walk to school. Or my eldest will do some mathletics exercises on my laptop.
http://www.facebook.com/josie.bishop.188 Josie Bishop

I desperatley need a morning routine… Have come up with the following, so lets see how we go… fingers crossed:
6am – Wake up & jump in shower
6.15 – Get Dressed
6.20 – Make Bed
6.25 – Get daughter up and make her bed
6.30 – breakfast
6.45 – Get daughter dressed
7am – Brush teeth & do hair
7.10 – Feed chooks & make sure animals have water
7.15 – hang out washing from night before
7.30 – pack the kindy bag
7.40 – In car ready to go
7.45 – Kindy drop off (allowing 15 mins for sign in, activities and teacher chat)
8.30 – At work to start the day
Eeeek! It’s scary, I always feel like I have so much to do in the mornings, and am NOT a morning person. I make lunches the night before now and will probably pack the bag the night before too, but put it in there to remind me to do a last minute check.
Kat @ Eco Empire

My routine includes having a baby and breastfeeding!

7am -baby wakes + breastfeeds. I use this time to check
emails and calendar/to-do list. I also plan dinner and google recipes if need
be.

7.45am -change and dress baby and general tidy up of baby
room.

8am – While baby lies on playmat I get changed into
exercise gear and we go for a walk. We’ll either walk to the shops to buy
anything needed for dinner, or take the dog for a walk.

9am – Baby stays in pram asleep while I shower &
dress. I then make a breakfast smoothie to eat on the go.

If baby stays sleeping I’ll use the opportunity to tidy
the house or put a load of washing on. If we’re going somewhere I’ll pack the
nappy bag with fresh cloth nappies and get everything ready to go.

10am – baby wakes & breastfeeds.

10.45am – play with baby and complete any unfinished
chores (clean kitchen or clothes washing)

**if we have an early appointment or errand I will skip
the walk and my partner will take the baby while I shower and make my partner and I breakfast,
then dress and get the nappy bag ready.

If the baby sleeps in I might try to get ahead in my chores, like have a shower and get dressed.
Carrie

This will come in handy for myself and DD11. it is just us 2 in the house and we tend to have a pretty easy morning however i start a new job next week so mornings will change for us.

I was just wondering Katrina if possible could you please send me all the printables if i pay for printing and postage? I am currently only on my phone for internet. But really need to get into a routine and declutter the house. I dont really want to have to write out everything lol.
Cheryl

5.30 Wake
6am gym
7.10 home, cup of tea and watch sunrise
7.30 Ask teenager to get out of bed
7.40 Scream at that said teenager to get out of bed
7.45 Pull teenager out of bed, make lunch, shower
8.15 scream at teenager to get out of shower
8.30 breakfast, get dressed
8.40 leave for school drop off.
Gemma

6:45am Get up, shower

7:00am Get dressed, including shoes

7:10am Put on a load of washing, start up laptop

7:15am Prepare & eat breakfast

7:25am Put away clean dishes from night before

7:30am Get meat from freezer for dinner

7:35am Check emails, blogs, Facebook etc.

7:50am Kick hubby out the door to work

8:00am Make bed, tidy bedroom, remove dirty laundry

8:10am Wipe over bathroom & toilet

8:20am Hang out washing & put on another load

8:30am Half hour exercise

9:00am Shower (if needed from exercise) then do whatever is
planned for the day.

Lunchtime-ish – let chooks out and collect eggs. Let dogs
off chain for the afternoon.

I also did an afternoon one as I find we are eating dinner later and later.

