Working and Mothering on Monday Morning

For a working mother, Monday morning is one of the most stressful days of the week. It's not like the school holiday breaks, which gives you lots of time to recover afterwards. Monday comes once a week, like it or not, and if you aren't prepared, it will leave you burnt out and tired for the rest of the week.

Have you ever had the experience of waking up late, struggling to eat toast, drink coffee, dress yourself, and get your child out of bed and to school? Then, you realise your child has to bring her homework that's buried somewhere in the office, and you have a presentation due that day which requires you to change clothes right now so you look professional enough. Worst of all, the bus for work leaves in ten minutes.

The challenge of working and mothering at the same time is not a small one, but thousands of mothers manage every year – some better than others. You can get closer to being one of those seemingly put-together and stress-free women, too. All it requires is time and motivation to learn new routines like those below.

1. Preparation is everything.
The single easiest way to decrease your stress on Monday mornings is to prepare ahead of time. You can pack lunches for everyone on Sunday night, and your children can take showers/baths then, too. If you do washing on the weekend, you'll be able to zone out when you come home from work each night and not worry about dressing everyone for the week. To save even more time, put together five outfits (one for each weekday) on the weekend. You can do this for every other family member you're responsible for dressing properly, too.

You aren't alone in your preparation for the week. If you get your kids into the habit of packing up their homework in their school bag on Sunday night and your partner ready for their own job, each of you being responsible helps lessen the chaos for the others. They can also help you lay out outfits and get themselves ready in the morning.

2. The early bird gets more done.
Getting up just fifteen minutes earlier can mean the difference between panic and peace in your household on a busy Monday morning. If you need to compensate by going to bed a little earlier, it's worth it for the serene atmosphere you can enjoy the next day.

With that extra fifteen minutes, don't just lie in bed and enjoy your free time. You can shower and get dressed, eat breakfast, or make sure you're ready for work before the rest of the household gets up and distracts you with tasks like missing homework and odd socks.

3. Don't stress over breakfast.
If you're like most working mothers, you're not in the mood to cook a huge meal in the morning, nor do you have the time. It's still very healthy to eat breakfast, as it will ensure you have enough energy to get through the day.

To make sure you're healthy without sacrificing a lot of time, keep cereal and milk on hand and stored in the same place every day, or keep a supply of apples and bananas, healthy snack bars, and other grab-and-go foods in easily accessible locations so you can eat quickly.

4. Maintain healthy routines.
The human body is designed to follow routines. This explains why so many of us don't go to the gym – we're in a routine of avoiding it or arguing with ourselves until we don't go – and why we feel so disoriented and stressed without a routine.

Make sure every member of your family has a consistent bedtime and sticks with it every night, yourself included. You should also try to wake up at the same time every morning. This simple act alone can help save you a lot of anxiety and irritation from sleep deprivation!

5. Time yourself properly.
While you're starting a new routine, timing yourself properly can drastically improve the chaos in your household on Mondays. Have every family member eat breakfast in a certain time period, then get dressed in another, and you can reduce confusion and lead to great teamwork moments.

Divide the time you usually have available each morning into “phases” of fifteen to thirty minutes each, then figure out the crucial tasks to get done in each phase and stick to your schedule. After a few weeks, it will be so instinctive you won't have to refer to your schedule much. Help your other household members stick to the schedule, too, but encourage them to help make things easier for you, as many working moms just don't ask their families for help enough. Preserving your sanity will help theirs, too.

These are just a few simple steps that can dramatically decrease the chaos in your household every Monday morning. Don't underestimate them, however; just having a little less stress on Monday morning can mean a better day and even a better week. Take the time to implement these changes and stick with it, and you'll notice the difference immediately. Best of all, you can be that super-organised and stress-free mum, too!