Strategies for a Good Morning
Last week I talked a bit about how I have a mother’s helper,
and she is a great help! I also talked about
how if you are not able to afford a mother’s helper, or some sort of outside help, it would be a good idea to try and get up early in the morning and
accomplish some of the personal development/planning tasks that you need to
work on at that time.
and she is a great help! I also talked about
how if you are not able to afford a mother’s helper, or some sort of outside help, it would be a good idea to try and get up early in the morning and
accomplish some of the personal development/planning tasks that you need to
work on at that time.
What are some
strategies for a good morning routine?
strategies for a good morning routine?
I think first and foremost you need to have a plan going
into your morning.
into your morning.
It sounds funny, having a plan to work on planning, but it
is necessary. If you try and get up
early, but have nothing ready, you will end up spending all of your planning
time on preparing to plan, rather than sitting down and actually doing it. That was a mouthful!
is necessary. If you try and get up
early, but have nothing ready, you will end up spending all of your planning
time on preparing to plan, rather than sitting down and actually doing it. That was a mouthful!
At first you may not know what you want to accomplish with
that time in the morning, or it might be such a short amount of time at first
(especially if you are adjusting to getting up before your kids), that you will have a longer list than time allows. That is what I struggle with, too many things
to do in a short amount of time.
that time in the morning, or it might be such a short amount of time at first
(especially if you are adjusting to getting up before your kids), that you will have a longer list than time allows. That is what I struggle with, too many things
to do in a short amount of time.
The best strategy is to prepare the night before. If you want to work on homeschool planning in
the morning, then make sure you have your homeschool planner out and in a spot
that you can easily get to. If you want
to work on personal development, make sure to have those resources
available. If you have to go searching
out these different items, it will be more difficult for you to settle and work
on what you have set out to accomplish.
the morning, then make sure you have your homeschool planner out and in a spot
that you can easily get to. If you want
to work on personal development, make sure to have those resources
available. If you have to go searching
out these different items, it will be more difficult for you to settle and work
on what you have set out to accomplish.
If the main goal for your morning is to get out for a walk, make sure to set out your workout clothes the
night before. Have your iPod sitting
next to the front door charged and ready to go.
If you want to spend time journaling and having a bit of a mind dump in
the morning, make sure that your journal is sitting with a pretty pen next to
your coffee maker.
night before. Have your iPod sitting
next to the front door charged and ready to go.
If you want to spend time journaling and having a bit of a mind dump in
the morning, make sure that your journal is sitting with a pretty pen next to
your coffee maker.
Little things will
make a big difference in making sure you accomplish what you set out to.
make a big difference in making sure you accomplish what you set out to.
If you have early risers, like I do, I suggest putting
together a Good Morning Basket. It
has revolutionized my mornings. Instead
of getting up, starting my quiet time, and then having my children descend down
the stairs 15 minutes later looking for breakfast, toys, games to play, wanting
a show etc.; they go right to their basket and sit down and work on whatever is
in it. They have a little snack, and I
am able to work *mostly* uninterrupted.
together a Good Morning Basket. It
has revolutionized my mornings. Instead
of getting up, starting my quiet time, and then having my children descend down
the stairs 15 minutes later looking for breakfast, toys, games to play, wanting
a show etc.; they go right to their basket and sit down and work on whatever is
in it. They have a little snack, and I
am able to work *mostly* uninterrupted.
Another idea would to make a good morning basket for yourself;
something that you only have in the morning to work on, something that makes
getting up early a bit easier. Put some
special quotes or scripture on note cards.
Have your family mission statement available to look at. Maybe include a candle that you can light and
enjoy in the early morning hours. These
are all little things, but they definitely go a long way.
something that you only have in the morning to work on, something that makes
getting up early a bit easier. Put some
special quotes or scripture on note cards.
Have your family mission statement available to look at. Maybe include a candle that you can light and
enjoy in the early morning hours. These
are all little things, but they definitely go a long way.
How do you utilize
your morning hours? Do you feel stressed
out trying to accomplish everything?
What strategies might be helpful to you so you don’t feel that stress
and are able to use time for personal development or other planning activities?
your morning hours? Do you feel stressed
out trying to accomplish everything?
What strategies might be helpful to you so you don’t feel that stress
and are able to use time for personal development or other planning activities?
I love my early mornings. I have only just begun to reclaim them, and am working on the flow of them and what I want to accomplish. For a while the little man was sleeping til 8am…it was wonderful. He has returned to his usual 7am wake up, so I might just have to use your idea of a little morning basket. I think he would love that. Thanks for sharing.
Love the family mission statement. I also agree, getting things ready the night before makes all the difference. When we aren't organized/prepared, it's much more challenging! Getting a good nights sleep is key too!