10 Morning Time Hacks for a Calmer Day

Maybe it’s a cluttered kitchen counter, or papers covering your desk, or a closet that you’ve been putting off tackling. We all know that feeling — the stress and overwhelm that comes from disorganization. Combine that with our hectic mornings, and the result is a day that starts with stress. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With just a few simple steps, you can make your morning time more efficient and peaceful, setting yourself up for a less-stressed day.

Here are 10 tiny ways to get your mornings on track and help set the tone for the rest of the day.

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5 things to do the night before

The most organized mornings start the night before, says Ashley Christian, a homesteader and mom of five who specializes in mindfulness and organization. If you can check one (or two, or even three) things off your to-do list at night, your morning time will feel less stressful.

1. Spend 10 minutes cleaning the kitchen

Even just 10 minutes can make a real difference. Giving the kitchen a quick once-over, including loading the dishwasher, will make breakfast that much easier. If you don’t have a dishwasher, wash your dirty dishes — or at least soak them, so you don’t wake up to a sink full of hard-to-wash dishes and pans.

2. Lay out your clothes (and your kids’)

Settling on what to wear the night before saves rummaging through the closet (or hamper, or laundry room) to find something in the morning. This is especially true if you have children and they tend to argue about what they wear. Not only does this streamline the morning, it also helps you avoid finding out too late that something you (or your kids) need for the day is unwashed.

3. Pack your lunch

This could be as simple as finding that container of leftovers, filling up your water bottle, and keeping them next to each other in the fridge. Or it could mean assembling something quick and easy, or even just checking the freezer to make sure your favorite ready-made item is in there, ready to grab and go. Be sure to include healthy snacks.

4. Check your calendar

Sometimes knowing what’s in store for you the next day can soothe feelings of overwhelm. Add to-dos, like calling to make a dentist appointment or picking up the dry cleaning, to your calendar at specific times to be sure you get them done.

5. Make a to-do list (and factor in the time)

Speaking of to-dos, trying to keep them all in your head is stressful, and usually inefficient. Make yourself a list (someplace handy, like your Notes app or a pad on your desk), and consider how long it takes to accomplish certain tasks. “It helps you learn how not to over- or underestimate,” says life coach Gari Weilbacher. “It takes a bit of time to learn how to make friends with time. This is an area many people need to think about and discuss because it’s often miscalculated. Once you ‘get’ time, it really opens up for you.”

5 things to do with your morning time

The number one thing you can do to have a more organized morning: Get up earlier. Along with giving you more time in the morning, research shows that people who go to sleep and wake up earlier are less likely to experience anxiety and depression. Start slow: Go to sleep and wake up just 10 minutes earlier, and work your way back as much as you comfortably can. Here are some ideas for how to fill those extra minutes (and how not to).

1. Create a morning ritual just for you

You don’t have to cram those 10 minutes with productivity. Take those minutes to stretch, meditate, take a few deep breaths, or enjoy your morning beverage in peace can set you up for a calmer morning.

2. Don’t check your social media (or the news)

“Don’t check your social media or watch the news or check your email first thing in the morning. It will kill your momentum and your joy,” says blogger and podcast host Marisa Lonic. Use that time to get things done instead — all that information will still be there later, and you’ll be in a calmer headspace to take it in.

3. Make your bed

Several studies have found that people who make their beds are not only more productive, but also happier, and they may even sleep better. If you have kids, get them to make their beds, too. It’s a good habit for them and one less thing for you to do.

4. Unload the dishwasher

Remember how we told you to load the dishwasher the night before? The follow up is to take some time to unload the dishwasher. It’s basically the kitchen equivalent of making the bed. “Creating easy wins for ourselves — doing a quick chore that makes us feel good — is a great way to start the day powerfully,” notes Lisa Zaslow of Gotham Organizers.

5. Set a routine

“Do things in the same order every day,” says health coach Sarah Randall. “You create a routine by doing the same tasks in the same order so they become habits and it’s just what you do, requiring little effort in thinking about what you’re going to do.”  Having that routine also makes it less likely that you’ll forget anything.

Read next: 8 Morning Habits That Are Ruining Your Sleep