Well, the week of our office move is here. Since it’s monopolizing a lot of my time and energy, I reached out to a few of my favorite blogging moms to help me out this month! I do hope you’ll stick around and get to know them – they are some of my favorite reads and I know you’ll love them too. Today Courtney from Shiraz in My Sippy Cup is sharing how she makes the most of her mornings!
I’ve often talked about what mornings look like in our home, especially as working parents, but I’d like to dig a little deeper and share with you how amongst all the crazy that exists in those twilight hours, how I’m able to still make the best of it and start my day off on the right foot.
As busy parents, whether you’re SAHM or working, we have a lot on our plates and a lot going on throughout the day. Between day care drop offs, play dates, errands, work commitments, personal commitments and more, it’s easy to set our feet on the floor first thing in the morning and lose our minds right off the bat.
But don’t.
Most people look at mornings as something to loathe and while I’m not exactly a morning person per se, I’ve often found that it’s actually my most favorite part of the day, especially when I make the most of it. So without further ado, here are my top tips on what you can do to enjoy your mornings a little more and make the most of the time you have at the start of the day to make it a great day.
ONE. Put the phone down. Yes, you read that right. Put it down. When you wake up, give yourself a moment to simply breathe, wake up and orient yourself to the day. Have you ever noticed that picking up your phone first thing in the morning to check email and your lists only cause more anxiety? You’ve already overwhelmed yourself for the day and the sun isn’t even up. Instead, make yourself coffee. Read a good book. If you’re religious, read your Bible. I’ve sometimes even gone for a walk or taken the dog out just to stretch my legs and get the blood flowing again. Whatever you decide works for you, just don’t pick up your phone or log onto your laptop. Trust me; it will make a huge difference in your mindset going into the day.
TWO. Take advantage of breakfast time. Every morning, Chickie loves to eat oatmeal or Cheerios. She will come into the kitchen and together, we will make her breakfast. It’s also a great time to simply be with her, talk to her and spend time with her before the day gets going. It may sound silly to some but I’ve really begun to cherish that little bit of bonding time we have first thing in the morning.
THREE. Get up a little bit earlier than your spouse and kids to have time for yourself. To be perfectly honest, I’m not always great about doing this but when I do, boy is it a game changer. I’m able to wake up, take care of myself and my needs first, pack lunch and my work bag, do dinner prep for the evening and if I choose, do a few things around the house like dishes, clothes, etc. that really help to make time in the evening when we get home easier. Again, this time is all about you and your needs so find what works best for you and use the time to get yourself straight for the day.
FOUR. Be realistic about your mornings and give yourself grace. Yes, you may be running around like a chicken with your head cut off but you know what? In the grand scheme of things, it’s okay. Life will sometimes be messy and it’s okay. It’s not a reflection of you as a parent and your ability to take care of your family. I’ve often found that when my mornings are hell, the more I just go with the flow instead of trying to “fix” things, it all has a way of working itself out. We don’t always have to be perfect in order to enjoy a happy day or life. Give yourself a little bit of grace and move on.
I would love to know your tips on how you make the most of your mornings. Please share below!
2 Responses
I would add one thing: Schedule out your to-do list. I always make my to-do list at night, but I think scheduling out during the morning would be a great way to realize how manageable it is!
Oh what a good idea!