The importance of a morning routine and how to stick with it
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The Importance of a Morning Routine and How to Stick with it!
It’s morning, which means it is time to start another day! No worries, though, because we have our morning routine up and going to help us conquer the day like a pro.
A healthy morning routine helps prepare us for the day ahead. If you are rushing out of bed late, scrambling around, and trying to get everyone ready and out the door, your day will continue to be stressful and hectic. You shouldn’t have to feel drained before 9 am! FYI, being late stresses kiddos out also. Hectic mornings can set a bad mood for the day for everyone. So let’s talk about how we can calm the chaos and start the day right!
What does a morning routine look like?
As a parent, the morning can be sacred. Getting up an hour before your kids get up to enjoy peace energizes the soul and sets a healthy mood for the rest of the day. Is that realistic? Yes! But it takes a little effort on your part, but in the end, it’s completely worth it! Can you imagine what the day would look like if you started with less chaos? That day would be so beneficial for the whole family. Did you know that kids that are less stressed in the mornings perform better in school? So let’s start the habit of creating a healthy morning routine!
How to start a morning routine!
Starting a healthy morning routine starts the night before. Yep! You heard me. You must also create an evening routine. As the evening winds down, make a calming cup of tea instead of that extra glass of wine, sit down, take a deep breath, and plan out the next day. Once you get into the habit of planning your next day, it only takes a few minutes, but those few minutes help you tremendously. Having a daily plan enables you to be more productive, less stressed, and in control of the day.
- Write out your daily plan the night before. (Learn more about daily planning).
- Get into the habit of going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning (Learn more about how to become a morning person).
- Avoid electronics late into the evening.
- Get up before your kids, and give yourself quiet time to prepare for the day.
- Avoid electronics during your morning routine, including your phone.
- Make sure you find a good self-care ritual you can do every morning. Something you look forward to!
- DON’T hit the snooze button! That snooze is counterproductive. It sends mixed signals to your internal clock causing you to feel more tired throughout the day.
Why is a morning routine so important?
- Increases productivity
- Decreases stress
- Improves sleep
- Improves overall health
- Sets a positive mood for the day
Put yourself first! Avoid your phone during your morning routine.
How to stick with your morning routine.
Just like with anything you want to stick with. Create that habit. Get up at the same time every morning, and go to bed at the same time every night. That even means on weekends, my friend. What else do you need to do to get yourself out of bed before your kids worth it?
- First off, start slow. Take small steps to make significant changes. If you are not used to getting up earlier, only take 15 minutes the first few days; add time as you go. Find your sweet spot. Maybe you want to do half an hour of yoga and then 10 minutes of quiet coffee time. Then get up 40 minutes before the kids. Then if you’re going to add having a shower after yoga, get up one hour before kids. You get the idea. This brings me to my next point.
- Find your morning ritual; what is essential to you and will encourage you to get up in the morning?
- Know your “why,” why you want to get up before your kids or to start getting up earlier.
- Give yourself some grace. Habits don’t happen overnight; all we can do is try our best and not give up. Strive to be consistent, but don’t throw in the towel if you miss your alarm one morning, or your child is sick, and you were up all night, so you stayed in bed all morning.
- The more consistent you are, the easier it will become. Like in the last point, don’t feel like a failure if it takes more than a few mornings to start liking getting up earlier.
- Make your morning routine your own. Please keep it simple, and don’t feel it has to be perfect. The end goal is to give yourself some time in the morning to prepare for the day with less chaos. You also don’t need to feel like you have to start loving yoga or meditation. Maybe your morning routine consists of taking a long warm shower in peace, getting dressed, putting on makeup, and doing your hair.
Morning Rituals
Here are some fun ideas for morning rituals. Play around with them and see what works for you. Or find another something that helps you start the day off on the right foot!
- Exercise
- Yoga/Mediation
- Stretch
- Taking a bath or shower
- Sitting on the deck and drinking coffee or tea
- Journal
- Read
- Practice deep breathing
- Go for a walk outside
- Watch the sunrise
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Listen to music
Hello!
I am Leah. Welcome to The Loving Cedar LLC. Here is where you will find parenting tips and tricks to help you simplify life.
