Every weekend, before her workweek starts, she irons and prepares every outfit she plans to wear for the week. Once everything is pressed, she assembles each full outfit - slacks, blouse, blazer - and hangs them together in order from Monday through Friday. Beneath each hanging outfit, she places the corresponding pair of shoes so they're ready to slip on.
Between getting breakfast on the table, coaxing kids out of bed, and shuffling everyone out the door for early morning sports practices, carpools, and work commitments, I rely on systems to keep our mornings moving. Coffee is always in hand, but smooth routines are what make the difference. Over the years, I've learned that small organizational "hacks" can make or break a morning, things like hooks for backpacks, a designated shoe zone, or preplanned breakfasts.
For years, packing was my biggest travel stressor. I'm the type of person who always wants to have the right outfit for every moment, and I love having options-both of which don't exactly translate to lightness and efficiency. There were countless trips where I either hated all the outfits I brought with me or I'd find myself lugging around more (and heavier) bags than was necessary.
