9 Ways to Make Over Your Morning

 

Before You Head Out the Door

7. Do a five-minute tidying sweep

Returning after work to a house that's in complete disarray can ruin your evening. So it's worth taking a few minutes to place cereal bowls and coffee cups in the dishwasher and gather up the newspaper, toys, and hairbrushes, suggests Coryanne Ettiene, founder of HousewifeBliss.com (and a mom of three). No time to put everything away? Stash items in a basket by the door, then empty it when you get home.

8. Check your email last

Resist the urge to log on with your first cup of coffee--even if you're checking "just one thing," says Laura Stack, a productivity expert in Highlands Ranch, Colo. That one thing can easily turn into five, and before you know it, you're behind schedule. Stack recommends getting yourself completely ready (eating breakfast, showering, brushing your teeth, etc.) and then firing up the computer in those last few minutes--but only if there's extra time.

9. Show your family some love

When Angela Sarafin was growing up, her parents always took a moment to hug and kiss her goodbye before leaving for the office. Today, as a marriage and family therapist in Washington, D.C., Sarafin advises her clients to do the same. Wish your husband luck on his presentation or give your daughter an extra squeeze before soccer tryouts. "If you know you have someone rooting for you, it gives you strength for the day," says Sarafin.


 

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