A Morning Routine
It Couldn’t Hurt!
If you hear “morning routine” and instantly get the guilts, take a deep breath. This is not another “to do” list or a fantastic idea that will turn your home into a perfect paradise. The truth is, you already have a morning routine. Maybe you have a multiple-snooze-alarm technique, maybe you let the dog out and wake up slowly over coffee, maybe you read a Psalm to check a box, or maybe your morning routine involves wrangling everyone else’s chaos. Whatever it is, it’s probably pretty similar day-to-day, with variations on weekends or holidays. Just take a look at it! And no judgments allowed while you’re looking: What do you really do every morning? What do you wish you could tell people you do every morning so you can look good/spiritual/sane/mature? What would set the entire house—including yourself—up for success? These answers are all going to be different.
What you really do every morning is probably based on a few habits and have-tos. Things like getting dressed, breakfast/coffee, pet care, child management—toddlers and teens have different needs—exercise, spiritual practices, etc. Just write down what happens on the regular. Maybe your morning routine needs to include a phone call to an aging parent, after which you will need a little decompression time? Maybe your kids are old enough to fix themselves a bowl of cereal but you still need to supervise whichever kid is in charge of dishes? The truth is, you’re probably getting more accomplished than you think.
Negative feelings usually creep in around the second question I posed: what do you think you should or have to do in order to be considered “insert your preferred adjective” in someone else’s eyes? Starting your day living up to the expectations of a person, culture, lifestyle, or trend that isn’t you or your direct family is not going to serve you. Ever. It will never make you happy and fulfilled. The mom next door does that “morning basket” trend with her children all neatly dressed? Good for her! The grandma next door has her morning chores done and is gardening by 8 am? Good for her! The woman who pulls out of the driveway with a “we have coffee at home” container on time every day? Good for her! Let it go. Let’s focus on you.
What do you really want?! Most people admit they would like to wake up without stress, accomplish a few chores or personal tasks, and launch into the day feeling ahead of the game, not two steps behind. Make a list—long or short, doesn’t matter—of everything that would help you feel ahead of the game. Can some of this be set up the night before? If so, add those items to your tooth brushing time. You brush your teeth at night, right? Well, now you have a “Tooth Brush and Tasks” time! Morning You needs Evening You to step it up just the tiniest little bit, and you’re going to brush your teeth anyway, so adding another five minutes will not overwhelm you.
Now, of that list, what is a true priority in your life right now and what is just wishful thinking? Be honest! Chat with your partner and prioritize together. For example, maybe you have a home business that involves a daily trip to the post office, which means your early mornings might be work-focused instead of laundry-and-cooking-chores. Maybe you have a newborn and your day starts at 5 am and there is no such thing as a routine, so there’s no sense in feeling guilty about that. Maybe you want to get up early and exercise but there’s no way you will do it without an accountability partner. Whatever you choose together is all that matters. The goals and tasks of other households, trends, or traditions are irrelevant. The priorities of your unique life are what you need to focus on to set yourself up for success. These are the ONLY things that are significant in a morning routine.
What will you do tomorrow morning?!
