A Look Inside My Morning Routine
My morning routine has changed over the years. I am naturally a morning person and waking up early usually isn’t a struggle of mine. For years, I have started my days by getting tasks done and reviewing my day in my planner.
As life changes so do routines. Recently, my morning routine has changed quite a bit with Thea going back-to-school. I’m sure this sounds familiar to many of you reading this.
As I mentioned in How to Set up a Morning Routine, I have found that waking up earlier than everyone else in my family is the best thing I can do not only for myself, but also for them.
What My Morning Routine Gives to Me
Using this time for myself is essential. I use this time to sit alone with my thoughts and feelings (and of course, coffee). I practice gratitude, tidy up from the night before, review my planner to see what my day ahead has in store for me, and then get ready for the day. It allows me to enjoy a beautiful, graceful, and QUIET start to my day before having to transition to wife and mom mode.
This quiet time has dual purpose for me in the morning. It provides me peace and time to practice gratitude with stillness, but then also, uninterrupted focus and the ability to be productive as well.
Give Yourself Grace
I’ve typed up my typical morning routine and posted it below with comments, however, it’s not always done in this order. I am not perfect. Remaining flexible with what I need to do or get done is something I am constantly working on. I review my upcoming day and if I have additional spare time later in the day, I may adjust my morning routine to better fit my schedule. Some days I will focus on spending more time on the porch in the quiet, other days I cut my quiet time in half and work on chores. It all depends on the flow in my planner and the way I’m feeling in the morning and then I shift things around as needed.
I give myself a lot of grace as a recovering perfectionist; it’s important for my mental health.
My Morning Routine
Wake up at 6 a.m.
Sometimes I lay in bed until 6:15 a.m., but that time is already built in as a buffer because I know this about myself.
Pop out my night guard and clean it
Just keeping it real here girls.
Use the bathroom
Obviously.
Stretch
If you don’t understand this one, sell me your secrets. I literally stretch multiple times a day or I feel stiffer than a door nail.
Feed my four pets and give them some pets and love
If you don’t already know, I have two dogs and two cats. Dogs: Annie and Pepper. Cats: Mister Kitty and Ruby.
Pour myself some coffee
I take it with just a tad of stevia, hot, in a smooth mug preferably.
Drink a full cup of water while taking my meds
Welcome to the 30’s club.
Get myself ready
I’m already in the bathroom so I might as well, right? I get dressed, do my hair (if I do my hair), and make-up (again, if I do my make-up). I used to have to have the whole get-up done in order to be seen in public. What a relief to have loosened up on some of these expectations I placed on myself.
Let my dogs outside and sit on my porch alone
I guess I’m not technically alone. I sit outside with my dogs and cats while sipping on my coffee. My pets keep me quiet, sweet company. My favorite.
During my porch time, I practice gratitude and often just enjoy the scenery. I love my garden and the sounds of crickets before the sun comes out. It’s also a great time watching the sun light up the sky as the day begins (if timing allows with day light changing and what not).
Insert Adam here
Typically, at about 6:45 my husband will join me on the porch and we spend time together talking about anything and everything and sometimes nothing. Marriage. 💗
Gently wake up my daughter
If you’re a mom you probably already know you don’t want to wake a sleeping child. I pull her curtains open and make *just* enough noise to wake her up, say good morning, and leave her room with the door open.
Make my bed
Our bedrooms are upstairs so once I wake her up, it’s the perfect time to pop back into my room and make the bed. I don’t make it when I wake up obviously because my husband is still in it.
And I want to clarify, I don’t make my bed perfectly. I make it nice enough to make me feel a sense of comfort and make it look tidy and that’s good enough for me.
Sometimes he will make the bed, but I don’t expect him to do it. I do this for me and for my mental well-being, so if he does do it, it’s just a small, kind gesture from him to me that makes me smile and appreciate him a little more.
If I go back upstairs after Thea comes out of her room, I will make her bed. If not in the morning, I will sometime during the day when I’m inevitably back upstairs.
Laundry
Our laundry room is upstairs, so it makes sense to me after I wake Thea up and make my bed, to head into the laundry room. I either empty the dryer, switch the load, fill the washer, or a combination of those to set my future-self up for success. Typically, I would put the laundry away if I emptied the dryer, but some days I’d rather leave the basket at the end of my bed and get to it later. Whatever works for you. Either way, I see it as an accomplishment and as one small step in the right direction.
Make Thea breakfast
By the time my little babe makes her way downstairs (and sometimes she doesn’t and I have to go back upstairs to get her moving), I try to have her breakfast on the table. She is a creature of habit, so I know what she typically wants to eat in the morning. If she comes downstairs and I haven’t made something yet, I’ll let her decide and go from there. Again, whatever works at the time.
And let me be completely clear here, Thea prefers frozen pancakes, frozen waffles, or a yogurt in the morning. I’m not making a beautifully, home-cooked meal from scratch every morning for her. No comparing ourselves here and try to take that pressure off yourself; you’re doing great!
Now, if she actually ATE those foods, I might try to make that happen, but she is extremely picky with foods and doesn’t, so it takes that decision and pressure out of the equation.
Dishes
Dishes are a constant chore, aren’t they? I do dishes once to twice a day depending on how many we make. No one, at least that I know personally, likes to do dishes. However, they need to be done. This is a non-negotiable for me. I aim to empty the dishwasher and run the next load before taking Thea to school every morning.
Make myself breakfast
I don’t always make myself breakfast when I make her breakfast because I’m usually still enjoying my coffee so, I just fit it in a little later.
Get Thea ready for school
She uses the potty, gets dressed, brushes her teeth (me too), and I brush her hair. Then she usually stands on the bathroom vanity and looks in the mirror and we practice saying “I am smart, I am kind, I am beautiful.” We do this for three reasons: 1. They’re true. 2. Positive affirmations never hurt anyone. 3. We practice speech daily for her development. Win, win, win.
Leave
We leave the house by 7:50 to get Thea to school.
The End
My morning routine starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 7:50 a.m.
Find a routine that works for you! If spending almost 2 hours awake in the morning before you leave your house sounds like torture; don’t do it this way. If this sounds like it could be something you incorporate into your routine, try it.
Conclusion
Some may say “oh you’re so lucky,” but if that was your gut-reaction, I challenge you to dig deeper into why you feel it was luck that got us here. We have intentionally built our mornings and our lives into what we want them to be with dedication, determination, each other’s love and support, and me having a morning routine that works for me. 😉
If this is my reality, and it is (beautiful and simple, yet productive without being overwhelming), it can be your reality too. What does your morning routine look like? Is there anything you might change about your morning routine after reading this? Drop a comment below. 🤗
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