A surprising amount of running late is actually:

“Where is the thing?”

Where’s your backpack?

Where are your shoes?

Where’s the library book?

Where did you put your jacket?

Where’s that form?

Where are my keys?

You don’t necessarily need a fancy mudroom to fix this.

You need one designated launching spot.

The Hack

Pick an area near the door your family uses most.

It might be:

A bench.

A basket.

A few hooks.

A shelf.

A corner.

Then make one rule:

If it needs to leave the house, it goes here.

Backpacks.

Shoes.

Jackets.

Library books.

Returns.

Packages that need mailing.

Dance bags.

Anything unusual needed tomorrow.

If I suddenly remember at 8 p.m. that something needs to go with us tomorrow?

I don’t tell myself:

“Don’t forget this.”

I physically put it at the launch pad.

Now tomorrow morning doesn’t require remembering.

We just collect what’s already there.

Bonus Mom Hack

Give yourself a spot there, too.

Keys, sunglasses, purse—whatever you’re usually searching for while telling everyone else to hurry.

Because sometimes Mom is the one who can’t find her shoes.