In this post I am going to share my successful morning routine as a stay at home parent and homemaker. As a mother of two small children the mornings can be quite chaotic, but I have found time to fit in this small 5 step morning routine to help me win at mornings.
Why a morning routine
There have been many times that people have looked at me like I have two heads when I say that I like to have a routine in the morning. Then on the other hand I’ve also had the comments that I am lucky I have the time.
Sigh.
You might have even noticed that I titled this post for parents who are at home. So if you aren’t a parent that is home with the children Monday – Friday then maybe you will still find elements that work for you. But also, maybe this a routine you can try on the weekends when you are home.
The thing is, this isn’t particularly a routine that only works if you’re home and isn’t a routine that only works if you’re a parent either.
Being the stay at home parent to our children means that I am with them a lot, and while I love that,I am also mindful of the time I get to myself and how I can spend it in the best ways possible.
The miracle morning
I first heard about the miracle morning routine when I was in a multilevel marketing company, they were using it as one of those high control methods to ensure you were up early and “crushing your goals”. It’s all a bit ick looking back and you can find out more about my network marketing story or while I don’t support mlm’s these days.
However, the miracle morning book isn’t an mlm by-product and while I was decompressing from my time in the multi level marketing cult, I was able to look at the book with fresh eyes.
I think the official name is about achieving stuff before 8am or something. So if that has ever put you off let me share this: I am never up before 8am. I get up at 9am and I still manage to have a great, slow and simple morning routine.
I guess what I have done over time is just amended my routine from these days and just meshed what works for me.
My 5 step morning routine:
Silence & Coffee (or tea/water/whatever works)
When the kids get up in the morning (or if we wake them) my husband brings them down and gets the settled for the day while I get myself ready. I know I am about to jinx this but I am going for it: My kids sleep pretty well so we are lucky that we do largely wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go.
When I come downstairs the first thing I do is drink my coffee. My husband always makes me a coffee and it’s the first thing I go to. I sit silently, just drinking my coffee and easing into the day. The kids are usually playing by this point and so naturally don’t really come over to me, but if they do it doesn’t matter. Even a few moments of quiet really works.
Gratitude Journalling
I started gratitude journalling in the new year of 2020 and it became a bit of a saviour in what was a really difficult year for our family with the pandemic dividing us, my dad needing two major heart surgeries and getting pregnant and finding out our baby had a congenital defect (which was later ruled out).
The ideal of gratitude journalling is that you write down what you are grateful for in the morning, and maybe the evening too, and it helps you reflect on the good points. Even in a bad day it really helps to seek out those moments of gratitude. It’s not about forgetting or pushing away the negative but refocusing for a moment.
I find it really helps me focus and feel good about my day.
Nourish my body
When I have had my coffee, sat in silence and done my gratitude journal for the day I switch my attentions to breakfast. I have two small children so they usually tell me they want pancakes or waffles (and then eat neither). We always have something like pancakes, waffles, granola or oatmeal for our breakfasts, loaded with berries and drizzled with local honey. We switch our breakfast depending on the seasons but it’s usually some variation of this.
It’s really important to me to feel I am nourishing my body first thing and something I make a priority.
Podcast
While all the hustle and bustle takes over I always pop on a podcast. I love learning and whether it be my favourite homesteader Lisa at Farmhouse on Boone with her podcast Simple Farmhouse Life or Jenna Kutcher’s Goal Digger Podcast, I always have something inspiring on in the background.
Mind is always whirring with ideas for my home and life, or for this little corner of the internet so it’s the perfect addition to my morning.
Potter around the kitchen
Maybe this is the urban homesteader in me but I get utmost joy from just pottering around in my kitchen after the busy part of the morning is done. Maybe I will be clearing up from breakfast and loading the dishwasher, or maybe I will be turning my sourdough discard into something amazing (I hope!). Whatever it is, with my trust podcasts going and (maybe) another coffee I indulge myself in my own particular joy.
Download your morning routine checklist
Want a reminder to help you keep to a morning routine? Download my free checklist right here:
A morning routine isn’t essential but I have found it a wonderful addition to my days. I don’t always achieve it in a picture perfect way (in fact I never do that) but it’s not about what it looks or seems like, it’s about what it feels like.
Do you have a morning routine that helps tether you to your days? I would love to hear what it looks like for you. Leave me a comment below or follow me over on Instagram.
Until next time,
