How many things do you have, right now, in your morning routine?
Three, eight, more?
And how do you know what the right number is, for you?
Let’s dive in to morning routines: the what TO do and what NOT to do edition.
Your first “not to do” is thinking it’s not important to have any structure at all – you know, “Oh, I’ll just do that if I feel like it.”
Lack of structure
Spoiler alert: You won’t.
That’s why you have to get into a habit – a routine – of letting your brain’s muscle memory take over and fill that water glass before you drink your coffee.
Of course you don’t WANT to. You’re not thirsty yet!
SOME structure is necessary; detailing your day in ten-minute increments is not. (I don’t think you’ll have any trouble avoiding that one.)
For example, know your own deadlines for the daily toy pickup – before naptime, before supper, or before bed? – and adhere to them.
It’ll make your day (and tidy-up) flow so much easier.
Too much to fit
The second morning routine mistake is stuffing way too much into them (your morning routine, that is).
How to tell: If you’ve got 20 things to check off, it’s too much. (Especially if you’re new at this.)
What’s reasonable: Three steps you’ll check off every morning without fail, in whichever order you feel like. (Water, coffee, and presentable loungewear count!)
Morning routines are supposed to HELP you, not enslave you, you know.
Let your morning routine flex across your seasons.
Are you living that way? Living like your to-do list runs your life?
(‘Cause a morning routine is really a morning checklist, so it’s kind of a to-do list. Right?)
Skip the morning mindset guilt and start doing a few things that light YOU up. Whether that’s coffee, journaling, or jumping jacks!
Meditation at the expense of sleep
Third, don’t include a really long period of reflection or working out if you’ve got babies or sleep-disturbed toddlers at home.
Yes, it’d be great – but the sacrifice to your sleep isn’t worth it.
Switch out that hour-long morning mediation practice for five minutes of setting intentions, whispering a prayer, and doing some deep breathing.
It’ll still get the job done – that of centering you – and it’ll let you keep as much of that precious sleep as possible.
Basically, let your morning routine flex across your seasons.
That’s all you need to do. Truly.
What would be life-giving for you, right now? A second cup of coffee, ten minutes of peace and quiet, or a few squats to get your blood moving before you zoom into the day?
You get to choose.
Got it? Awesome. Time to go out and do it.
What’s your new morning routine looking like?