Check out my blog too…. http://cookcleanerquiltmaker.blogspot.com.au/
I will be following this challenge on there!
http://www.facebook.com/karyn.hicks2 Karyn Hicks

I have done up morning routines so many times but I never seem to be able to stick to them, either my daughter wakes early or won’t wake up or I just loose track of the time – how do you all manage to stick to your morning routines?
charlotteorr

No kids but we have an energetic dog that needs walking first thing in the morning…
6.30 Bathroom, take vitamins, rug up to go to park with hubby and dog.
7.00 Make smoothie for hubby to take to work, make smoothie for me. Sit and drink smoothie (me) or coffee (hubby).
7.45 Straighten bed if I didn’t have time to do it before going to park. Choose clothes. Shower.
8.15 Dress. Hair and face. Give basin area a quick wipe (to get rid of hair from hubby’s shaving or me drying my hair).
8.45 Check laundry. Dust mop the floors (dog hair!). Empty dishwasher.
9ish Turn computer on (I work from home)
http://twitter.com/suburp nikki

just letting you know as some might complain : there are only the first dotted lines on the blank sheet (really doesn’t bother me)
I think a key to a working morning routine is not putting too much in the morning (do some prep in the evening) and leave some margin for ‘incidents’ that may delay you or take priority. I am going to write ours down now =)
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Thanks Nikki, I thought I fixed it but what prints on my computer and what prints from the website are 2 different things. I have spent most of the morning trying to fix it, but they just aren’t printing I’m stumped.
Sam

My routine depends on if I’m working from home or not. Hub and teen look after themselves.

From home:
6:30am wake up get dressed, shower if hub not hogging the bathroom (if no time then I have one during my lunch break).

7am start work & have breakfast

During the morning as time permits put on a load of washing or 2, make bed, put breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down kitchen benches, lots of coffee.

In the office:
5am wake, shower, dress

5:45am train to work

7am start work & have breakfast at desk

Somehow I’m supposed to fit exercise in there too but I never can.
http://twitter.com/carrose Car

I NEED a morning routine… I’m prone to grabbing a coffee and a piece of toast then curling up on the couch with my iPad – I know how shocking is that!!! Then I wonder why we need to run around like mad hatters at 8am to get out the door by 8:20. (Did I just admit that online???) Hoping this task and with spring approaching, I can hit the mornings with a firm routine and less computer time
- http://www.facebook.com/kat.moss.5 Kat Moss
  
  This sounds like mine.
- Jenny
  
  OMG you just described my home!!!
Casey

Hi, is anyone having trouble downloading the morning routine sheets. It looks like it’s going to load but nothing happens.
Naomi

Done mine – no changes really, just had to write it down and try to apply times to it. We have 3 sons (12,10,8) who get themselves pretty much organised. I have had a list on the fridge for them for years and while I don’t worry about the order all the jobs have to be done.
6.30 get up & go for walk or excercise on Wii
7.10 make sure kids are up
7.15 make bed, shower, dress
7.35 washing machine on
7.40 breakfast & coffee (Hubby makes me coffee everyday – so lucky)
7.52 hubby & no.1 son leave
8.00 check emails/calendar/diary (make sure I don’t have anything forgotten for day)
8.20 in car to bus stop
8.30 back from bus stop & start work (stay at home mum who’s trying to be clean & organised!!!!!) ie plan/check routine for the day
Shazster

Hi Katrina, I can print out the second download but it says the first download doesn’t exist. I had no problems until today.
tamara

My daughter started school at the beginning of the term and I took it as an opportunity for a new routine, I’m now getting up every weekday morning at 6.30 and going from there, I must admit its a great feeling coming back from the bus stop and the house is basically tidy so I can easily get on with other stuff.
http://www.facebook.com/giovanna.scott.68 Giovanna Scott

I had a morning routine on charts when the boys were younger, but now they are well into routine at 9 & 11 (even the autistic one LOL). I’m sure I’ll need another one soon for the almost-teenager… he’s starting to grunt
Kristy

My Routine is
4:30 Up I get
4:50 At the gym
6:30 Home and Shower, get dressed
7am Kids get up
7:01 Make screaming toddlers their breakfast
7:05 Change nappies
7:15 Clean up from breakfast
7:30 Make breakfast and coffee for hubby
7:35 Make my own breakfast
7:45 Pack bags for kindy
8am Make lunch for hubby
8:10am Out the door for Kindy
http://www.facebook.com/giovanna.scott.68 Giovanna Scott

Katrina, for everyone who’s having problems with printing and “click to download” try this. Right click on the CLICK TO DOWNLOAD banner, and SAVE TARGET AS… rather than left-clicking. I have a folder in my docs for all Katrina’s lists, etc.
http://www.facebook.com/NicoleMTaylor Nicole Taylor

