Establishing a Morning Routine

Do you struggle to get going in the mornings? Learn how to establish a morning routine that works FOR you.

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I’ve never been a morning person.  I am a night owl through and through.  And although I get it honest, it can be difficult when morning comes and I’m stumbling around the house in a stupor because I stayed up too late the night before.

Since I don’t naturally {or ever} spring out of the bed with enthusiasm in the mornings, it’s been imperative for me to establish a morning routine.  Even though I’m not a morning person, I am a to-do list person, so I love the idea of a morning routine.  But, even if you aren’t a list-maker type of person, I think you should read on and give this concept a try.

The Benefits of a Morning Routine

1.  Sets the tone for your day

Have you ever been sitting in your pajamas at 11 am and wondered what in the world you have done with your morning?  I know I have and I hate the way that feels.  It affects my mood and I struggle to get myself out of it and turn my day around.  Since I implemented a morning routine, those days are fewer than before and I feel like my home is running more smoothly.  It feels good to start out your day on the right foot.

2.  Dreaded tasks become habit

There are some tasks that I dread and will avoid if I can.  Procrastination is not good for me, but I am certainly guilty of it at times.  Since establishing a morning routine, many of those “dreaded tasks” have actually become habit.  I did not make my bed consistently before adding that task to my morning routine.  Now I feel weird if it isn’t made.  I have also learned that it’s so much better to get some of those tasks over first thing, so I can move on to the things I enjoy more.

3.  Get things done before energy fades

Even though I’m not a morning person, I do have more energy and determination to get things done early in the day.  Whether you work outside of the home or have things to do later in the morning, a morning routine helps you get some of the important tasks of the day done before your are totally wiped out and ready to crash.  I’ll talk a little about evening routines next week, but let’s face it, the afternoon slump is real!

4.  Have time to catch up

Sometimes even the best morning routines just don’t happen to completion.  And that’s okay.  When we have a schedule to keep and I am running behind for a whole myriad of reasons, there are times when I can’t complete everything in my morning routine before we have to leave the house.  By jumping right into my morning tasks, it’s not the end of the world if I can’t get every thing done right away.  I have the rest of the day to get everything done, so it seems more manageable.

Determining Your Ideal Morning Routine

I was a little overwhelmed when I decided that I needed to add some structure to my mornings.  I knew I needed some routine, but I wasn’t sure where to begin.

Asking yourself some basic questions can help you think through ways that your morning routine can help you.  Your morning routine should aid in your success.  You don’t serve your routine, it should serve you.

Here are some things to ask yourself.

• What do you HAVE to accomplish each day?
• Anything else you would LIKE to accomplish each day?
• What are things you can do in the morning that will help you accomplish these things?
• How much time do you actually have in the mornings?

Also, think about the season of life that you are in.  Your morning routine may look different in the summer versus the fall.  My routine will likely look different when my children are older and in school full time.

Finally, don’t bite off more than you can chew.  I would keep your morning routine to about 5-6 tasks.  When brainstorming, you may start off with more, but I’d work hard to hone in on your highest priorities in the morning.  When my lists are longer than that, I almost never complete them.  Then, I am frustrated and discouraged.

My Sample Morning Routine

It took me a few months to finalize my morning routine, but this seems to be working fairly well right now.  I keep this list up in my phone so that I can re-focus if I get sidetracked or distracted.

1.  Unload dishwasher
I hate this task, so I try and do it first thing.  To motivate me to get it done quickly, I drink my cup of coffee after I unload the dishwasher.

2.  Start a load of laundry
I cannot keep up with laundry unless I do at least 1 load per day so I might as well get it going.

3.  Clean sink
I load up the dishes and clean the sink once breakfast is over.  I don’t do a major scrub down each day, but I like to start my day with an empty and clean sink

4.  Shower/dress/get ready
I prefer to get ready right after waking, but sometimes this doesn’t happen.  If not, then I dress once the kids are ready (usually right after breakfast).  Sometimes I let them watch a TV show so I can get ready quickly.  Showering in the evenings has helped with this too.

5.  Make beds
The kids make their beds after they are dressed (Brady still needs some assistance but we are getting there).  I make my bed after I am ready for the day.  Our home feels much more organized when we make our beds.

My current morning routine is certainly not glamorous and it doesn’t always happen perfectly, but it has been a huge step in helping my household and morning run a little more smoothly.

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Here are some other posts about routines that might be helpful:

Establishing an Evening Routine

5 Must-Have Routines for a More Peaceful Home

Simplify Bedtime with a Kids’ Evening Routine

Calm the Chaos with a Kids’ Morning Routine

If you are looking for more inspiration and/or tips on how to start your day well, then check out Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Mornings course.  This course has been a huge success and very popular.  It’s also very affordable too!  Crystal offers a money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied.  I hope you’ll consider it!

Do you have a morning routine?

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