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Ready to improve your morning routines and skyrocket your productivity? Here’s help!
There are a couple kinds of mornings around my place. One are the kind I’ve enjoyed the last few days during my Christmas break. The word lazy sums up those mornings. We:
- Slept in
- Enjoyed lounging in pajamas
- Turned on the television early in the day
- Didn’t start on chores until later
- Had a “grab” style breakfast to enjoy whenever
- Played games on smartphones
- Didn’t do much
Everyone needs some of those mornings every once in a while. They refresh the body and mind, and help us avoid burnout.
But, mornings set the tone for the whole day. If you don’t do much in the morning, there’s a definite mental struggle to get moving later. It’s hard!
These past few days have been for resting and relaxing, not maximizing productivity.
That’s why we need the other kind of morning. Around here, we call them normal mornings.
During the morning hours on normal days, we typically:
- Tackle farm and morning chores
- Eat breakfast and do table chores
- Get homeschooling done for the day
- Do family writing time
I don’t usually work on my business during this time (except during writing time), because my focus is on my family and home.
Your normal mornings might look completely different. That’s okay! We’re all on different paths after all. But, no matter what the early part of your day looks like, here are five tasks that can help you tell your brain that this is going to be a productive day.
1. Get Up
I don’t care when you get up. I’ve had seasons where I’m up before 5 to milk cows and do some writing. Those quiet morning hours were refreshing!
But in this season of life, if I can drag my tired, pregnant body out of bed by 6:30 I consider it a win. 7:00 is more typical right now. And that’s okay!
Your sleep needs will fluctuate. What you’re dealing with in life will change. Don’t get mad, just embrace it and do what works.
So pick a time that works for you right now, and go for it. Don’t hit snooze. Don’t lounge in bed for twenty minutes thinking about how you should be getting up. Just get up.
2. Have Some Quiet Time
I love starting the morning with time in the God’s word. It helps set the tone for my heart and mind for the day, and helps me remember what’s actually important.
My morning quiet time has changed a lot over the years. I’ve:
- Headed straight out to the barn and enjoyed a longer prayer and hymn singing session (singing calms the cows!)
- Read a chapter or two in the Bible (either on an app in my iPhone or with a physical Bible) while enjoying a cup of cocoa
- Read a verse or two before the kids need me, and then spend time reflecting on those throughout the day
- Had time for a longer study where I can dive into word meanings, read some commentaries, and really dig deep (those times are pretty rare, but I do enjoy them!)
I don’t think what this time looks like so much is as important as the reflection and meditation this time starts in our minds and hearts.
So don’t focus so much on the how and instead think about the why – why are you spending this time? Then no matter how much time you have, you can use it wisely to help set the tone for the day.
3. Eat Breakfast
I’ll agree that breakfast is an important meal, and shouldn’t be skipped! Take time to eat breakfast. If you have kids and are able, eat breakfast together.
We use this time to have our morning meeting and get our Plan of the Day in place.
Need help with planning breakfast? Try these simple meals to streamline your morning food routine. Eating breakfast will help stabilize your blood sugar after a night of fasting, and give you energy for tackling important tasks.
No matter what you eat or where you eat it, taking time for breakfast will ensure your body has the energy it needs to get all the things done later.
4. Put the Smartphone Down
I’m including this tip here mainly for me. Because I’m way more productive when I’m not attached to my phone.
But this one is hard for me. So I’m working on it!
I’ve started putting my phone up on a high shelf during the day once I get back in from farm chores. If I get a text or a phone call, I check it, but otherwise it’s supposed to stay on the shelf.
My productivity and engagement with the family is up when I’m not glued to the phone. I feel better. I get more done.
So why is it so hard?
I don’t know!
I need to go in this morning and turn off all of my noisy notifications. It beeps every time I get an email and I run over to check it. 95% of the time, it’s junk that wasn’t worth the interruption.
I’m a work in progress, and hoping to continue improving in this area!
Do you have a routine in place to help you minimize smartphone usage? If not, maybe it’s time to start one! We can work on this one together, okay?
5. Know What You Want to Accomplish and Go
What are your “must-dos” in the morning? What is this time for in your life?
I listed my must-dos earlier. They’re tasks that get the house and animals in order for the day, ensure everyone is dressed and ready, and just take care of basics.
It’s also our homeschool time (well when we’re not on Christmas break!)
I don’t know what your mornings look like. Perhaps you’re able to get a ton of work done in your business before the kids wake up.
Maybe you head to the gym and exercise.
Whatever your morning hours are for, do that. Do those tasks and do them well.
Don’t put them off.
If you don’t know what you should accomplish in the mornings, make a plan. Find a morning routine that works for you and go for it.
Don’t be afraid to try something and have it not work. You can always change your schedule or routine if it isn’t working.
What Do Your Morning Routines Typically Include?
Are these five tasks also in your morning routine? They can really help you get more done each day.
For more practical homemaking tips that’ll help you run a business while raising a family, check out my course Balancing Diapers and Deadlines.
Lisa Tanner is a former teacher turned homeschooling mom with 11 kids. She's also a successful freelance writer. Lisa enjoys helping other busy moms find time to start and grow a side hustle of their own.