I don’t have times because with 2 kids under 2 (one only 2 months old) I have to be a little more fluid about things but here goes:

Get up, shower , and get dressed (includes hair/make up if using)
Clean the toilet and wipe down ensuite basin and benchtop
Make the bed
Take dirty washing to the laundry
Run the washing machine, get Miss Nearly-2 out of bed and change her nappy
Get Miss Nearly-2′s breakfast ready, unstack the dishwasher
Eat breakfast
dishes into dishwasher
Brush teeth (mine and Miss Nearly-2)
Wipe over bathroom basin/benchtop
Get Miss Nearly-2 Dressed
Hang washing, run second load if needed
Pack car (if going out)
- http://www.facebook.com/NicoleMTaylor Nicole Taylor
  
  Add in feeds/nappy changes as necessary for Mr 2mo, sometimes that means we both change clothes if he has a messy burp post-feed, but oh well
Leasa

Hi,
just wondering if anyone had an example of a routine that they use in a more diverse household ie baby + preschool + infants school?? or can you remember what you used to do Katrina?? thanks in advance
- Liz
  
  Ditto! Mornings have now been identified as my biggest stress time. Part of it is that each day is different due to part time preschool; part of it is that the kids wake *me* at 7am – how on earth do people get up at 4.30 and 5am?! Lots of personal habits for me to change and being patient til the kids are a little less needy?
- Letitia
  
  The key is being organised the night before. I’ve always been a working mum and when mine were young I always laid out their clothes the night before for them and always done lunches (and still do) the night before. Getting everything that you can ready for breakfast the night before is also good. I also used to get ready before getting the children up.
Krissy

I don’t usually put times on mine as sometimes we wake up or run late.

* We get up Open curtains
* If there is time the girls watch a lil TV
* I Make Breakie (Girls help to prepare)
* Girls Brush their teeth
* Girls and I Get dressed
* Pack lunch boxes (as i freeze sandwiches)
* Girls pack their Bag
* We go do everyone’s hair
* Turn off TV and other power points
* Get into car
*Drive to school
*Come home make coffee
*Go on Facebook (obviously i am wanting to change this one LOL)

Some times this routine can take 30 minutes to sometimes an hour.
Kirsty

My morning routine consists of oversleeping and blindly running around the house in a panic to try get to work on time! I can’t wait to try implement something to bring sanity to my life
Kerrie

I’m looking forward to the challenge… but with 2 shift workers in the house and a little one it’s going to be ‘a challenge’. I sort of have a routine, but putting it on paper is going to be interesting, I look forward to doing it tonight once I get to put my feet up
Leanne H

FOr those of you that wipe down your bathrooms in the morning – what cloths do you use? Do you use disposable wipes or other cloths? I find that I don’t have a cloth in there, can’t be bothered to go and get one so forget to do it. If I do have a cloth there it tends to stay in there and get all yucky!! I also find that the smell of a lot of the wipes and bathroom sprays make me feel sick:(
- http://www.facebook.com/julieanne.smith.9 Julie-anne Smith
  
  I use …. Toilet paper! Has been the best wipe out there. I spray my counter and the toilet, leave it while I shower and thn wipe over with the loo paper, it doesn’t smear and picks up any hair and other fluff and stuff (when sometimes they just get moved around). You do have to make sure you buy a good brand that won’t break apart.
- Di @ Life is Di-licious
  
  I use tissues…..a tip I learned from my mum. I also use Orange Power spray which I keep in the cupboard under the sink.
Nikki

This is the biggest part of the challenge to me.

