Morning Routines
If you’re anything like me, mornings can be difficult! I am naturally a Night Owl and would prefer to stay up later and sleep later rather than get to bed early and wake up early. I thrive and function at my best this way, I always have! Most of the jobs that I have worked as a Nanny have required getting up early, which for me also means getting to bed at a decent hour because I need sleep! Some people can push through on six hours or so, but I have always needed eight. Seven is my absolute minimum in order to feel well. This of course has required extra discipline to get to bed on time on work nights so that I log enough sleep. Even still, I am not one to jump out of bed ready to go! I need a little bit of time to ease into the day, and I definitely need breakfast and a cup of coffee.
Some people are quite the opposite where they thrive in the morning and naturally wake up early and get to bed early. We are all wired differently and have our own strengths and weaknesses. What works for one person may be quite the opposite for another.
I have found that routine can at least make things easier no matter which category you fall into! If you have small children, it is quite likely that they are up bright and early ready to take on the day! I have cared for the occasional child that is the exception to this, but typically speaking young children are early risers! This may be a struggle for you if you are a Night Owl like me. So, what can you do to make the morning a little bit easier? Setting things out the night before can do wonders for a less rushed and stressful morning! Do you have an important meeting to be at first thing in the morning? Choosing your outfit, shoes, and accessories the evening before can go a long way in making the morning run more smoothly! The little things, such as not rushing around looking for your black heels or a sweater to match your outfit actually add up to being big things when that 6am alarm goes off! If your child is school age, or is heading to daycare, doing the same thing with their clothes is a great idea! You can even make it fun by having them help choose the night before as part of their evening routine. Having their lunches packed as well as yours if you work outside of the home can save so much time in the morning, even allowing you to possibly set that alarm a little bit later.
Getting into the habit of checking your child’s school bags to see if there are permission slips, calendar events, etc the night before will prevent you from rushing around last minute in the morning. If it is something that can be done in the evening, just getting it out of the way can give you a lot of peace of mind. Even setting the coffee pot so that all you have to do is plug it in and start it can be time saving.
If you are fortunate enough to be the first one up in the morning, and actually have some quiet time to get the day going, consider using this time to read while you enjoy your coffee, or journal. Some people find morning meditation to be helpful. It is even a good time to read a devotional and write in a prayer journal. Whatever it is that starts your day off with peace is great. If your children are your alarm clock, waking up before it even goes off, there are a couple of options depending on what helps you to feel your best. You could set some time aside in the evening just before bed for these types of quiet time routines, or if you are able, you could set your alarm 30 minutes before the kids usually wake up so that you can have this time for yourself.
Routines become habits and good habits set us up for success! The whole tone of your day can change depending on how you start your morning. The great thing about establishing habits like this is that even if it is a rough or bad day (we all have them!) you will have the tools and skills to be able to navigate it and make it through much easier than if you are flying by the seat of your pants with inconsistent routines and always feeling rushed.
Little changes add up, so start with choosing one or two that you think might help make your mornings easier and give them a try! Take a little time to see what works for you and makes you feel your best!