Do you struggle with your mornings? What is it about getting up and moving that is so difficult? It’s like the bed sucks you in and won’t let you go. Then, once you do manage to escape their warm embrace grasp, it’s like moving through mud all morning. Before you know it, half the day is gone and you are scrambling to get anything done.
These are definitely what my mornings always looked like. I always had good intentions of getting up at 6am, reading my Bible, and doing some work before my daughter got up at 7am. Half the time that didn’t work because it’s almost like she could smell me or something. No matter how quiet I was, if I tried to get up before her, she would wake up with me. So I did what any mom would do. I gave up. I went back to using my child as my alarm clock.
Then I started trying it again. This time, it worked! At least, getting up before the kid worked. I still wasn’t using my time intentionally. I would get up between 6:00am and 6:30am then I would waste 30-60 minutes. Before I knew it, my daughter was awake and I had only gotten done one of the three things I wanted to do. Which, in turn, made me behind the rest of the day. It seemed like, no matter what time I was getting up, my whole day was still stressful and I still wasn’t getting the things done that I wanted to and sometimes needed to. This went on for about a month.
In that time, Crystal over at Money Saving Mom, launched her new e-course, Make Over Your Mornings. You’d think I would have jumped at the chance to take the course. But I didn’t. I hemmed and hawed over it. I mean, money is tight. Didn’t I already know what I needed to do? What good was a $17 e-course going to do me? I decided in the end to give it a go. I had a little extra money so really wasn’t out anything if it was a pointless course.
The verdict?
I’m so glad I spent the money!
Crystal took morning and broke it down into 14 really manageable steps. There was one day on prepping the night before to make sure your morning goes well. There was another day on writing out your goals to know why you want to be intentional with your morning time. Each day had a video, a section to read in the workbook, and a few tasks to do to help you with what you learned that day. Some days I only skimmed because I already do it. Other days almost took me two days to really go in-depth into what I needed to learn (what can I say? I can be a bit thick-headed).
I still struggle some days with actually getting out of bed. (Don’t we all?) However, I am now getting things done with my mornings. I feel like I now have more time in my day. I was feeling so guilty about having to spend so much of my day doing work or chores instead of spending time with my daughter. Now, I actually feel like I have extra hours in my day. By using my mornings more intentionally, I am getting more out of my day. The days where I am scrambling to get things finished are now few instead of being the norm.
By using my mornings more intentionally, I am getting more out of my day. Click To TweetI now many of you aren’t bloggers or don’t work from home so you may be thinking, “It really doesn’t matter how I spent my mornings. My day is seriously flexible.” That may be true. But business stuff and working aside, do you have a hobby that you want to spend more time with? Do you want to accomplish your house chores before that hour before you husband gets home? Using your time, mornings especially, intentionally will free up your time to do the things you want to do. You’ll feel more put together and less frazzled. You don’t have to get up super early to do this either. Just using your morning time more effectively will go a long way to setting the rest of the day up for success.
The simplest things I can tell you use your mornings more intentionally are to:
-set your morning stuff up the night before (making a list, etc.)
-do the non-negotiable things first (throwing in a load of wash, etc.)
-create a morning routine
Just starting with those three things will help you use your morning time more intentionally and set you up for a less stressful day. However, there are so many more things you can do to help you make your mornings more intentional and work better for you. If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend that you take Crystal’s class, Make Over Your Mornings. It is a small expensive in the grand scheme of things to help you be more focused and better able to serve your family. And even clearing up the time for fun things!
Sign up for Make Over Your Mornings
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
Sounds awesome! I’m in a different morning program called Hello Mornings and I’m loving the Bible Study that we’re doing to accompany our lifestyle change.
I love getting up early in the morning and having my prayer time, Bible time, and planning time before the kids wake up.
Thanks for sharing. This sounds like an awesome program too!
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom recently posted…This is Why I Don’t Invite You to My House
Julie says
One of the things I’m learning through this course is that I can’t do everything in the mornings. That’s what I was previously trying to do. Today I “failed” as I overslept but, this course also teaches grace for those days. I really can’t say enough good things about this course. 🙂
Emily says
Thanks for the recommendation for the e-course. It looks like a good one! I used to feel exactly the way you described. There was never enough time in my day, and I was always behind on my household chores. Then I started following a daily schedule and it has made me feel like I have more time in my day. I agree that doing the non-negotiable stuff first is important. I love getting that stuff out of the way so that there is time later in the day for the fun stuff and even rest!
Emily recently posted…Creating a Daily Schedule as a SAHM
Julie says
I need to be better at a daily schedule. When I’m consistent with it, it works. Then we have a couple days where we can’t do the schedule and have a hard time getting back to it. Working on my mornings has made a huge difference in the rest of my day.
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
I’m not perfect with waking up every morning, but I try to wake up at least 5 minutes earlier than my kids and follow the Hello Mornings mentioned above. It does make a difference!
Angela @ Setting My Intention recently posted…Areas of Secret Shame
Lorey says
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m the SAME way in the mornings. It doesn’t help that hubby doesn’t even get home until 11 pm and then wants to eat, shower and destress before going to bed so that before I know it… it’s 1 or 2 in the morning! UGH! BUT- I have been doing a few things ou listed above on my own (but with my mornings starting around 7:30 or 8).