0430 get up, shower
0440 feed the horses, unrug and let out
0450 on the road to work
0528 train
1420 train home with stop to shops to grab anything required as on way home.
1455 school pick up
1520 home sometimes via the feed store.
1525 collapse in heap and check email. Feed child
1600 saddle up and ride, or clean stables, feed up, rug
1800 in house to make dinner and check emails, empty dishwasher.
1900 dinner
1930 cajole child to finish dinner, clean up and have a cup of tea.

by this stage my motivation to even care about the state of the house has passed.
Prue

Cheryl your mornings are just like mine, except there’s two teenagers.
Mrs Mac

I work part time so on the mornings when we all go to work/day care our routine is crucial to getting us all out the door and to where we need to be on time.
6.30am Wake up, shower while hubby shaves, get dressed, hubby showers
6.40am Start preparing lunches & get breakfast ready while hubby makes bed
7.00 Get my 2 year old out of bed or earlier if she’s awake. Hubby takes over breakfast and bub while I do hair and makeup.
7.10 We all sit down for breakfast
7.30 Dress bub ready for day care
7.40 Do a quick sweep of the house to check all is in order
7.45 Out the door for day care and work & depending who does the drop off we sometimes squeeze in a quick story with our bub who loves to read! My timings are approximate but we never feel rushed and if we are running a few minutes late that’s OK because we have a few to spare. It’s a real team effort in our house though I must admit!
Nikki

in there was homework also.
Makes me really want a cleaning lady
http://twitter.com/heyLisaWarren Lisa Warren

I just shared my current routine.
http://www.lifeasweknowit-blog.com/2012/08/can-organised-housewife-tame.html

You may need to sit down Katrina…lol
Tab

I’m not sure about what do about morning routine… I’m a casual worker and a stay home mum and a uni student. My routine changes depending on whether i have to go to work or whether i have our kidlet (toddler) and also depends on if he’s going to daycare or nanna’s.
- Rach
  
  Hello! I also have 2 kidlets, and our routine varies from day-to-day. I’m just going to fill out the routine sheet for Monday/Thursday, those are the days we have a ‘set’ routine for getting the kiddies ready for childcare. Good luck with the challenge! xxx
Karen

I work full-time (40 + hrs. a week) I find it very difficult to keep my home clean. When I get home for work I only have time to make supper, do dishes and maybe some laundry or clean 1 of our 2 bathrooms. Does anyone else on here work full-time and find time to keep house? If so let me in on your secret!!
- http://www.facebook.com/lynne.baillie Lynne Baillie
  
  Karen I work 30 hrs a week in a job, but have a home based business as well as a couple of committee positions, so I’m pretty much in the same boat. I love when my husband is on days off, he takes over the cooking and housework. Now sunrise is earlier and the mornings warmer, I’m working on getting up about 6am to make a start on my ‘morning routine’ but adding in a little extra one area at a time. Fortunately it’s only a 10 minute drive to work and I start at 9am.
- Georgie
  
  I’d love to know too Karen! I only work 23 hours a week, but also have a 2nd part-time job from home, am on 2 committees & have 3 kids. I make time to exercise 5 days a week but can’t seem to find time to do housework as well!
Keln

I have a different schedule .. I started back at work in January after 4 years ‘maternity leave’. I only work 3 hours a day so still have time for ‘housewife duties’ I start from 5.30am – up to 9:00am ! I’m lucky enough to have my nan and pop living with us for a few months to take care of school drop off and getting the girls organised in the mornings. I have everything sorted at night for the following day. Its just so hard not being home with my girls in the mornings, and I know it will be harder when I haven’t got the built in help ! I’m thinking of putting a flyer in my neighbours mailboxes to see if anyone is interested in a small job !! (paid of course!) Anyways.. anyone else out there have a morning job ?! Whats your morning routine if your aren’t there!?
Cat

Hubby and I both work full time; he travels on and off for work too. We have 2 kids – 2 and 5. Things have always been very organized in our house….we can’t survive otherwise, but even moreso since miss 5 started school this year. Our mornings go a little something like this:
5:00am – me up shower, hair, makeup dressed.
5:30am – 6:00 mr 2 wakes up. He and I have breakfast while I unpack dishwasher from night before. Hubby gets up and showers or gets ready to ride pushbuke to work depending on day.
6:00 – 6:30 miss 5 wakes up. Breakfast for her and second breakfast for the remorseless eating machine mr 2. I pack school bags etc…. A bit of general tidy up around the place and prep for dinner.
6:30 – 7:00 – kids dressed, toilet, hair, teeth.
We all have to be ready to step out the door at 7am. In the mornings I do the drop off, I drop mr 2 at Kindy, miss 5 at school and them get to work myself by 8:15 ish. On the days hubby drops off he drops mr 2 at lindy, parks at miss 5 school, drops her off and rides bike to work-there by 8:00. On these mornings I get to work about 7:30ish usually for an early meeting.
And that’s just the mornings!!!!!!!
kat

please please could you show a step by step “dummies” way to braid girs hair. my daughter asks me all the time and i try but it just looks a total mess.
http://www.facebook.com/pippa.waddell Pippa Smith Waddell

