Self Self-Care

9 Ways to Make Your Mornings Better

9 Ways to Make Your Mornings Better

I seem to run out the door every morning mumbling, “I’m late, I’m late.” Even though my alarm goes off bright and early, I still am the Alice in Wonderland’s white rabbit each weekday morning.

Starting my day earlier is not what is going to help make my mornings be smoother. I already wake up at 5:15 a.m. and start teaching a classroom full of 6th graders at 8:00 a.m.

My time between the sounding  of my alarm and the ringing of the school bell is structured and routine. Every minute is accounted for. While I run out the door feeling a bit harried every morning, in reality I am not late to work. My classroom and I are both readied to greet the students, and I start teaching  each weekday at 8:00 a.m.

But of course some mornings just feel better than others. So what helps make my mornings better?

Ways to make your mornings better

9 Ways to Make Your Mornings Better

Well, most of it all starts the night before I go to bed.

  1. The kitchen is fully cleaned. That means after dinner all the dishes are washed and the pots and pans are clean, dried, and put away. The sink is shiny. Walking into a clean kitchen every morning feels really good! It is a fresh slate for a brand new day.
  2. The coffee is brewed. My husband readies the coffee every night and sets the timer. When I walk into the kitchen the sounds of the gurgling coffee pot lifts my mood. As I let out the dogs and then feed and water our two big doggies the aroma of fresh brewed coffee is filling the room.coffee1
  3. Lunches are planned for. While I make most of the school lunches in the morning, I work off a weekly menu plan. Some items might be readied to pack, like mini carrots or crackers might be already bagged the night before. I tend to take leftovers for myself – so that will be readied in a container in the refrigerator.
  4. Have a healthy breakfast. I admit I am a coffee first person and I tend to eat my breakfast at work. In addition to packing my lunch, I also pack my breakfast. Sometimes it is egg whites and veggies, sometimes it is my overnight oats but I pack it up every morning right alongside packing lunches. The rest of the family does eat breakfast at home – but I just prefer mine a little bit later.

    In the morning, open and enjoy!
    In the morning, open and enjoy!
  5. My clothes are ready to go. I try to see that all my laundry is done on the weekends and on Sunday I choose five work outfits for the week. I love to wear jewelry so I choose that as well. Everything down to the shoes is set out the night before.
  6. Get a good night’s sleep. I am an early riser. In addition to taking care of the dogs, packing the lunches, and seeing that the family has breakfast, I work on my blog every morning. If all goes well, I have 45 minutes each morning that is devoted to this blog. That is my quiet time before the house awakes where I get to enjoy my coffee and work on my writing. I used a sleep app on my phone for two months last year, and I discovered that if I was able to get myself to bed and asleep by 10:30 p.m. I had a much better night’s sleep than when I went to bed at 11:00. That time difference of only 30 minutes made a huge difference in how well I slept all night long. So 10:30 is the time I shoot for and when that happens, I can get a pretty restful almost 7 hours of sleep.
  7. Stretch. While I do not exercise in the morning, I do stretch. If you have the time, I totally recommend exercising in the morning! It is one of the best ways to start your day. My exercise happens at night because that is when I can fit it into my schedule. But really, the morning is best.
  8. Be thankful.  Yes, a moment’s thought of all that you have and a positive outlook will help set the tone for a great day.Positive-Life
  9. Wish everyone in your family a great day. This is important to me for a few reasons. I believe it sets the tone for the whole family as everyone is off and out the door. Mornings are busy! My husband and I are off to work and the kids are off to school. Time passes by fast – four of the kids are no longer in the home (college and careers) and I only see the youngest two out the door. I have also learned through loss to cherish the moments. Even in the most craziest of mornings, I know it is important to slow down, take a moment to hug those you  love and wish everyone a great day.  My youngest and I share a quote each morning, “I can, and I will – make it a great day!”

That’s it – all that I do to try to help my mornings run smoother. What do you do in the morning to try to get out the door and have a great start to the day?

 

9 Ways to Make Your Mornings Better

 

 

(40) Comments

  1. The morning routine is so important. Your list is almost identical to mine. I have a few additions to my morning routine, like walk the dog, 10 minutes of meditation, etc. Funny, that no matter how much time we think have, it flies by so we have to be thankful!

