photo credit: Lindsay Vallas Photography
I am not a morning person. But as a mom of twin toddlers, my most productive hours are those sacred hours before 7:15 a.m. That’s when the girls wake-up (or I leave them in the cribs till then).
My natural peak productive hours are early afternoon, but alas I’m in the season of life where I can’t juggle that schedule.
I was recently inspired by Michael Hyatt’s podcast How to Become a Morning Person. I’m reminded that a busy mom I CAN be intentional and not tossed to and fro by the waves of my children’s needs and wants. So I’m on a new path to maximize my morning hours.
Below is my new and improved morning ritual that my husband are trying out this week. We listed what most important to each of us and scheduled accordingly. My most important desire? A made bed. Ahhh.
Our ritual will change according to the needs of our season. Yours may be quite different. Here’s a start:
Morning Ritual
- 5:30 am – make bed
- 5:35 am – get dressed, make coffee
- 5:40 am – quiet time (bible study and prayer)
- 6:15 am – workout
- 6:50 am – breakfast
- 7:00 am – shower and dress
- 7:30 am – leave for work
I work part-time, so the above schedule applies for my workdays. On days I’m home with the kids it will be modified as:
- 7:00 am – shower
- 7:15 am – wake-up kids
We quickly realized that for success to happen in the morning, we need an evening ritual. I need to set out my workout clothes and work clothes, plus set the coffee to brew. Most importantly, I need to give myself a bedtime if I’m going to dream of waking up on time.
Today was day 1 on the new routine. Surprisingly, we stuck accordingly to schedule. I am tired though, and have had extra coffee to keep me awake. Time will tell how we do.
Question: Do you have a morning ritual? What does it look like?
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Married With Twins 
I too am a mom of twins, except mine are now 11 years old. The most important part of my morning routine has always been my time with the Lord….for it made me a more patient, loving and loving mother:) Praying you’ll be able to keep to your schedule!!
Oh, you are so wise Lori. I could learn a lot from you. Thanks for the prayers!
Maya
I am not a morning person! I am trying to become intentional in my morning routine. The problem is I don’t have an evening routine. My little ones do not sleep in their own cribs ARG! So it is tough for me to get a good nights sleep. My 17 month old acts as though she is terrified of the crib for some reason, we have tried the “cry it out method” which I am not fond of but I had given up hope so I tried it. She jumped out! We turned it around so that the taller rails were in the front and pushed it all the way to the wall and she climbed out the side! Needless to say, until I get some control over my evenings my mornings are bound to be detrimental.
I can’t believe your daughter jumped out of her crib! Oh my! I don’t know what I would either. 🙂 Well I know you’re giving yourself slack for not having a rigid morning routine at least during this toddler season of your life. Praying you get some reprieve soon!
While I am not a mother of twins, I am a mother of 3 girls and stepmother to 1 more. The younger 2 I home school…ages 5 and 8. What sticks out to me that you are doing is planning! Making a schedule and sticking to it! I have heard it said, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” Thanks for the reminder!
You have your hands full! My hat is off to you for homeschooling. I totally admire that, and am praying about that decision when our girls are of age. I like making a schedule, but I’m ok if we have to divert sometimes. My motto, “something is better than nothing!.” Hugs!
This is great! I’m definitely a morning person, and I am usually up and around by 4 or 5 in the morning (with the help of a good deal of coffee ::grin::). But, yes, a schedule always helps, and you cut more time by getting as much redy the night before as possible. These are great tips; I might use some for myself 😀
Wow, 4 am is impressive! I hope to be there someday myself. What time are you in bed? I think I would have to be asleep much earlier to accomplish that. For some reason my body insists on 8 hours of sleep. What about you?
Well, it depends. Ideally I’m in bed between 8:30 and 9:30, but lately that hasn’t been happening, haha. I’ve been getting to bed between 10 and 11 and waking up at 5:10 ish. Although I’m really tired, and I wouldn’t advise that 🙂 But yes, 7 to 8 hours is usually great for me 😀
I love to follow a schedule. It seems like it is hard to do in the first few years of a child’s life because they are changing so much! What I mean is, I modify our routine frequently! 🙂
Good Morning! I just found your blog… here in my early morning ritual. I just started this week. Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂 My boys are 9 months old! 🙂