By Patty Laushman
Creating the environment for a smoother morning starts the night before. Use these tips to reduce conflict and experience a smoother start to the day.
Check out these tips below...
Ensure everything you need to leave is packed the night before Backpack? Check. Lunch? Check. Homework? Check. Pack it up and leave it by the door. Then grab it on your way out.
Bathe at night instead of in the morning Reducing the number of complex tasks that need to be done in the morning will have the biggest impact on success. Bathing at night not only reduces the number of complex tasks in the morning, it can help you wind down for sleep. Some neurodivergent individuals find bathing to be a sensory nightmare, though. If this is the case, minimize the frequency of bathing, utilize other hygiene tactics like baby wipes and dry shampoo, and disconnect it from the bedtime routine if it's not a soothing activity.
Sleep in the clothes you will wear out the door For many neurodivergent people, getting dressed is a very complex task. Don't just pick out your clothes the night before, turn them into pajamas if you can! Yes, they'll be wrinkled, but who cares when your morning goes more smoothly?
Take your meds in bed about 20 minutes before you need to get up (with a favorite beverage perhaps) If you take medication for ADHD, giving it time to work before rising gets you ready to focus on what you need to do before demands are placed. And make it a treat with your favorite beverage if possible. Orange juice? Soda pop? A spoonful of sugar? Whatever makes the medicine go down. This is a judgement-free zone.
Wake up with plenty of extra time to get ready There is nothing more stressful than running out of time. Just don't do it -- by leaving plenty of extra time. Set multiple alarms if necessary, and make sure one is physically across the room so you have to get up to turn it off.
Have a checklist of steps you need to perform to get ready Having it in writing helps you build executive functioning skills because you can see each step in the routine. Practicing the same steps over and over helps commit them to memory so each step is not a huge energy-drain. This leaves nothing to chance for whether or not you've earned #7 below.
Plan to reward yourself for getting ready before you need to leave Did you finish early? If so, then celebrate with something you find rewarding, but not so rewarding you won't want to leave. Some quality YouTube time might do the trick. Make sure you decide up front (such as the night before) what you will earn when you achieve success to help with motivation.
If you'd like this information in digital guide format, you can get a free copy of "The Definitive Guide to Getting Out the Door in the Morning" here. Just fill out the form, and I'll send it right away.
And if the tips above don't do the trick, and mornings are still fraught with anxiety and stress, a life coach may be able to help. Contact us to schedule a complimentary coaching consultation to determine if it makes sense to work together and create an individualized plan.