Morning Routine

Let’s talk about morning routines and why they are so important. Do you ever have days where you feel like you are running around with your hair on fire? Days where everything feels unorganized, issues are spontaneously “popping up” to distract you, and you can’t seem to focus to get anything accomplished. As a parent of four children, I have had these days. For a while, these days were the norm until I implemented a morning routine for myself and my children.

What is a routine?

What is a routine in general? According to the Webster-Merriman dictionary, a routine is a regular course of procedure or a habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure. In simpler terms, a routine is a set of habits, behaviors, or activities that an individual performs regularly in a specific sequence or order.

What are some benefits of a routine?

For adults, establishing a routine can be beneficial for productivity, time management, and overall well-being. Like adults, children thrive with routines. Children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. Routines help adults and children to feel more in control of their environment.

Time Management

The primary advantage of a routine is that it allows individuals to structure their day effectively, resulting in better time management. By establishing a routine for daily activities like waking up, exercising, meals, working, and sleeping, individuals can improve periods of rest and reduce stress levels. With a routine in place, individuals can keep track of time, stay organized, and complete tasks more efficiently.

Predictability and Control

A routine also provides a sense of predictability and control, reducing feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. When people know what to expect while performing certain tasks, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed or out of control. This leads to greater comfort, calmness, and security.

Health and Well-Being

Furthermore, having a structured routine is beneficial for health and well-being. It helps establish healthy habits such as regular exercise, proper hygiene, and sufficient sleep. A routine helps create a positive cycle of behavior, making people less likely to succumb to unhealthy habits.

Example of my morning routine

I have found that having a structured morning is one of the most important steps in having a “good” day for myself and my children. Following is the morning routine that I follow on school days to help me and my children have “good” days with less fussing from my children and less stress for me.

5:00-6:00 am

• I wake up and drink a cup of hot water.
• I make coffee for myself and my husband (a necessity!)
• I make sure all the children are awake by 6 am.

6:30-7:00 am

• Everyone is eating a healthy breakfast.

Need some ideas for a healthy breakfast or a morning snack? Check out my blog post “25 Great & Healthy Snacks for Everyone“!

8:00-9:30 am

• My husband leaves for work.
• I and my young children do some homeschooling.

10:00-11:00 am

• This is outside time for the kids to play/exercise – swimming, riding bikes, playing in the sand, running, kicking a ball, etc.

This is my morning routine. Feel free to copy my routine and adjust to your situation or schedule.

Broken Routine

I try to stick to my morning routine every day. Of course, if someone gets sick, or there is an event at school, or maybe it is grocery shopping day, my morning routine needs to be adjusted. However, it is important to get back on schedule and back into the routine as soon as possible. I find that the longer we are off our morning routine, the more stress, fussiness, and chaos we encounter.

Help with creating your routine

Creating and then following your routine will take time (usually 21 days), consistency, and desire. When I was creating my routine, I found it helpful to follow a checklist until my routine became a habit.

Morning Routine Checklist

With this in mind, I created a FREE Mourning Routine Checklist which you can download and fill in per your schedule and needs.

Once you download it, you can print it as many times as you need. Print one for yourself, maybe print one for each of your children, and possibly print one for your significant other.

To get your free Morning Routine Checklist, simply click on the button below and fill in your email so I can send your checklist to you!

Click here to get your free checklist!

Final Thoughts

Creating and maintaining a routine requires discipline and effort. Designing an effective routine should consider both the physical and mental needs of an individual. Everyone has different circumstances, obligations, preferences, and goals, and using these factors to tailor a routine can make it more effective. A successful routine is adaptable, allowing individuals to adjust the sequence and timing of activities without breaking the integrity of the overall structure.

In conclusion, routines are beneficial for productivity, time management, and mental and physical health. They offer structure and provide individuals with a sense of control over their lives. Although creating and maintaining a routine requires effort and discipline, establishing one can lead to improved well-being and greater effectiveness in daily life.