Let’s be honest—mornings can feel like a full-on sprint the second your feet hit the floor. And if you’re a mom, that sprint includes packing lunches, hunting for lost shoes, calming the chaos, and maybe sipping some lukewarm coffee (or reheating it five times).

It doesn’t matter if you’re a working mom, homeschool mom, or stay-at-home mom—mornings can be crazy.

What I’ve learned is this: mornings set the tone for the entire day.
A smoother morning usually means a smoother day. But when we start by rushing around and feeling behind, that stress and rushing around seem to stick all day with us. 

What if I told you the real key to better mornings actually starts the night before?

Before I homeschooled our kids, I began doing these routines when they were in two different schools with different drop-off times. That season was wild—but these simple habits helped. Now, even with homeschool and just a couple mornings we need to leave the house, these nighttime rhythms still give us peace, margin and even a few extra moments to connect as a family.

So if your mornings feel like a tornado, here are the three things we do in the evening that make all the difference in the morning.

1. Set Out Dishes for Breakfast

Every night, we lay out breakfast bowls, plates, cups or utensils for the next morning. It sounds small, but this 2-minute task gives us a visual cue: we’re ready for the day.

No more rummaging for a clean spoon or wiping down a sticky table while everyone’s already starving.

Bonus tip: If your kids are old enough, let them help. It teaches responsibility and gives them ownership in the morning rhythm. Plus, they can grab their own breakfast!

2. Fill Water Bottles and Prep Your Morning Drink

Hydration and caffeine? Yes, please.

We fill everyone’s water bottles and pop them in the fridge—cold and ready to go. You can also prep the coffee pot or smoothie ingredients.

We don’t drink coffee in the mornings, but we do have a natural energy drink—so I make sure that’s ready to go too. I also fill my own water bottle, because drinking water is the first thing I do each morning, because it’s that important. 

Whether it’s coffee, tea or a smoothie base—just having your drink prepped is one less decision and one more step toward a calm morning.

3. Tidy the Kitchen One Last Time

Our “kitchen close-down” is simple:

• Load the dishwasher

• Wipe the counters

• Do a quick sweep of the floor

This doesn’t mean the kitchen is spotless—but it’s reset.

I go to bed knowing I’ll wake up to a peaceful space instead of yesterday’s mess. And trust me, it makes getting breakfast out way less stressful. Walking into a clean kitchen in the morning is such a win for me. That right there, starts the day off calm.

Why This Matters

These three habits take less than 15 minutes total—but they’ve completely shifted how our mornings feel.

Instead of rushing around and raising my voice, I start with more calm. I’m not saying mornings are perfect (we still lose shoes and forget library books), but the tone is different.

I’m more grounded. The kids are more prepared. And the whole day flows better. Most days, we’re not rushing out the door—we’re moving at a good pace.

If your mornings feel chaotic, try picking just one of these habits to start with this week. Small steps lead to big peace.

I started with the kitchen reset, then added water bottles (actually my husband’s idea!), and finally, the breakfast dishes.

If you don’t think you have the time, most likely you do. Put your phone away 30 minutes before you go to bed and do this quick reset. Trust me this is worth it and will make your mornings about. 

💗 Want Help Creating More Peaceful Rhythms?

Check out my free guide, The Simplified Home, or take the next step and join me inside The Simplified Mom Method—where I help busy moms build routines that actually work for real life.