Back to school time is often a great opportunity for families to get a handle on their morning routines by minimizing the morning rush.  Use these tips to help you get started.

Make breakfast simpler and quicker by scheduling daily themes.  For example, make Monday’s egg day, Tuesday’s waffle day, Wednesday’s yogurt and fruit day, etc.  Breakfast schedules make grocery shopping easier, prep time quicker, and are a great way of teaching and introducing routines to kids.

Set out all breakfast non-perishables and utensils the night before.  Things like cereal, vitamins, bowls, spoons, cups, etc can easily be set out on the counter and table the night before and make the morning breakfast prep calmer and easier.

For parents who can’t start their day without a cup of coffee, go ahead and make the coffee the night before and set the timer so it is ready when you wake up.  If your coffee pot doesn’t have a timer, go ahead and just add the water and coffee so that all you have to do is hit the brew button when you get up.

Teach kids to rinse their own dishes and place them in the dishwasher.  If they are too young to rinse their own dishes, try having them at least place them in the sink or have an older sibling help.

Try and pack as much of the kids’ and your lunches the night before.  Sandwiches can be made the night before and placed in the refrigerator and all non-perishable snacks and fruits can easily be placed in the lunch bag the night before as well as napkins and milk money.

Last but not least, use a chore chart to get the kids involved as much as possible, and to seal the deal add all of these tips to your daily routines.
Excerpt from “Our Busy Family Life” by Polly

Cybex International’s high quality fitness lines are the result of over forty years of experience in the sports medicine, human performance and rehabilitation fields. Cybex’s commitment to excellence has resulted in Cybex being the leader in innovation, who consistently sets the fitness industry’s standards for customer satisfaction and ease of operation.

Cybex’s unique design elements ensure you will feel a sense of simplicity and ease on every piece of Cybex.  Superior ergonomics, easy to read instructions, intuitive adjustments and a comfortable fit for individuals of all sizes provide the user with a non-intimidating enjoyable workout experience.

Professional athletes all over the world ask for Cybex equipment by name.  The YMCA’s different Cybex lines will provide an exceptional fitness training experience for all our members from the teens through active older adults.

Sometimes the usual or the regular routine can be disrupted in life.  Here at the Y over the last few weeks this has been true as the Y Fitness Center renovations have been occurring.  But, despite how uncomfortable it may be to change, a little variety in your workout habits will often help lead to fitness success.  Trying  a new exercise routine or a new fitness class or even exercising at a different time of day can often invigorate a stale exercise regimen. Over the next few weeks many opportunities to further experience a change in your workouts with the arrival of new equipment and the re-organization of the facilities will occur.  Try to approach your workouts in the new facilities with excitement and an open mind.  You might just lose a few pounds or gain some strength from the change.