10 Habits for a Smooth Morning

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I am NOT a morning person!  I love my sleep!  Since having kids, I have had to work really hard to get myself out of bed before they destroy the house.  It is an ongoing battle I have with myself, but I have learned a few tricks to make my mornings go much more smoothly.  It all starts the night before.  Planning ahead makes all the difference in the world.  My day goes so much better when I wake up to a clean slate, and know the plan of action for the day.  These 10 habits get me started in the right direction so I’m not in a rush and feeling overwhelmed in the morning.

10 Habits for a Smooth Morning:

1. Clean the Sink

Before I go to bed at night, I make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink or laying around the house.  I wipe down my sink and all the counters and table.  This way I don’t wake up to a sink full of dirty dishes, which is the last thing I want to see in the morning.

2. Tidy up Living Room

I usually get the kids to help with this while I’m cooking dinner.  They clean up any toys laying around, and tidy their bedrooms.  This also makes the bedtime routine go much smoother, and gives us extra time for baths, and stories, and songs… and cuddles, and a drink of water… and just one more hug, and fixing wrinkled sheets… and the list goes on…

3. Laundry

I know I said I hate mornings… but I think I actually hate laundry more than mornings.  It’s a never ending battle.  That’s why I hate it so much.  Just when you think you are done, someone throws their dirty socks in the laundry basket on the floor.  That being said, I do try my best to keep up on it.  Usually while I’m catching up on whatever my latest Netflix obsession is, I will fold a pile of laundry… multitasking at its finest! 

4. Make Lunches

This one I haven’t really incorporated into my night time routine.  After all the laundry folding and reading stories and singing my children to sleep, I’m just ready to relax.  But I do find that it saves so much time in the morning when I can get this done the night before.  I’ve found the best time to do this is either while I’m cooking dinner, or right after we finish eating.  If I do it while I’m still working in the kitchen, then it only takes a few minutes.  Otherwise, I can’t seem to get the energy to make yet another mess in the kitchen.

5. Have a Shower

I know everyone has different preferences, but I like to shower at night.  After having kids I started showering at night as a way of relaxing at the end of the day, and also to clean the baby spit up out of my hair (cuz that’s sexy).  I’ve learned to love the feeling of going to bed all fresh and clean, and not having to blow dry my hair.  It saves me so much time in the morning.  And I don’t have to worry about what my kids are getting into while I’m in the shower.  However, if you’re like my husband, you need your shower in the morning to wake yourself up.  Either way, it’s an important step to remember! 😉

6. Make your Bed

I don’t want to sound like your mother here, but making your bed in the morning actually helps your mental well-being (at least it does for me).  It just sets the tone for the day.  When I walk into my room throughout the day and see my bed nicely made, it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, even if that’s the only thing I’ve accomplished all day.  Its still worth it.  On days when I don’t get around to making my bed, I feel so disorganized and frazzled when I see the mess in my room.  I have my mom to thank for teaching me this one at a young age.

7. Unload the Dishwasher

You know… so you can reload it.

Again.

8. Get Dressed

This might seem silly to put on this list, but I have been that mom who drops her kids off at school in her pyjamas.  Don’t be that mom.  Put on some real clothes.  You’ll feel much better about yourself.  And when you feel good about yourself, you are more productive, which makes your morning go so much better!  Win-win.

9. Coffee!

Make some Coffee!  Or tea.  Or whatever makes you feel like a human in the morning.  I love hearing the sound of the pot perking, and smelling that amazing aroma of goodness that is about to touch my lips.

Okay, I’m addicted.

But there are worse things to be addicted to right?…  at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

But seriously, this is my favourite thing about mornings.  And I will gladly go through my entire list to get to this little reward at the end. 🙂

10. Prayer Journal/Devotional

While I’m enjoying my cup of morning coffee, I like to do my devotions for the day.  I will admit that this isn’t something that happens every morning.  But I do try to get it in at some point throughout the day.  I love how God’s word is still so fresh and real even today.  I’m always surprised at how God speaks to me through this time with Him, and He gives me just what I need to get through my day. 

I hope you found something to add to your routine to make your morning go smoothly.  If you have any other ideas I would love to hear them in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!