It never fails. Fifteen minutes before the alarm clock starts ringing in your ears, Ninja the cat pounces on your belly to let you know he's hungry. You nudge him off the bed but he jumps right back on and stares you in the face until you get up. Your spouse is lying by your side snoring loudly. The kids are sound asleep in their rooms. And you're groggy.

There's so much to do and so little time. Feed the cat, make the coffee, prepare breakfast, get the kids ready for school, bag their lunches and ... and what about you? If it's not casual Friday, you have to do your hair, do your makeup, iron your blouse — all while hurrying the kids along before the school bus arrives. And the car is running on empty. Argh!

If that sounds like your morning, you need a better routine to save time and get a relaxing start to your day. Rushing every morning is no fun. t's chaotic and stressful. Too many mad-dash mornings are sure to send you spiraling out of control.

Sit down, take a deep breath and read the following tips to de-stress and skim time off your morning routine.
Things to Do the Night Before

• Keep a to-do list and check it every night. This will keep any surprises from popping up in the morning.
• You need your coffee in the a.m., but you don't need to be fumbling around with water and coffee filters. Invest in a programmable coffee-maker and set it to start brewing a few minutes before you get up. What could be better than awakening to the aroma of fresh hot java?
• Fill cereal bowls and put them in the refrigerator for younger children. Cereal with a banana and milk is packed with nutrients. You could also instruct older children to make toast or oatmeal.
• Get a battery-operated automatic feeder for your dog or cat. Cats are notorious for getting in your face when they're hungry. When your kitty gets used to the feeder he'll stop pouncing on you every morning.
• Decide which outfit you will wear to work. Pick out everything — outerwear, underwear, shoes, and accessories. Make sure you clothes are laundered and ironed. Do the same for your children, or better yet, teach them to do this for themselves when they are old enough, and check their clothes each night toavoid any more surprises in the morning.
• Prepare the children's school lunches. Do all of your slicing and dicing when you're unhurried. Cut carrots and fruit into bite-sized pieces and toss them into reusable containers. They make a good wholesome side dish to accompany any sandwich.
• If you're not a morning person, you can become one by going to bed 30 minutes to an hour earlier than your normal schedule.
• Have the kids shower or bathe at night rather than in the morning.
  
• Make sure the kids have put their books and homework in their backpacks.
• Turn off all electronics one hour before bedtime to reduce stimulation. This will help you wind down and fall asleep quickly.
• If you have little ones headed for daycare, pack their diaper bags and leave them ready to go in the same place each night so you know exactly where that bag will be when you need to leave in the morning.

Things to Do in the Morning

• Get up 30 minutes earlier. (No big deal. You went to bed earlier, remember?) Use this time to read, meditate or go for a walk.
• Take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else. There's a reason why flight attendants instruct you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before putting it on your child. If you're not at your optimum, things can go awry.
• Inhale deeply and exhale. When you're calm and focused, you're more aware of your surroundings. You might notice some small changes that could make a big difference in your morning.
• Turn on the TV or the computer for no more than 15 minutes to get the traffic or weather report. If the TV or computer is a distraction, keep them off limits in the morning.
• Voicemail is great for morning phone calls, especially when someone is calling just to chat. You don't have to answer every time the phone rings.

Things to Do the Week Before

• Stock up on groceries. The last thing you want to do is roll out of bed to find out that you're out of milk. Either spouse can do the grocery shopping. It need not fall on one person's shoulders all the time (unless you're a single parent).
  
• Place all medication and/or vitamins in a weekly pill box. Do this for each family member and clearly label the pill box with the family member's name. Fill the individual boxes up every Sunday. This will make it easy and convenient for everyone to remember to take their vitamins and medicine.

Miscellaneous Time Savers

• Get a low-maintenance hairdo. Try an attractive style or cut that won't take up a lot of your time in the morning.
• Keep a key-holder by your door, so you won't waste time looking all over for your keys in the morning. Just don't forget to actually put your keys on the key holder.
• Never let your gas fall below one-quarter full. Fill up on your way home from work rather than in the morning.
• Designate a place where each family member will store their backpack, briefcase, wallet, purse, or ID tags. You don't want to waste precious time looking for things that are probably hidden in plain sight.
• Keep a basket by the door to hold umbrellas, hats or gloves for easy access.

Don't start your day off with a steaming pile of stress. Like a Boy Scout, you should always be prepared. It will save time and aggravation during your morning routine.