I have talked a lot about morning routines here at
Townsend House. I wasn’t always a
morning person, but several years ago, after drowning under so much stress from
being a mom of a two year old and a newborn baby while healing from a cesarean, I met my limit. I needed a
change, and a morning routine was what it was.
Townsend House. I wasn’t always a
morning person, but several years ago, after drowning under so much stress from
being a mom of a two year old and a newborn baby while healing from a cesarean, I met my limit. I needed a
change, and a morning routine was what it was.
I would love to say that it is so easy to make the change to
have a morning routine; that is not the case.
It is a struggle. And, even if
you start out with a stellar morning routine, that doesn’t mean it won’t be
interrupted at some point.
have a morning routine; that is not the case.
It is a struggle. And, even if
you start out with a stellar morning routine, that doesn’t mean it won’t be
interrupted at some point.
That is the point I am at currently. My morning routine is no longer working. And to me that is a complete nightmare. I worked so hard to get to a point where I
could have a great morning routine. A
routine that I knew well, I would have plenty of time for all of my MIT (most
important tasks), and even drink a cup of hot coffee – always a bonus in my
world.
could have a great morning routine. A
routine that I knew well, I would have plenty of time for all of my MIT (most
important tasks), and even drink a cup of hot coffee – always a bonus in my
world.
What is really happening?
I have no morning routine at all right now. Instead I have an almost two year old who has
been getting one new tooth every two weeks for the past 5 months…incredibly
slowly. And that means that on average I
am up about 5 times a night…every night.
been getting one new tooth every two weeks for the past 5 months…incredibly
slowly. And that means that on average I
am up about 5 times a night…every night.
To say I am sleep deprived is probably an understatement.
Gone are my early morning planning sessions and time to get
ready for the day before my kids up, and welcome back times of waking up TO my
children instead of FOR my children.
ready for the day before my kids up, and welcome back times of waking up TO my
children instead of FOR my children.
When I wake up to my children, I am already overwhelmed in
the day. And that is never a good way
for me to start. I set the mood in our
home, and when I am overwhelmed and stressed, the rest of the house is
overwhelmed and stressed.
the day. And that is never a good way
for me to start. I set the mood in our
home, and when I am overwhelmed and stressed, the rest of the house is
overwhelmed and stressed.
What can I do instead?
Since I can’t seem to sneak out of bed without my children
waking up and immediately needing me (mostly Lucy), I need to have other
strategies for my morning.
waking up and immediately needing me (mostly Lucy), I need to have other
strategies for my morning.
I am almost always awake before everyone else, whether or
not I can get out of bed. That doesn’t
mean that I can’t try to accomplish SOME things on my morning to-do list.
not I can get out of bed. That doesn’t
mean that I can’t try to accomplish SOME things on my morning to-do list.
Of course I am not drinking coffee in bed, although if the
Jetsons want to hook me up with some sort of opening in my wall where I need
only press a button and out comes the coffee that would be wonderful.
Jetsons want to hook me up with some sort of opening in my wall where I need
only press a button and out comes the coffee that would be wonderful.
My morning time has always been Bible reading, journaling,
coffee, planning for my day.
coffee, planning for my day.
Thankfully I can still read my Bible in bed. Or some other book of my choosing. I enjoy encouraging words in the morning,
something to set my mind on the right path, and to help me remember to keep a
level head (did I mention I haven’t always been a morning person?). When I don’t get enough sleep, I tend to be a
bear, and that isn’t any way to start the day.
something to set my mind on the right path, and to help me remember to keep a
level head (did I mention I haven’t always been a morning person?). When I don’t get enough sleep, I tend to be a
bear, and that isn’t any way to start the day.
It is honestly about the little changes that you can make in
order to make life run more smoothly.
order to make life run more smoothly.
I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to create a habit,
and that once you have that habit, it frees up brain space for another task,
because it has become engrained in you.
and that once you have that habit, it frees up brain space for another task,
because it has become engrained in you.
What I have done is try to look at the items that I need to
accomplish (and would like to do before my children wake up) and have a back-up
plan for when I can’t get out of bed before them.
accomplish (and would like to do before my children wake up) and have a back-up
plan for when I can’t get out of bed before them.
I have noticed while doing these things, that has helped me
quite a bit as well.
quite a bit as well.
Also, I have to allow myself grace. I just happen to be in a season of restless
babes that need me. That isn’t a bad
thing, and I need to make sure that I don’t think of it as a bad thing. I love my children, and I don’t want them to
feel like they have done something wrong by needing me first thing in the
morning. I want to be the light they see
in the world, and adjusting my own expectations is part of that journey.
babes that need me. That isn’t a bad
thing, and I need to make sure that I don’t think of it as a bad thing. I love my children, and I don’t want them to
feel like they have done something wrong by needing me first thing in the
morning. I want to be the light they see
in the world, and adjusting my own expectations is part of that journey.
When can I have a Morning Time?
While I may not be waking up earlier than my children every
day of the week, I do aim to do it at least a couple times each week. Those tend to be weekend days when I know
that Matt will be home to help the kids if they wake up super early.
day of the week, I do aim to do it at least a couple times each week. Those tend to be weekend days when I know
that Matt will be home to help the kids if they wake up super early.
