My Morning Routine

If you’ve read this blog for a bit, you know that I love to talk about morning routines. Years ago I read a short ebook called What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. (I’m a sucker for a productivity or success hack!) And then I wrote a post called What the Happiest Moms Do Before Breakfast to put my own spin on the info.

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Why is a morning routine important?

Because when you’re a mom (indeed if you’re anyone!), your time is no longer your own once the household wakes up. From the moment hubby and kids get up, my day is about serving others.

My early mornings give me much-needed (and when I say need, I mean it!) alone time. As an introvert, alone time is the gas for my engine. Mornings are perfect for those “important but not urgent” tasks that are all too easy to skip.

In addition, a good morning routine sets the tone for the day. It gives you time to fill your spiritual, emotional and physical bucket before demands are placed on you.

So I thought I would share what my morning routine looks like lately. I’d love to hear more about yours in comments.

(Note: at this moment my morning routine doesn’t include exercise. But I plan on adding that back in soon. I recently started a Facebook group for daily exercise accountability. If that would be helpful to you, go here to join! We’re a friendly bunch of women just cheering each other on for moving our bodies every day.)

My Morning Routine

I got up at 5:30 today. This is not my normal rising time, but Daylight Savings Time (UGH!) has me in bed early and up earlier than usual.

I go to the kitchen, pour water in the Mason jar that holds my “instant” oatmeal then microwave it. (Last week I prepped oatmeal for a week so I wouldn’t have to think about it. I’m all about reducing decision fatigue and saving time in the morning. Eating the same thing for breakfast is a brain-saving productivity hack. If you’re curious, I did a video about making instant oatmeal packets here.) I drink a big glass of water.

Then I brew a lungo shot of espresso in my Nespresso machine. (This was a very smart purchase that has paid for itself over and over. It keeps me out of coffee shops!)

Then I pick up a journal. I’ve used a few different ones. Right now I’m loving The I Am Journal. It’s a twice-daily journal that prompts me to write down my big goal, 3 ways I’m going to work on that goal today, affirmations, and then in the evening gratitude.

Then I read for a bit. If I don’t have a good book I’m working on, I might get in trouble and start scrolling my phone. So, I make sure I always have a great book to read! (Breaking a bad habit is more about replacing it with another habit. See more tips about mom’s cell phone addiction here.)

I just finished The Road Back to You (currently obsessed with the enneagram). Also re-reading The Big Leap.

I look at my calendar and write (for me) the perfect to-do list. I heard this bit from Ryan Holiday who says he got it from Tim Ferriss.

I use an index card and a sharpie. I write down 5-6 things and that’s IT. The reason this is brilliant is because it forces you to write down the most impactful things. If we make to-do lists with too many items on it. we might choose the low-hanging fruit and check those easier, quicker items off first. Limiting the list to 5-6 forces us to do the important stuff. Also, having leftover items on a list makes us feel bad. And checking off all the things makes us feel good.

I might also work on something that simplifies my life overall. Like a business strategy. Or a monthly menu plan. This is what’s so important about early morning quiet time. It’s those types of things that are hard to do with noisy, interrupting kids around. It’s “deep work” for a mama.

That’s about it! Tell me more about your morning routine!