Enough about the Kids: 7 Back to School Tips for Moms

During back to school season, moms go out of their way to set their kids up for success. We plan their lunches ahead of time, set up designated areas for all their school needs, get them to bed at a decent hour, pick out their outfits ahead of time, make sure they have breakfast and so on and so forth, but what about us? Do we set ourselves up for success the same way we set our kids up? Probably not. Well, enough of that nonsense. Moms need to hook themselves up too.

Here are seven back to school tips for moms:

1. Put the cafecito on a timer. One of the best investments I’ve ever made is on a coffee maker I can set up ahead of time. In the morning it greats me with a fresh pot of brewed coffee. It’s not a butler, but it does the trick.

2. Get up before your kids. I know sleep is wonderful, it really is and you should get as much of it as you can, so go to bed earlier. Your world is not going to fall apart if you go to bed 30 minutes earlier so that you can get up 30 minutes earlier. This way you can get yourself ready before your kids get up and NEED you to do things you swear they should be doing for themselves.

ALSO READ: 5 Things I Learned This Back-to-School Season

3. Do something nice for you. I have my go-to products that I like to use in the mornings, from toothpaste to facial wash to moisturizer to deodorant to makeup and I make sure to keep them stocked for myself. Tip: You can click on over to the Johnson & Johnson Healthy Essentials website to print coupons for great products that can make your morning routine go smoothly, think Aveeno, Neutrogena and such.

4. Know what you are going to wear ahead of time. Yup, it’s basic, but you should do it. The night before, plan what you are going to wear and set it out ahead of time. That way you don’t have to think about in the morning.

5. Keep your purse and keys in the same spot always. Your purse and keys should always, always, be in the same spot. You should be able to walk by and grab them without really even having to look.

6. Stop rushing. If you find that every single morning you are rushing, then something needs to change. You either have to do more prep work the night before or make everyone get up earlier. Rushing sucks plain and simple. Don’t be that mom who is always getting her kid to school late and yelling at everyone to hurry up. I swear to you that it does not have to be that way.

7. Create a routine that works for you and your family. Routines are awesome because everyone gets to know them and can follow them without discussion. Once you create a routine that truly works, you will find that you aren’t rushing around all discombobulated and forgetting lunches, homework assignments or to brush your own hair and wash the sleep out of your eyes. Sheesh, you might even have time to laugh with your kids in the morning.

*Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Healthy Essentials by Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies and The Motherhood. All statements and opinions are my own.