My mom used to always refer to me as her “morning child.” I would always bound out of bed early in the morning and proclaim, “I wake up when the sun wakes up!” To this day, my body feels it’s best when I start my day off early and productive. Early morning hours are sacred to me for getting some much-needed me time in before all the kiddos wake up and the daily chaos begins. I guess that good mood makes me a true morning person! So, what better way to start off your day than with a handy little morning checklist?
These are the things I try to do before the kids wake up that set me up for a centered daily routine. Then I can stay relaxed the entire day, and have plenty of time to keep good habits. I left one space blank for you to fill in whatever you like. A single day looks different for everyone!
Don’t you just love checklists? They are such a good idea that make for a productive day. There’s something so satisfying about checking things off… especially first thing in the morning. It makes me feel accomplished and organized. My husband laughs at all the checklists I have around the house but I swear if they didn’t exist, nothing would get done. For weeks I’ve tried to squeeze all the most important things in, but always seem to forget something and it’s hard to make extra time after the hustle and bustle starts. So, I made this pretty little checklist and it’s made my mornings go so much smoother. It’s been very good for my mental health and stress levels.
Overall, the list is really short and you can do it all in about an hour. Personally, I feel like when I start my day off this way, I get simple tasks done and out of the way quickly. I have more energy and am more focused for the day ahead. The time I spend in the morning saves me even more time into the late afternoon.
Here’s the way I break my morning habits down:
6:00: I keep a glass of water next to my bed and start chugging it as soon as my alarm goes off, and even before my feet hit the ground. No snooze button! The water is one of the easiest ways to quickly give my energy levels an extra boost, wake me up, and re-hydrate me after a full night’s sleep.
6:05: I stumble to the bathroom and brush my teeth and wash my face. By the time I’m done, I’m much more coherent and awake.
6:15: Time to start a morning exercise. I used to attempt hardcore yoga sessions first thing in the morning. Honestly, my body just isn’t working that well yet. The best way where I’m better off is stretching, breathing, and using a more restorative morning routine like this one I found on YouTube.
6:35: Meditate for fifteen minutes. By this time I’m feeling great, am wide awake, but the house is still quiet. I take 10-15 minutes to meditate and am more patient with great ideas for the rest of the day.
6:50: I quickly re-write my goals (do this every day!) and review my planner. I add little things to my to-do list and take a second to organize my day so all the important information is right in front of me. By this time in the morning the kids are wandering into the kitchen and will bounce around in there like a roomba until I give them a good breakfast.
7:00: Breakfast. Most important meal of the day, right? I try my best to give the kids real food each morning, but often cereal wins. Let’s be realistic though, the positive note here is that this is totally okay. It can be a difficult task, and we do the best we can! My toddler still asks for cottage cheese and fruit in the morning and I always make myself the usual: 5 egg whites with spinach and Parmesan cheese.
From here the daily chaos begins. Every day is a busy day, especially during the school year with young kids. We pack lunches, fight over what they should wear to school, forget backpacks, etc. You know the drill….
On mornings when I take just an hour to start my day off on the right foot, I have noticeably more energy, feel more centered and focused, am more patient with the kids, and often even get them to school earlier as a result. A small thing like just a little planning can go a long way. Try this little printable out and feel free to tweak it to fit your day. I hope it becomes a part of your morning routine! Let’s get a better start to our whole mornings! May it make room for enough sleep, better physical health, and extra moments with those we love.
Get the Morning Checklist here.
