Create a Simple Morning Routine

Your mornings can be the most productive time of your day.

Note: If you're just starting to dive into routines your Morning Routine starts the night before in your Evening Routine. So if you haven't read that yet go back and read Get Ready for Tomorrow Tonight. It's all about getting ready for today the night before.

If you don't have a morning routine in place you are selling yourself short. Women today have so much going on that morning routines are an absolute must for an organized day.

Morning routines are even more important when you add children into the mix. When you have to get the kids up and ready for school ALONG with getting yourself ready for whatever the day may bring that can make for a frazzled morning, unless you add in a morning routine.

The purpose of a morning routine is to set the house up so that as you move through the rest of the day things go more smoothly.

Get up a little earlier:..

If you have children you want to get up a little bit before they do. Often this can be the only time you have some “me” time during the day. It's your time to reflect, organize, and sit back with a cup of tea. I have to be ubber quiet in the mornings because as soon as my young daughter hears me she's up and wants a morning cuddle. Who can deny that?

If you have no children in home but could use a few extra minutes in the morning to work on a side hustle or a home project then do the same.

Set an earlier wakeup time. Start setting the alarm 15 minutes earlier once a week until you end up at your goal time.

Make Your Bed…

Making the bed in your room makes the whole room instantly look tons better. Work to make this a habit. For freshness sake don't make it as soon as you wake up. Get washed and ready for the day first so your bed has time to air. Open the window (if it's not raining) and throw back the covers during this time.

Making your bed puts a finishing touch on the bedroom, making it a place of solace rather than a disaster area. 

Pick up the Bathrooms…

Wipe down bathroom sinks and counters after brushing your teeth or putting on makeup. Put away any excess items on the counter. Hang towels to dry. Teach your children age appropriate chores doing the same. It's a habit that will stick with them to adulthood.

Laundry on your way out…

On your way towards the kitchen for breakfast put on a load of laundry.

After Breakfast…

Empty the dishwasher. This takes minutes. Time yourself to see how long it takes. After everyone has eaten breakfast have them put dishes in the sink or rinsed and into the empty dishwasher. Give the counters a quick wipe so your kitchen is tidy when you return to it.

Leave the home tidy…

As much as you can do your best to tidy certain things in the morning so they don't creep up on you later. In my morning routine I make the bed, tidy the bathroom, start a load of laundry and empty the dishwasher. These four things make such a difference for me. What makes the difference for you?

Don't do it alone...

Your family that is living with you should be a part of this whole morning routine thing. My husband wakes before anyone else in the house so he empties the dishwasher. If you have small children you'll notice the love mimicking you. They follow you around and attempt to “help” you. Harness that and train them to do simple tasks when they're young that gradually increase in difficulty until they are old enough to take over. Children can make their own beds, pick up toys, and take care of their hygiene tasks. Maybe there are pets to feed or walk. Setting and clearing the table.

Give each family member a chore to help with the morning tasks.

Your Personal Morning Routine

Contrary to popular belief your Morning Routine is not just for cleaning the house. It's also the time to set yourself up for the rest of your day. For me that means time with God, a little exercise, and checking my calendar what's going on for that day.

What My Morning Routine looks like

• Wake up get washed up and dressed.
• Make bed
• Set a load of laundry to wash
• Start coffee or boil water for tea while I empty the dishwasher.
• Make a light breakfast
• Morning Devotions
• Check calendar and start work day

This is my basic routine each day when I'm working from home. When my daughter was little my routine was very different. It included wakign up before she did and getting in my personal devotions.

When you go to make your own Morning Routine keep in mind that your goal is to kind of “open up the house” and prepare yourself to meet the day. Focusing on these two can help you plan your Simple Morning Routine.

Have a good morning!

Now off you go. Create that Morning Routine.