This post is sponsored by Jimmy Dean but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

My first baby starts Kindergarten this fall. I know that technically means I shouldn’t be referring to him as my baby anymore, but I might be in a bit of denial that the last five years have truly gone that fast. We made the decision to put Jase in a pre-kindergarten summer school program that our district offered to help prepare him, and us, for the transition of starting full day kindergarten. I am so glad we made that decision because it gave us a good month to learn and adjust to what having a child in school would be like.

The biggest adjustment was our morning routine. Gone were the days of slow and (sometimes) easy mornings, and insert the days of trying to get out the door on time. I quickly learned that getting out the door on time all relied on the ease of our morning routine. After testing it out this summer, here are my tried and true tips for a morning routine to get out the door on time.

Your morning routine starts the night before. This might seem crazy to you, but it’s true! The key to a successful morning routine, especially when you are pressed for time and have to get out the door is what you do the night before to prepare. For me, having a clean kitchen to start the day is a must. Attempting to prepare breakfast, lunches, waters, etc. with a messy kitchen is stressful. I can’t find anything, I can’t use a sink full of dishes, and it just gets me in a bad mood. So it’s worth it to take extra time the night before, push through being tired, and go to bed with a clean kitchen. I also pack bags, snacks, set water bottles on the counter, and make sure clothes are set out the night before to limit time spent looking around for things we need to get out the door. It makes the morning run smooth and limits stress!

Start your day before the kids. This isn’t always easy, sometimes my kids wake up earlier than they should, but I do my best to start the day before the kids. This gives me time to wake up before being bombarded with demands from little people. I can take a shower, I can get ready, and I can soak up a few moments of peace before the chaos. This truly makes a difference in my stress level when getting out the door in the morning.

Have ready to go breakfasts. Getting a good protein packed breakfast can be one of the hardest parts of a morning on the go. I love the Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles® for this reason. Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles breakfast cups help me to enjoy a fresh made breakfast with 23g of protein, made with two real eggs, cheese, and sausage. They can be heated up quickly before we leave the house, perfect for those busy mornings on the go. Since my mornings have gotten busier, and I’m on the go, I need protein-rich breakfasts to help push me through the morning. You can find the Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles® at your local Walmart in the refrigerated section or you can conveniently add them to your Walmart Grocery Pickup order.

Get the kids in on the routine. My kids thrive on routine, particularly Jase. I’m not one to have tight schedules, because I don’t like the pressure if I get off a little. But having a general flow to the morning, and helping the kids know what to expect helps a ton. With school, we have to stick to a time limit more, so letting the kids learn responsibility throughout the morning has been crucial. I created a morning routine chart for the kids to jump in and be a part of getting ready! This helps them know what to expect, and it helps me to get everyone out the door in time. It’s made all the difference!  The need to get out the door on time for school really has changed the way our mornings look but being prepared with a morning routine has made all the difference. I know you have heard me talk about routines a lot, I’ve shared them quite a bit, but I truly can tell you they work! Coming from someone who loves to go with the flow, I have learned that having a routine or structure for the kids has made it easier on mom and kids! Especially when it comes to a morning routine on the go. Getting out the door with kids is no joke!

What are your tried and true tips for a morning routine that helps you get out the door in time?