Our school mornings tend to be MUCH smoother when the prep is done before hand i.e. uniforms ironed on the weekend, dishes organised the night before etc.
We actually set up a routine for the kids on http://www.myjobchart.com which they access on an iPad/computer. Even gives them a round of applause when they complete all their tasks. Makes we wonder why I am not using it actually lol
http://www.facebook.com/tracey.richardson.330 Tracey Richardson

Strange as this is i have gone from a mother of two (4 &2) working 30 hrs a week to a mother of two NOT Working – and im struggling. Please dont slap me. I am grateful that i dont have too work anymore but its really change my once set routine. I previously had a cleaner (which i obviously dont need now), and my husband use to help alot more – but now due to working 60hrs a week hes unable to do so. I also have gone from two boys in day care too: the eldest in kindy 3 days a week (840 to 250) and the youngest at home full time. I have had to get my head around, school routine -drop off, pick up and getting ready for school and then trying to accomplish “normal” household things whilst having a 2 year old running around.
I am really struggling to get my head around the school day morning routine. Basically i need to make sure that i can get out of bed on time and do some prep work in the morning. I think setting a “up time” will really help me start with getting a functional practical morning routine. Cause i hate being the shouty mother in the morning becasue “where running late” which is actually – im not organised and have made my kids late
Fingers crossed i get this sorted BEFORE my eldest starts shcool fulltime next year!
Trace
- Di @ Life is Di-licious
  
  Oh Tracey, I’m just as disorganised in the morning and not having a set time to get up in the morning is my biggest stumbling block. I enjoy my lazy mornings but often find myself shrieking at my daughter at 12.30 to eat up her lunch before kinder at 1pm (we live virtually next door to it so I don’t have to factor in travel time).
  My daughter has been home sick this week so I’ve hardly got any cleaning done at all. I can’t wait for school next year!
http://www.facebook.com/keling Sara Collins Westhead

I was just working on our family routine – I’m not including exact times, though.
Samy

After writing up what I thought was our morning routine was not very practiacal and realised we were wasting a LOT of time so I have printed off a few more blank copies so I can re do it. Also with 4 out 5 days different leaving times I am going to need a few diff routines eeekkk
MummyJenn

I don’t set times on my routine, I just have a list of things I have to do as with 4 kids and a father I’m carer for I find time restraints can put me off. I have a daily checklist and pretty much work hard at trying to keep it in order however a little flexibility goes a long way in my household. The kids have their own routines as well with picture chart. Even Mr 4 who has one which Miss 11 & Miss 7 are also responsible for helping when they have finished their own chart.
Malinda

I’ve got my morning routine working perfectly.
7am – me up showered and dressed
7:15am – wake up kids
7:30am – everybody gets dressed, then breakfast, pjs away and beds made
8am – dishes and kitchen cleaned
8:10am – vac kitchen/meals area
8:15am – everyone teeth and hair
8:30am – pack bags and shoes on
8:40am – leave house
MummaLish

not one to question an expert, but shouldn’t the routines go in the routines section instead fo the checklist section?
http://twitter.com/SexyMomGP Corenne Tavares

I’m so jealous! In South Africa schools start at 7:30! We do the mad dash every morning because getting up at sparrow’s fart, especially in winter, just SUCKS! This morning routine will probably be the greatest challenge for me yet! At the moment the girls (11 and 16) get themselves ready while I scream down the hall every few minutes telling them to get done with whichever part they’re on. I’ll have to think about this one for a while but WILL BE READY for Monday!
Pingback: Are you pondering what I'm pondering? » Thankful Thursday – Bedtime
http://twitter.com/MellissaD Mellissa Doyle

