My Morning Routine

Thank you to the makers of 5-hour™ TEA shots for sponsoring this post.

My morning routine has evolved a lot over the years. I used to be able to spend my mornings eating breakfast, walking the dog, making my to-do list, curling my hair, and doing a full face of makeup. Those were the days. Now I have 107 extra things to do each morning and am lucky if I get 3 minutes to do my makeup and 2 minutes to touch up my hair. With three kids on three different schedules, I’ve been forced to create a morning that works for us…because without it I struggle big time, and it has a ripple effect on my entire family.

So today I’m going to share my typical morning routine with you. It’s not perfect, but it works for me and my family. And having a routine has made things more predictable and less stressful in our home. I do want to preface this by saying that part of the reason my morning routine works so well is that I start my preparation the night before. I lay out the kid’s clothing the night before and I try my best to make sure backpacks and school bags are cleaned out each night and re-packed for the next day. I also don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight and make sure that I wipe down my kitchen counters before going to bed. Waking up in the morning to a clean kitchen does WONDERS for my state of mind during a busy morning with the kids.

Get up before the kids. I know…I’m a broken record. But seriously, this WORKS! Being the first one up in the morning has drastically changed how my mornings flow. And it’s been awesome! When I had little babies that were up all night, I didn’t even attempt to wake up before everyone because I was just too exhausted. But now that my kids sleep through the night (most nights) I love waking up an extra hour before everyone else. The early morning is the time of day in which you get the most control. It’s like a fresh start every day, and that, my friend, is precious.

Wash your face. The first thing I do each morning is wash my face. I’ve always been a nighttime showerer, so washing my face in the morning helps wake me up and helps me feel fresh and ready to start the day.

Have some quiet time. After I wash my face I make a quick breakfast for myself…usually some fruit and peanut butter toast or yogurt and then do my quiet time. I read my devotional, take a few minutes to write in my journal, or do some light stretching. Just something quiet and something for me.

Write down a to-do list. Sometimes I do this in the evening, but usually, I’m too tired. So each morning I make my to-do list and glance at my calendar for the day and for the week. If I don’t write it down, it won’t get done. I’ll get too distracted by the kids and will miss an important appointment or deadline. So a to-do list is vital!

Get ready. If I have to be out and about during the day, I’ll take a few minutes in the morning before everyone wakes up to quickly do my hair and makeup. I’m talking 10 minutes or less! If I have time, I’ll quickly get dressed for the day too.

Pack lunches/bags for the day. Typically, I make sure bags are ready the night before. But sometimes I forget #mombrain. So each morning I take a few minutes to make sure we have ALL THE BAGS and ALL THE THINGS ready to go. Hudson takes his lunch to school every day. I’ll typically have his non-perishable food already packed the night before (pretzels, applesauce pouch etc.) but I pack his other stuff like cheese, fruit etc. in the morning. Hudson also needs DRY snow pants, gloves, a hat, and a coat for school. DRY is the key here, because he often brings home wet stuff from school, and if I forget to make him unpack his bag when he gets home, sometimes that stuff sits overnight in his bag. Yuck. We’ve learned this lesson the hard way too many times to count. Sadie doesn’t take lunch to preschool but she does need DRY snow pants, gloves, hat, and coat too. My mornings run smoother when I think about this stuff the night before. But in case I don’t, I love having a few extra minutes in the morning before the kids are up to make sure everything is ready to go. On days that Sadie doesn’t go to preschool, we often have Bible study or a play date. On those days I make sure to pack a snack bag for the girls too.

Set clear expectations. My big kids wake up when their “okay to wake” clock turns green. They know that if they wake up before their clock is green they have to read or play quietly in their beds. I LOVE this because I know exactly what time I can expect them to come down the stairs. I typically pile all three on the couch, or in this case, in our bed in the morning. They love to watch a show together while they drink their green smoothies and wake up. Hudson doesn’t typically like a big breakfast, so I prepare breakfast for the girls and then help him get ready for school.

Wear a watch. This sounds silly, but having a watch on has made the morning routine much better for me! Instead of having to glance at my phone a million times, wearing a watch is way easier. I have an Apple watch and I love that I can set an alarm (to alert me it’s time to go) on my watch. We have to be out the door at a specific time each morning in order to get Hudson on the school bus on time, so every minute counts!

Grab a pick-me-up- for myself. During a busy morning, it’s essential that I fuel myself for the rest of the day. I recently started drinking 5-hour™ TEA shots and they taste so good! It has caffeine from green tea leaves, is sugar-free, and 4 calories! Each 5-hour™ TEA is packed with vitamins, nutrients, and about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. I love to grab one to go as we head out the door for a busy day. It really helps me feel alert and energized during a busy morning.

After I get Hudson on the bus for the day, I pack up the girls to head to Sadie’s preschool. Once I drop her off, Belle and I either head out to run errands or we go back home to play (her) and work (me). Each morning is a little different, but always runs more smoothly when I wake up early AND take care of myself! And that’s why I love 5-hour™ TEA. It’s an energy shot and dietary supplement that helps me feel energized to take on the day. 5-hour™ TEA shots come in three delicious flavors – Peach Tea, Lemonade Tea, and Raspberry Tea. They all taste great, but I think the raspberry might be my favorite! I typically drink one some time between breakfast and lunch. It’s the perfect boost to help me conquer the day with my crazy little people! And I love that I can toss it in my bag for whenever I need a pick-me-up. You can find 5-hour™ TEA shots at your local Walmart or by searching for your local retailer here.  

What routines do you have in place to help your mornings run more smoothly? I hope you found my routine helpful!