I’m not a morning person. At all. I usually have to spend ten minutes simply talking myself into crawling out from under the covers.
Truth is that some days I don’t get up until Emma does. When that happens, my whole day’s productivity gets derailed. I feel like I’m constantly running behind, hurrying to get things done, and feeling totally disorganized.
Fortunately the opposite is true. When I get up and get my morning routine done before Emma gets up, I’m motivated and more ambitious all day long.
My morning routine isn’t anything special. But each task serves a purpose. Here’s a peek into my morning must-do list.
Make the Bed
I’ve just recently re-started this task as part of my morning routine. It’s the quickest thing I do, but it has big benefits (besides not tempted to climb back in bed 😉 ). It makes the room feel more organized and gives us a clear surface for folding laundry. I know it’s all mental, but making the bed motivates me to clean up other areas of the bedroom.
I also walk through the bedroom several times a day. If the bed is unmade, it feels depressing to walk into the room. A made bed makes the room look cleaner and cheerier.
Take a Shower
For some people, showering at night is a way to relax and unwind. I’m just the opposite. A shower is a way to wake up in the morning. It signals my brain that it’s time to get moving!
Get Dressed (Including Doing Hair & Makeup)
I know that many of the get-organized plans out there recommend getting fully dressed each day (as opposed to hanging out in your jammies). I’ve found that getting fully dressed (yes, even earrings) and doing my hair and makeup means that I’m ready for whatever may come during the day. On the very few days when I’ve procrastinated getting showered, dressed, and ready, something has inevitably happened that’s caused me to have to scramble to get ready. There’s nothing fun or productive about having to play beat the clock.
The other bonus to getting dressed and doing hair and makeup is that I’m willing to do whatever needs done during the day. A quick trip to the mall to pick up something? No problem. I’m dressed and ready. Someone needs to stop at our house? No problem. I’m dressed and ready. While just getting dressed has major benefits, being completely ready with hair and makeup allows more flexibility in my day.
Please know that I’m not talking about anything fancy with the task of getting dressed. I just do everyday makeup, everyday outfits, and everyday hairstyles (usually just a quick blow dry and straighten). I don’t have time for anything special for the day-to-day.
Get a Load of Laundry Going
Laundry is one of those never-ending tasks that I sort of dislike dread. But since my family insists on wearing clean clothes, it’s one that has to be tackled. We all pitch in and help, but I tend to be the one who gets the ball rolling. If I can get a load of laundry started each morning, then someone will get it to the dryer and then back out for everyone to put away. But it has to START.
Making the Morning Routine Happen
Each evening, I do a couple of things that increase the odds of my morning routine getting done. First, I choose clothes for the following day. I lay them on the dresser so that in my groggy morning state I can easily grab them.
I also make sure the washing machine is empty in the evening. That way I’m not dealing with the oh-no-I-forgot-the-load-from-yesterday panic in the morning. If I’ve forgotten about a load of clothes, I’ll rewash it in the evening so that it’s ready to go into the dryer in the morning.
The Challenge
Let’s make it a point this week (and in the weeks to come) to tackle our morning routines. If you don’t yet have a morning routine, maybe you could make a list of tasks that would make the day run smoother. Then try doing those and see what a difference they make in your day.