7am – press snooze

7:09am – press snooze

7:18am – press snooze

7:27am – get up, wake DS & DD, make their breakfasts, lay out DS’s clothes

7:50am – prod husband, get dressed

8am – change & dress DD, supervise DS dressing & brushing teeth

8:15am – put lunches in bags, rinse & stack breakfast dishes, wipe bench

8:25am – sort washing & load machine

8:30am – (in theory!) Drive DS to school & husband to work

9:30am – start washing machine, coffee & breakfast for me

10am – start the housework!
http://www.facebook.com/tania.saga Tania Campbell

I’m having trouble downloading either Morning Routine chart Just goes to a blank page or the PDF viewer comes up with an error that says “?”
I really need a morning routine!
kaidi

why di we put the evening routine and morning routine under checklist tab?
http://www.facebook.com/pippa.waddell Pippa Smith Waddell

So good getting it down on paper. The only thing that varies really is if I have to wash my hair lol I get up 30 minutes earlier to allow for blow drying
Becc

6.00 Up
6.05 feed poultry (allow extra10 mins if feeding lambs,take this 10 mins from walk)
6.10 Walk/ run with dog
7.00 Hang out washing
7.10 Breakfast + check computer
7.25 Shower/Dressed
7.45 Leave for work
allison

I work 3 days per week so my morning routine is set in stone already on these days and when the kids wake early it sometimes throws me as i don’t have much time as i’m NOT a morning person. Our other days include morning sport so a routine will be worked out for these but i really like no routine on the weekend as I like to get any jobs left done on these days and relax as much as possible. Hubby is at work by 5am 5 days and works every 2nd sat. So i need a routine but i also need to b flexible.
http://www.facebook.com/anni.charters Analise Charters

I dont have set times for my routine as it all hinges on when my 1 yr old and i wake up. but usually around 7am and goes roughly like this:
7am wake up
7.30 get breakfast ready/eat breakfast
8/8.30 unpack and repack dishwasher, wipe benches clean up from breakfast
8.30/9am have a shower.
Then i will usually hang out washing, put washing on, tidy up and do odd jobs until my daughter wants to nap
I kinda came up with this routine on my own out of neccessity. Because if i dont do the dishwasher/have shower/make breakfast then. Well with a young toddler.. it just doesn’t happen!
Bubbles74

7.00 Get kids up
7.05 Breastfeed 18mo. 3 & 5yo dress themselves.
7.15 Dress 18mo.
7.20 Breakfast for the kids. Get dressed, make lunches & have breakfast.
7.40 First warning to finish breakfast. Start cleaning up kitchen.
7.50 Final warning to finish breakfast (my son will happily eat for an hour in the morning)
8.00 Brush teeth
8.05 Put last dishes in dishwasher & wipe down table while kids pack their bags
8.10 Daughters’ hair, shoes & jumpers
8.15 Out the door for childcare & school drop-off
Rachael

My room 6.00 – 6.05am

6.00am
Make bed

6.03am Open curtains

6.05am
Take dirty washing out

Bathroom 6.10 – 6.20am

6.10am
Swish sink

6.13am
Swipe toilet

6.15am
Tidy

6.18am
Sweep

6.20am
Take dirty washing out

Dining room 6.25am

6.30am
Open curtains

Lounge room
6.30 – 6.35am

6.30am
Open curtains

6.33am
Tidy

6.35am
Take dirty washing out

Laundry
6.40am

6.40am
Put a load of washing on

Kitchen 6.50 – 7.13am

6.50am
Make bread

6.55am
Make breakfast for boys

7.00am
Make lunches for school and kinder

7.05amam
Put dishes away from last night

7.10am
Wipe benches etc

7.13am
Sweep

Boys room 7.15 – 7.25am

7.15am
Make beds

7.18am
Open curtains

7.20am
Get school and/or kinder clothes out

7.25am
Take dirty washing out

Dining room 7.30 – 7.33am

7.30am
Wipe table

7.33am
Vacuum/carpet sweep under table

Other
8.05 – 8.20am

7.35am
Change Michael’s nappy

7.40am
Get dressed and do hair

7.50am My breakfast

8.00am
Hang washing

8.20am
Kinder and school drop off
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000733714301 Alicia Kaye

