A good morning routine can make your day run much smoother and get your homemaking off to a good start. Try this homemaker’s morning routine.
I used to think I needed to get up earlier to get my day off to a good start. Over the years I have figured out this is not the case. I’m not a morning person. I have Fibromyalgia and insomnia, I need sleep when I can get it.
A while ago I found the eCourse Make Over Your Mornings by Crystal Paine. I admire Crystal and all the hats she is able to wear so I knew she would have a lot of wisdom to share. She also promised the course wasn’t about waking up earlier, thank goodness!
Turns out the key to a better morning is a good routine. I have found that routine needs to also be somewhat flexible and you will have to change it up from time to time. I’ll also let you in on a little secret, there is no perfect morning routine.
Your responsibilities and life are always changing so you have to be willing to see when your routine is no longer working and make some changes.
I’m currently changing mine because I noticed I was no longer really following a routine. When you stop using it that’s often a sign it’s time to change it. When something works well we are more likely to keep doing it.
Since I’m currently reworking my routine this seemed like a great time to share how you can make your own morning routine. It doesn’t matter if you are a full-time homemaker, work-from-home homemaker, part-time homemaker and work away from home, there are all kinds of homemakers and this applies to them all.
Creating Your Morning Routine
One of the things I learned from Make Over Your Mornings is you need to be reasonable and kind to yourself when making your routine. We are talking about the first one to two hours of your day so you can’t cram five hours of stuff into it, you will burn out.
Start by writing down all the things you’d like to get done in the morning, a morning wish list. How many things are on your list? If you are like me it’s very long.
With my morning wish list I estimated how long each thing would take me and added it up, it was close to 3 hours. If I tried to do this list in one to two hours I’d start my mornings off feeling like I’d already failed.
Ideally, you want to have a list of about five things that are must-dos. These things should get your day off to a more positive start and help fill your soul. It’s not likely that cleaning your bathroom will do that. It’s still important but it’s not likely the best way to start your day.
Look at your morning wish list, which of these things would make you feel more positive about the day? Pick around five things that will fill you up with positivity and help you take on the day. These are the things you want to make sure you do.
Now write this list down and put it somewhere you will see it every morning. You don’t want to have to try to remember it all first thing in the morning, especially if you aren’t a morning person. Over time this will become a habit and you will rarely if ever, need to look at your list.
My Current Morning Routine
This is the routine I’m just starting. The one I had been trying to follow was still just too much and wasn’t working. This won’t go perfectly every day but it’s what I’m shooting for.
- Wake up at 7:00 a.m. and start the water for tea. While the water is boiling I let my dog out and check her food and water.
- Make my tea and breakfast.
- Eat breakfast while reading Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy and fill out my Start Where You Are journal.
- Do a quick yoga routine.
- Get ready for the day.
- Start a load of laundry.
After I’ve done that I start my workday. I’m currently trying to get organized enough to be done with my workday by lunchtime or shortly after. That’s still a work in progress but this new morning routine will hopefully help.
One thing I find helpful for having a more productive morning is to not get online until my morning routine is done. This is hard sometimes, it’s so tempting to get on while eating but my reading and journaling are more important.
The biggest things are to keep your routine simple, make sure it’s starting your day off well, and be willing to change things if they aren’t working.
Additional Resources
If you want more help learning how to have better mornings these are some resources that I recommend.
- Make Over Your Mornings eCourse (Scroll to the bottom of the page to get the first day free)
- Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine
- Create a Morning Basket
- Why You Shouldn’t Make Your Bed in the Morning
- 6 Ways to a Better Morning Without Getting Up Earlier
- Your Morning Manual: A Guide & Workbook for Resetting & Maximizing Your Mornings
- Creating a Stop Doing List
What’s your current morning routine look like? Is it working for you? Share in the comments.
Leslie says
My morning routine has changed over the years because i have changed jobs, started a new hobby or because my insomnia is knocking again. I love a morning yoga routine, i have one i do every morning too. It sounds like your off to a great start.
Lisa Sharp says
Yoga is a good way to start your day off!
Hannah Diane says
Loved these tips! Pinning so I have the resources later, too!
Patty Roehm says
I love how part of your routine is tea and reading your journal. Life can’t be all chores, especially first thing in the morning. By the way, I love vintage-retro!
Lisa Sharp says
My mom started the tea in the morning routine for me. I was homeschooled and not much of a breakfast eater so my day started with a cup of tea and my mom reading history to me. 🙂
Lona says
Coffee, my Rosary and Bible, sitting on my back porch. Its my first thing I do in the morning. I thank God for giving me the beautiful life and and day to come.