I’m all about that “rise and shine” life, but there’s something about HOW I “rise” that helps me keep my sanity throughout the day. First off, I don’t like to be woken up by little people, it makes me cranky and makes me feel like I’m playing catch-up the rest of the day.
For that reason, I have my top five morning to-do’s that sets the tone for my day and overall mood.
- Wake up before everybody else. Even if it’s just five minutes before the other kids wake up, spending a couple of minutes by yourself will give you an opportunity to hit the start button on your own. I like to change into some sort of exercise attire and stretch my back before having to pick up my sweet babies. Waking up early is especially hard for me since I’m still getting up in the middle of the night to feed Emory. However, spending those five minutes by myself are enough for me to do a few stretches, splash some water on my face or even get the coffee started.
- Pray and ask God for help. The days are long and demanding, and praying first thing in the morning sets me up for success. It gives me an opportunity to pause and remember that He is my strength (Psalm 28:7). Sometimes my prayers are longer than others, but spending that time (however long it may be) really sets my mind on all that is good.
- Caffeine. Drink your Ice coffee, hot coffee, tea or whatever else you feel helps you feel awake. I try to sip it as fast as I can so it can kick in quickly, but most days, I end up throwing a few ice cubes in my mug and sipping it throughout the day. Some days I embrace the crazy and leave the pot on the counter for refills as the day goes on.
- Do your make up. You don’t have to glam up, but a little concealer, mascara and lipgloss goes a long way. Sometimes I even put on my favorite shade of red lipstick. Maybe I won’t leave the house all day or see anyone other than my kids, but I have to look at myself every time I pass by a mirror and seeing my cheeks rosie and my lips shine, brightens me up. Also, I’m more likely to take a selfie if I look a little bit more decent.
- Figure out your top three priorities. When you’re dealing with kids, you have to expect that absolutely everything is going to go wrong. You are going to have to deal with temper tantrums, spilled food, dog poop, kid poop, tears, disobedience, night terrors, day terrors… you name it. Sometimes an entire day goes by and you have picked up the same toy and cleaned up the same spilled cheerios and you feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing all day long. I know. I’ve been there. What helps me is making a top three list and make sure that I do my best to accomplish those three things in spite of what is thrown my way. Sometimes the list is simple ex. make a dental cleaning appointment, water the plants, vacuum the rugs. Sometimes it’s a bit more taxing like take Emory to her three month appointment, wash one load of laundry and make pasta for dinner. It’s a simple list, and it’s obvious that I do WAY more than that (like 20 diaper changes) but somehow seeing it and crossing it off, gives me a sense of productivity.
That’s it! Simple right?
Sweet mama, what’s important is that you figure out what works for you and that you remember WHY you decided to become a stay at home mom. Also, give yourself some grace because I’m sure that even super woman’s floors aren’t mopped daily and her laundry probably runneth over…
Happy mothering!
What are your thoughts? Is there anything that helps you stay focused through your day or is there a routine that helps kick start your morning? I’d love to hear it!!
Like this post? Are you a new stay at home mom who needs encouragement? Are you an experienced stay at home mom who has some wisdom to share to us newbies?
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I love that you put your routine into words! I’ve never thought about doing my make up even if I am going to stay home all day, but I have a feeling that it would help me feel more put together and ready to conquer the day. I’ll have to try that tomorrow and the rest of this week!! Thanks for the encouraging and thought-provoking post.
Love this and most importantly that you ask God for help – I need his grace and wisdom every.single.moment of the day and how fast my day can go crazy when I don’t seek Him. Now if I can just force myself to get up before the kids, I want to but I stay up too late! I make my bed every morning…just helps me feel ready to start the day!