The trouble I’m having is, we homeschool and I stay at home! My dad and brother live with us temporarily and generally get up with the kids first since I am usually up with the baby most nights. This seriously throws off my schedule because by the time I wake up (8-9ish) the kids are already up and fed but are comfortable watching a movie or discovery channel. We do have the rule that we don’t allow regular TV cartoons or anything like that in the house so they are allowed to watch National Geographic, Discovery Channel or something similarly educational. Then the TV is off for the day and we do our ‘school work’. Which is generally going to Central Park, Horse shows, different parks/water parks, sometimes doing worksheets, art, coloring, playing games, etc. We live in NYC so there is always something to do or go see. We typically don’t use a schedule because things pop up and I get frustrated. It could be anything from not feeling well to cancellations of shows or events to my printer not working or running out of ink/paper/color crayons/paint, etc. I sometimes think it would be much easier to have the kids in school for my routine and certainly for the state of my home!
I need alternatives for some of the cleaning routines which would necessitate me being away from the kids because they are ALWAYS around and, although they are good at helping, they are also just as good at dragging things our right after they’ve been put away. I’ve never really minded much since we LIVE in our house and having it clean all the time is unreasonable for me.
Are there any other homeschoolers out there who have a better way of doing things which allows for a more organized routine and home?
http://twitter.com/vampSaam Saam Thorne

Hmmm, here goes.
6.30 Alarm. Snooze or read or actually get up & shower
7.00 kids up
7.10 empty dishwasher
7.15 breakfast
7.35 Mr4 violin practice
7.50 make Mr4′s lunch while he puts his violin away & a sticker on his practice chart
8.00 get toddler dressed while Mr4 dresses himself
8.20 get myself dressed
8.30 out the door to kindy/swimming/gym

I’m having real trouble with Mondays at the moment as I need to get to kindy by 8.30 so I can get to my gym trainer at 9 so toddler can do Gymbaroo at 9.30. Not working! I’m trying to implement getting kindy clothes out & making his lunch Sun night.
Deborah K

I have one child at home (two in college) and dogs, so I have to include them in my morning routine:
I don’t really have troubles in the morning, mostly evening.

6:00 Up, brew coffee, unload dishwasher while coffee brewing
6:10 Walk the dogs
6:15 Feed the dogs, let them out in the fenced yard to exercise.
6:25 Make bed, devotional/meditation time(coffee required or fall asleep)
6:55 Get my child up, in the shower, dressed.
7:10 My child eats and gets lunchbox packed.
7:20 Brushes his teeth, review homework details while tidying the kitchen.
7:25 Tidy the bath and take my child to the bus stop
7:30 Take the trash to the curb some days
7:35 Me time.
http://www.facebook.com/TiziriRacing Cam Wilson

Well there are only two of us, Mr and myself. We have full on lives associated with our interests. So this is our morning routine:
5am alarm goes off
5.20am shower
5.30am dressed
5.35am kitchen to wash last night’s dishes
5.40 – 6.30am order dependant on what time Mr has to get up and go to work – iron work shirt, make coffee, cooked brekky, make lunches, do my hair, make the bed
Sometimes I am organised and spend a Sunday night doing all of my ironing, but more often than not, as I am past my used by date at 8.30pm I usualy cant be bothered.
This has to change
Rebecca

5am-wake up, teeth brushed, hair brushed
5:15-feed cats, clean litter box
5:20-stretch
5:30 Kitchen touch up where needed (dishes missed the night before, clear table, wipe down counter tops).
6-pack lunches, make breakfast
6:30-Bring husband breakfast (I have found serving him breakfast in bed helps him wake up more easily than me having to go in a million times to try dragging him out of bed). I also eat breakfast while I do my morning Bible reading
7am-wash breakfast dishes
7:15-prepare for the day (whether work, school, day of house cleaning…whatever it might be)-this is basically the time I do a quick check of email and get dressed.

The Organised Housewife » Tips, ideas, inspiration and motivation to help keep you and your household clean and organised