This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
Jamie
I feel like I am not qualified to tell you how to spend your morning, but I am going to tell you how I spend mine. My morning literally sets the tone for the remainder of my day, week and eventually just sets the tone for “me”. Seriously, I’m that passionate about how I use the first two hours of my day, everyday… well almost everyday.
I’m a work-from-home mom of 3 kiddos under eight, and I have to have my day under control, before my day has control of me! My morning consists of a few things that I don’t compromise on, and a few things that I’m flexible with. It’s important for me to have this balance.
5:00 a.m. – Wake up
I wake up an hour and a half before my kids need to be up. In 2020 I am vowing not to “snooze”! I get dressed in workout clothes, this helps me be more likely to get my 30 minutes of exercise in after school drop-off. Depending on my schedule for the day, I apply some makeup and/or make my hair presentable. Doing just a little something to my hair and face, really improves my productivity for the day. I’m sure there’s some research or something that backs that up, but for me, it just helps my attitude when I accidentally walk by a mirror or see my reflection in a window!
5:15 a.m. – Water, coffee & Jesus
While my coffee brews, I drink a 1/2 liter bottle of room temperature water and pray. This sounds a little weird as I type it, but honestly, if I pray for my day and other things on my heart while I chug water, it distracts me and helps me clear my head.
While my coffee cools, I fill out my gratitude journal. This is something I’ve done for a while now and I love it! I linked the one I use, but it can be done in a plain ol’ notebook too. I write down three things I’m grateful for, usually from the previous day. Since I have been doing this, I have found myself looking for things throughout my day and recognizing them as blessings from the Lord. Obviously, this has improved my perspective on even the most difficult situations.
5:25 – Intentional time with God
This is arguably the most important time of my day. If I skip it, and yes I have skipped it, I am “off” all day. What I actually “do” with this time varies. This is one of the things I’m flexible with. Sometimes I only read my Bible, sometimes I write scripture and reflect, sometimes I read part of a devotional, sometimes I write in my journal, and sometimes I do a mix of all of it. I try to go into this time without an exact plan, and be expectant to hear from the Lord on the specifics.
Though I am flexible, something I am sure to do each day during this chunk of time, is write positive affirmations about myself. This felt super strange at first, but it’s so powerful that I’ve adopted it as one of my favorite things. (It’s based in scripture & backed by research – I think:). I always write at least 10 affirmations about my life. I write them in statements in the present-tense, as if they are true for my life now. For example a couple of mine are: “I am debt-free.” “I boldly share Jesus.” “I fuel my body with actual food.” “I drink 70 oz of water a day.” “I earn money for my family.” “I wear a two-piece swimsuit.” “My children respect me.” You get the point, these are things that I am affirming for my present/future self, and most days it’s the same 10 things. It causes my brain to adopt the ideas, and subconsciously work toward them by developing a plan throughout the days, weeks and months until they’re achieved. Anyway, you may think it’s wacky and that’s okay. It works for me!
One other piece that is consistent during this block of time is my overall posture. By posture, I mean my physical and mental state. I sit in the same spot on my couch, it’s quiet, my mind is awake and full of anticipation for the day.
6:00 – Just for fun
This is something new for me. I have set a goal in 2020 to read 10 books just for fun. In 2019 I only read 2, but I hadn’t carved out a special time for reading, I just read when I was waiting in car line or for an appointment. I read non-fiction personal growth, christian non-fiction and business books mostly. I’ll make a separate post with my book list for 2020, stay tuned!
6:15 – Kid prep
This is the calm before the storm. During these 15 minutes, I check the calendar, again (I always check it the night before), make lunches if needed, pack snacks, fill water bottles, find shoes and start breakfast (we have a set breakfast menu so there’s no arguing – I’ll share that in a separate post).
6:30 – Rise and shine
When breakfast is almost finished, I start waking up the big kids. Penelope (4) usually hops out of bed, but Clark (7) needs a little time. He’s responsible to take care of several things upstairs before coming down for breakfast, so I give him a few minutes.
6:30 – 7:30 – Mom and kid time
During this time I am fully with my kids. Helping dress, doing hair, brushing teeth, and balancing it all, especially after Daisy (1) wakes up around 7:00. I can be present with them, free from distractions, all because I had “me” time doing things that fed me mentally and spiritually. I’m “full” by this time, so now I have something to “give” them.
Before I started being intentional with my morning, I would just “fake happy” until I got them to school. I had no idea how toxic that behavior was for all aspects of my life until I made a change.
Jamie
7:30 – 7:45 Drive to school
I enjoy this time with my kids so much, partly because I have a captive audience, just being honest. I use this time to give them positive affirmations about themselves, praise them for great choices they’ve made, make after-school or weekend plans that give them something to look forward to and pray with them. I try very hard to keep all of our interactions positive to set them up for a great attitude throughout the day. There is nothing worse than having to fuss or spank before school (yes we spank). It has happened, but I avoid it at all costs. I give a ton of grace in the mornings, it’s what I find works for us.
7:45 – 8:00 Drive home
Driving home, it’s just Daisy and me and we J-A-M! We crank the music up loud and worship! It always puts a smile on my face, and I think she likes it too! I also take this driving time to drink more water. (I usually try to hit my 9 am goal on my water bottle on the drive, I linked the one I use and LOVE!)
8:00 – 8:30 Smoothie and silence
I always find it remarkable how quiet the house is when I return from dropping the big kids off. It’s always a silence that catches me off guard even though I expect it. Maybe it’s because the house was filled with noise and chaos moments earlier, or because there’s usually partially drank cups of milk on the table, the syrup bottle, or a pajama top laying around. Whatever the reason, it’s always a moment that makes me think about the big kids and pray for their day just one more time!
During this time, I make a quick green smoothie (I make the smoothie packs for the week ahead of time, I linked the recipe) and pick up toys/straighten up the house, make my bed and spray my sheets. I also get Daisy dressed for school if it’s a school day for her. If not, we play!
This is the time of day where I need to start being more structured. I am in the process of setting laundry goals (don’t laugh, I absolutely loathe it) and dishwasher goals. I need to carve out time to do a load of each of these detestable things every morning to keep up with them, I’ll admit, chores are not my strength!
Anyway, if it’s a school day for Daisy, I’ll do my 30 minute neighborhood walk/jog after I drop her off. Otherwise, I’ll get it in during nap time, and walk/jog up and down our street with the baby monitor. Unfortunately this is the exercise I’m limited to for now, (I have a severe case of Diastasis Recti) but I’m making the best of it!
8:30 – 9:00 – my workday begins
I officially start my “work” day once the kiddos are off to school and/or Daisy is busy with something. This is when I check my calendar (for the third time) and also check my phone for the first time all morning. I limit my phone use to the “camera only” during our mornings together. The kids are screen-free all week (until Thursday night, we don’t have school on Fridays) so it makes sense for me too while I spend the mornings with them.
So that’s about it in a nutshell. Every single morning doesn’t look exactly like this, but I am a little crazy about my mornings, so I’m pretty consistent with it.
I hope you got some tips and things to try during your mornings and enjoyed learning more about how I’m wired and how I mange our busy home. It’s never perfect but always progress and that’s how I measure success!
If you have any questions or want me to elaborate more on any aspects of my routine, don’t hesitate to comment below. Be on the lookout for more posts similar to this to help start your new year off with intention!
Thanks for stopping by, Jamie xo