My Current Morning Routine
I’ve mentioned a few times that I am spending the first quarter of 2024 really reestablishing my habits and routines. I feel like I spent so much of last year spinning in circles and working so many hours but mostly feeling like I wasn’t accomplishing what I needed to or wanted to each day both personally and professionally.
I knew that my routines needed to change but I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to change them overnight so I needed to give myself time and space to not only create the habit but figure out the routines and rhythms that would help me to establish these habits in a way that created the life I wanted without burnout. I know myself well enough to know that I try to get too much done in a day and I didn’t want to leave myself feeling bad at the end either.
It’s been about 6 weeks since I started my new morning routine so I thought I would share it with you today. Before we get started I wanted to share a few disclaimers first.
This is not perfect. Some days I know that my body needs extra rest and so I hit snooze a few extra times or turn it off and wait for Joe’s alarm to go off an hour later.
I am not a morning person, but I know that I am a better person when I get up earlier than my family and have some quiet time to start my day. I never regret getting up and having that time alone.
Getting up earlier has helped me to sleep better which was my main concern. I am a horrible sleeper and I naturally stay up later but to get up earlier, I need to go to bed earlier and ti my surprise my body has been craving sleep earlier and getting more sound sleep than ever before.
My kids are 20, 12 and 10 — when they were toddlers no chance this would have been my schedule so just remember this as you read my routine, I may be in a different season than you are especially in motherhood and that is okay to need a routine but know that mine isn’t the best to be inspired by.
Okay, now that I mentioned those few things out of the way, let’s jump into my current routine…
5:15 AM My alarm goes off and I allow myself to wake up slowly (this is key for me getting up early, I don’t want to hop out of bed). Knowing I want to be up at 5:30, I set my alarm earlier to give me this time.
5:30 AM Get up, head to the the family room and turn on my lamps and diffusers, then make coffee to create a calm environment. Once I set the tone for my morning, I settle in with a blanket and my hot coffee.
5:45 - 6:30 AM Quiet time. I spend time journaling, reading my devotional, doing my Bible study and something that I started last year, I also read about 10 pages of a non-fictional leadership/personal development book.
6:30 AM Wake up the girls and let them take time getting up. I straighten up the living room and get changed into my workout clothes. I will check on the girls again and make sure they are getting up before heading to the garage
6:45 AM I do my at home workout. We have a Peloton bike (and I just ordered a treadmill) and I usually do 45 minutes total. Right now that looks like a 30 min cycle class and a 15 minutes strength or stretching class but this changes often.
7:30 AM The girls are usually ready and finishing up packing their lunches. I will make sure they don’t need my help with anything (usually if they do they come into the garage for help or to just chat), I make my bed while they finish up.
7:40 AM The girls and I head out for school drop off. The girls attend two different schools with two different drop offs so this takes me a bit of time in the morning but I have come to enjoy our morning chats while we drive and wait.
8:30 AM I get home from dropping the girls off and I will straighten up the house a bit if needed and then take a shower/get ready for the day. If I am taking photos for my website or have somewhere to be, I will fully do my hair and makeup but if I am just working at home I usually keep it simple to save time and let me skin/hair breathe.
Usually I am ready and working by 9:30 am which gives me about 6 hours to work until I need to leave to grab the girls from school. Like I said, this isn’t perfect and sometimes if I sleep in a bit more (I have Hypothyroidism so sometimes my body needs the extra rest or, sometimes I work pop ups at night and don’t get home until late so I sleep in) I will do my workout when I get home from school drop off but, this is the routine I am aiming for each day!
What is your morning routine? How do you start your day? I would love to hear your routines in the comments below!