One thing I finally had to do, was let the kids stay up an hour later, so they slept in an hour later so I would have that free time- I know it sounds crazy, but moving their bedtime from 9 pm to 10 pm has worked amazingly for our family! Again, thanks! And good luck 😉
found you @ Wholehearted Wed
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Julie says
Aw, man. I’m passing out of the sofa by 9:30. My husband has an opposite work schedule, with the alarm going off at 4:30am. I only see 1am a couple times a year. I’m glad you have found something that works for your family!
Leesha @ Living Contently says
This sounds great! I’m trying to get in the habit of waking earlier to get more done first thing in the morning before my little one arrives. Sounds like these tips really help! Stopping by from #shinebloghop. 🙂
Leesha @ Living Contently recently posted…Where Does Your Joy Come From?
Julie says
I’m honestly surprised by how a few simple things can help the rest of my day.
Kelly O'Brien says
Great article! It wasn’t until I became intentional with my morning routine that things really started to change in my life. My mornings are such a time of rejuvenation of my walk with the Lord and it spills over into being a godly wife and mother! Thanks so much for sharing the resources too!
Kelly O’Brien recently posted…Refrigerator Bran Muffins
Julie says
I can definitely tell the days that I’m not intentional. I end up feeling behind all day. Routines really do work!
Maria says
This sounds like a lovely ecourse! My mornings ran like yours–I’d intentionally get up early, waste a good chunk of my time, and be behind for the rest of the day. I’m seriously considering the course, so thank you for sharing it. Perhaps this might be something that will finally make me productive.
Maria recently posted…3 Questions from a 23 Year Old: A Conversation with my Younger Self
Julie says
I definitely still have mornings where I waste time but now that is the exception not the norm. I highly recommend this course!
Bijee says
I may have to check this out, cause I am not a morning person and I know that if i would get up earlier it would make a great deal of difference but my first step needs ot be getting to bed earlier. I dont know how I could ever do that. Might be owrth taking a look into it.
Be blessed.
#shinebloghop
Bijee recently posted…Choosing Our Marriage
Julie says
I am a morning person but not an early morning person. It does take some dedication. I’m not a night person at all. I’m generally falling asleep on the sofa by 9:30 so I can’t help you with that one. 😉
Jelli says
Super helpful tips! I’ve seen lots of reviews of Crystal’s course and each one makes me a little closer to purchasing. Glad to hear it’s helped you out so much! I’m new to your site, but loving it. Time to browse around a little more.
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Julie says
I’m usually very hesitant about online classes as it seems like after I pay for it and take the class, I felt like I wasted money. I didn’t feel that way at all with the Make Over Your Mornings. Once you take it, you have lifetime access to the downloads so I’m sure I’ll go back and review it once a year or so. So glad you stopped by!
Meaghan says
I saw your post at the Mom2Mom Monday Link up. I used to waste so much time in the mornings too until I really set goals for myself. I liked your tips.
Meaghan recently posted…A busy unschooling day…
Brenda says
Well, Julie, fancy meeting you here (Monday’s Musings Linkup). 🙂
Mornings do make all the difference don’t they? It’s been so much easier for me to get my computer-y stuff done now that it’s summer. I’m dreading going back to the school-year schedule where I have less morning time to do things. It’s a season though, so I keep reminding myself that, all too soon, I’ll long for that school year schedule, but my boys will be all grown and gone.
Enjoyed finding you this morning! ((hug))
Brenda recently posted…Worthy Sacrifices of Ordinary Days
Julie says
My daughter is only 3 so no school schedule yet but I understand about needing the structure. I need structure in my day or else nothing gets done. So nice to meet you!
Ashley says
What an awesome read! I have come to find out that I am super organized, but not so great with my time! I have a 2 1/2 year old, an 8 month old, and one on the way! My mornings have not been successfully used lately. I look forward to putting a few of these tips in practice so I can better spend my day! It would be nice to have everything done before hubby gets home so we can spend more time together. Loved this! Thanks for sharing!
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Julie says
I’m the same way! You want something organized, you ask me. But with time…not so much. My goal is to have most of my stuff done before my husband gets home too.
Cat @ MaryMarthaMama says
So glad I found you through the link-up! I had to laugh about the “she could smell me” comment. For a while when my kids were a bit younger it was hard for me to get anything done in the morning. My husband gets up at 5:25 and I get up with him. Well, inevitably we would make too much noise (even though we were super careful!) and one of my kids would be up well before 6. It just made me feel so far behind the eight ball. Now that they are a little bit older they sleep more soundly and I have until at least 6:30 (sometimes 7!) to have my quiet time and get a thing or two done before they are up. It makes me feel so much better.
Cat @ MaryMarthaMama recently posted…Preschool Sunday School Alphabet Block Activity
Julie says
I actually get up until after my husband leaves for work. Even if I’m just sitting on the sofa, I somehow throw off his morning routine. So I wait until after he leaves for work to get up. You laugh, but I swear she smells me, I really do. 😉
Carolyn says
That sounds interesting. I’m definitely not a morning person, but I think if I want to get serious about some of my goals, I need to become one… Stopping by from the Mom2Mom linkup.
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Christine Smith says
I already have this course on my wishlist! Thanks for sharing your experiences with it
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