On those early mornings, I try to get as much stuff done for
the entire week as I can. Since I know that I will not have regular
time in the morning daily, I tend to group things like my writing. While I still write every day, it may not be
as long or as in depth as I would like.
Instead I will take time to write out a bunch of topics that I want to
write about, so that when I have the time to write, I can pick what speaks most
to me.
the entire week as I can. Since I know that I will not have regular
time in the morning daily, I tend to group things like my writing. While I still write every day, it may not be
as long or as in depth as I would like.
Instead I will take time to write out a bunch of topics that I want to
write about, so that when I have the time to write, I can pick what speaks most
to me.
Do you have a good
morning routine? What do you do when you
are in a season of less routine and more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants?
morning routine? What do you do when you
are in a season of less routine and more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants?
Amanda Love says
October 6, 2016 at 1:42 amWhen the kids are that young there's really not enough time for you to sleep and wake up earlier than them. It's good to have a routine that works for you, I like how you've been managing so far!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
October 5, 2016 at 3:33 pmI like how you mentioned showing yourself grace. This is a busy season for you but you are making an effort and trying and I applaud you for that!
Rebecca Bryant says
October 5, 2016 at 2:28 pmI try to get up 30 minutes before everyone else to at least get a few sips of coffee adn some emails answered before starting y day. It helps to have a jump start.
Dana Vento says
October 5, 2016 at 1:41 pmBeing a early bird is cool, sometimes I started to read two books in morning with my coffee.
Tough Cookie Mommy says
October 8, 2016 at 3:09 amI've never been the early bird throughout my life. I do understand that it is really important to start your day off in a productive way.
Heather W says
October 5, 2016 at 1:39 pmI need a morning routine in my life. After years of being on the road over half the year, working from home and a very loose office schedule I'm in a new role that has me needing to be in an office sometimes at 8am. I used to sleep til 7:30am! UGH. The adjustment has been difficult as I am such a night owl. I'm slowly but surely getting up a half hour earlier each morning so I can have my tea and some breakfast. I'll get there, but gosh darn I'd love more sleep!
Christine Cox - The Choosy Mommy says
October 5, 2016 at 1:15 pmI wouldn't shoot down the Jetsons idea just yet! Some of the things that were in that show are really coming true!! 🙂 I am in the same boat as you…teething child, plus the other having a cold = no sleep for me. I am usually a morning person but not lately. Give me sleep!
Roxanne Ferber says
October 5, 2016 at 12:57 pmWhen my twins were that little they were up much earlier and through out the night, so I had no morning routine either. But I did shift some of my planning to the night before and prepped things ahead for morning. This made it easier to roll out of bed at the sound of a cry and set to work right away without any time to wake up. I made a list of the 6 most important things to do that day- and I gave myself the whole day to do it. If I was interrupted by a child in between that was OK. I only had 6 things to accomplish for the day. What didn't get one went to the next day. Now I get up an hour before my kids to get myself ready before I get them ready. So, it really is only temporary! 🙂
Amanda Rosson says
October 5, 2016 at 8:06 amEven though I'm not a mom I could really relate to this post! Back in March, I started getting severe chronic pain which disrupted my usual life routine – couldn't drive, had to stop going to class, had to quit my paralegal job. It took a few months before I was able to be out of bed for more than just a couple hours. I'm doing much better now and long for a morning routine but that's still when my pain is at it's worst. Right now I just have to settle with doing as much as I can from bed each day – luckily, it's a great time for me to read my Bible and have quiet time as well as answer emails and catch up with Instagram. I know this is a difficult season but I'm trusting in God it's just temporary and I'll be back to my productive self soon!
MyTeenGuide says
October 5, 2016 at 5:22 amI also live by my morning routine, but I can be flexible, too. I also love reading inspirational words in the morning.
blythe32 says
October 5, 2016 at 3:46 amI'm not a morning person, so having a routine is hard for me. It takes me a long time to wake up. I really need quiet time before I get going. Guess that makes it a routine. lol
Cynthia says
October 5, 2016 at 3:22 amThe secret to any routine is to know when it is not working and to tweak it until it does! I am not a morning person and yet continue to try different morning routines hoping one will work!
Kiwi says
October 5, 2016 at 2:51 amI am so happy you are candid about not having a steady morning routine. Youre a mom and its not always possible and its ok!
Taylor Mobley says
October 5, 2016 at 2:46 amI am not a morning person. Since I don't have children, I don't really need to have morning time. I can have alone time any time I want! I love spending time with my husband though!
Kimberly Stroh says
October 4, 2016 at 11:55 pmI'm bracing myself for being up 5x per night again. Right now my morning routine is great, but it's about to change so much!
Christina Sawyer says
October 4, 2016 at 11:40 pmI live by my morning routine. As a matter of fact I think my body is on auto pilot in the morning. Whether I need to or not my eyes are wide open at 5 am and I hit the floor running. Shower, hair, makeup and out the door by 6:45 I usually have time to do all the things I didn't get done the night before like the dishes and even some laundry. But what happens after work is an entirely different story. Dragging myself through the door at the end of the day if my butt hits the chair you can forget about getting anything out of me until morning. I'm done. Guess that makes me a morning person.