    1. Stacey says:

      I mediate at night 🙂 and my hubby walks the dogs. So much the same! You are so right about being thankful! It flies by so quickly.

  2. CourtneyLynne says:

    These are some great tips!!! Especially the kitchen one! I always have my kitchen clean before bed because it really does make morning that much more pleasant!

    1. Stacey says:

      I totally agree!

  3. I hate to be late! These tips are so great. Even though I don’t have to leave the house in the morning, I still have a schedule. I will have to add a couple of these tips to my list.

    1. Stacey says:

      Yes, I’m never late to work but I always run out the door worried that I might be. Crazy!

  4. Our mornings sound quite similar! I’m up with my hubby at 5:45 every morning so it’s an early start. I have to get three little ones to school so a lot of my planning involves getting them ready for the day. We do a lot the night before so it’s not as crazy as well.

    1. Stacey says:

      Sounds like your mornings and days are super busy!

  5. The last point is like the highlight, but all tips here are great. I think I’m gonna need these tips for organizing my day. Thanks for sharing this.

    1. Stacey says:

      🙂 The last is by far the most important in my book.

  6. Your tips are spot on! I’m really luck that I can sleep in (6:50), but we are always running out the door. I always have such high hopes for preparing lunches the night before, but by mid-week, I’m over it. Need to get back to that routine, as well as waking up earlier than the kids. New Year’s resolution!

    1. Stacey says:

      Lol! I try to prep lunches too – but beyond bagging up a few carrots or washing the fruit, I’m too tired at night.

  7. I’m not much of a morning person, but these are surefire ways to make mornings run more smoothly. Great post!

    1. Stacey says:

      Yes, prep is key!

  8. I started doing all of these things this school year, so I wouldn’t be so stressed. Thanks for the reminder as the holidays will end soon and I need to get back into a routine.

    1. Stacey says:

      Hope you are enjoying your break! I am. It is back to teaching on Monday.

  9. I really need to focus on more positive mornings. I super struggle in the morning, I am more of a night owl!

    1. Stacey says:

      Prep and a positive attitude are key!

  10. I am a very early morning person as well – mainly because my kids like to be up at 6am. But having the coffee pot ready to go, or better yet already brewed, that is heaven to me! I need the quiet first thing in the morning to ready myself for a day of homeschooling my crazy kiddos!

    1. Stacey says:

      Yes, with four kids being home schooled, I bet you get off to an early start!

  11. I agree getting everything organized beforehand is imperative to getting a good nights sleep and making it a calmer ride in the morning.

    1. Stacey says:

      It really helps cut down on the stress!

  12. Mornings are my favorite time of day. 4:00 am to be exact. It’s when I feel my best and I’m the most productive. Great tips even for those that are not morning people.

    1. Stacey says:

      Wow! You start super early!

  13. I like to start my day with blogging! Right when I wake up I publish that day’s post, I like to start by day by being productive!

    1. Stacey says:

      Me, too!

  14. Having a hot cup of coffee and a healthy breakfast is a game changer! These are great tips, thanks for sharing!

    1. Stacey says:

      Coffee first thing in the morning for me!

  15. Such great tips! I need to work on a few of those. I do agree on having a clean Kitchen always makes the mornings easier!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks! Yes, walking into a clean kitchen makes me happy!

  16. I love your little mason jars! That’s how I pack my breakfast every morning!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks! They make it easy to pack and carry.

  17. I am not a morning person so I’ve learned to do as much as possible during my late nights so the morning will flow easier! Prep is key for me!

    1. Stacey says:

      I have learned to be a morning person! I used to be a night owl.

  18. Having the kitchen cleaned and the coffee ready is crucial for me, too! I really like that you allot time for yourself!

    1. Stacey says:

      The days are so busy that it is nice to have some quiet time to ourselves.

  19. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says:

    A good breakfast is an awesome way to start the day! I love all of your tips 🙂

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks! A healthy breakfast is a great way to start.

  20. yvonne says:

    I tried your tips and they work. I really like the forty five minutes to myself.

    1. Stacey says:

      I love the quiet time in the morning, too!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *