Are you a mama who hits the ground running each morning, using your kids as your alarm clock? Keep reading to learn why you need to get up before your kids, how it will benefit you & what my mornings look like.
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You need to get up before your kids! Skeptic? Give it a chance. Just keep reading. I am about to change your mind and your mornings.
Let me ask you this, how many of you have ever got behind the wheel of a moving car? No one? I’m not surprised. I mean, maybe, just maybe, you are a hero who has jumped behind the wheel of a moving car to save a life. But let’s be honest, if you’re not heroically saving a life, then you’re not jumping behind the wheel of a moving car.
So, why are you starting every single day that way?
Allowing your kids to be your alarm clock is like getting behind the wheel of a moving car!
LET ME EXPLAIN MY ANALOGY…
When you get behind the wheel of a moving car, you are in survival mode. You have no idea where that vehicle is headed. You are one step behind. And, who knows how much fuel is in the tank!
When you get behind the wheel of a parked car, you have a plan. You know where you are going. You know how you are going to get there. Your fuel tank has the required amount of fuel to get you where you need to go. Essentially, you have everything you need with you (ok, maybe not everything but you have prepared).
This is how you need to start your day!! Like you are getting into your parked car!
HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT YOU?
Getting up before your kids gives you the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of your day. It allows you to plan and prepare for your day. There are many benefits to getting up before your kids. Here are my top three:
1. Live Intentionally! When you use your kids as an alarm clock, you start your day in a reactive state. When you are in a reactive state you are not being intentional – you are likely being pulled a thousand different ways. Waking up before your kids allows you to start your day intentionally. You set the time you wake up and what you morning routing will consist of. You have time to decide how you are going to show up for your day and the people you love. This creates a ripple effect among your whole family. It’s a beautiful thing!
2. Me Time! Can I get an amen! If you are an introvert like me this benefit alone will have you jumping up at the sound of your alarm. As a mama, me time is hard to come by which is why I schedule it first thing in the morning before everyone is up. Bonus, it’s quiet! Me time truly makes me a better mom, wife, daughter, friend… Let’s just say it makes me a better human.
3. Less Stress! When you wake up before your kids, you are one step ahead of the game. You have a chance to plan and prepare for the day ahead. Therefore, no rushing. Rushing creates a stressful morning for all. And, a stressful morning can lead to a stressful day. No one wants that.
MY MORNING ROUTINE…
Keep in mind, I am always modifying it based on what works best for ME!
1. Get up an hour before my kids! This means my alarm goes off at 5am sharp. My kids go the bed early and they rise early. We expect them to wake around 6am, anything later than 6am is a bonus. When my husband is getting up early to workout, we take turns with the monitor. I take the monitor on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and he takes it on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Sunday we sleep! The reason we rotate is, well, nothing is guaranteed with a one year old and a three year old, so this way if one (or both) wake early then my husband and I are still guaranteed 3 days of our morning routine.
2. Bathroom Break! Use the potty (proof I’m a mom), wash my face and brush my teeth.
3. Work Out! I love getting my blood pumping first thing in the morning. My workouts are usually 20-30 minutes long and include strength training, HIIT and yoga. There was a time in my life where I used to think I had to beat my body into the ground to consider that a workout. Today, I have a different mindset. I workout because I love my body!
4. Meditate! This is fairly new to me and I have been LOVING it. Total, game changer. Since it is so new to me, I do guided meditation. I really like this round up of guided meditation. Check out my current favourite.
5. Journalling! This is also fairly new to me. Taking time each morning to journal allows me to clear my mind and learn a little bit more about myself each day. I write as I think. I don’t hold anything back and there is no editing. It’s very freeing!
** Update: My amazing life coach, Amanda Moser, wrote a journaling guide. So if you’re like me and at times struggle with where to start when it comes to journalling, pick up this Soulful Journaling Guide and get started on your path to healing and self-discovery.**
6. Gratitude & Goals! Currently, I am following Rachel Hollis’ ‘Start Today’ journal practice. If you are unfamiliar with this, you can read more about her practice here and even buy a journal. Unfortunately, I missed out on the first round of journals and wanted to get started right away, so I made my own journal. Rachel explains how in episode 72 of the RISE podcast.
There you have it! My morning routine. Pretty simple, hey? Now, by the time the kids are calling “Mama!”, I’ve already had one whole hour of quiet me time! It really is the best way to start your day.
What would you do with an extra hour each morning? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
So true. I wish I would have done this when my kids were little! Well done
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It means a lot.
I’ve been slowly trying to do this, and still working on being consistent with it– BUT I do notice a difference on the days that I am able to do a few things in peace before the morning chaos starts. Good post !
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment Asia! Your kind words are very much appreciated. I struggle with consistency too! You’re totally right – it’s not easy, but it’s always worth it.
I would love to start doing this but I have to be at work by 715 which means have our kids at daycare at 645. I love my sleep but I’m also a night owl. So waking up at 5am still wouldn’t give me enough time to workout, shower, journal, etc. I need to learn to get my butt to bed earlier. My morning routine is alarm goes off at 6am I get up pee, wash my face, do my hair make up and get dressed, pack lunches and the kids backpacks for daycare and school and run out the door. I don’t even eat breakfast until I am at work in my office. What would your advice be to help me get in a better routine cause our weekday mornings are crazy
The key to a successful morning routine is evening prep! Before you go to bed, set everything out… your glass of water, your workout clothes, your journal & pen, prep breakfast & lunches, etc. Do as much as possible in the evening to streamline your morning. And have your kids help you with their backpacks & lunches, too. Also, baby steps! What about going to bed 15 minutes earlier and getting up 15 minutes earlier? Add one thing to your morning routine at a time. Try it for a week and then add another and so on until you get to where you want to be. Always remember – progress over perfection. I hope that helped Corissa!