But I don't have those.
Choosing to live more intentionally isn't about figuring out some crazy formula or new idea.
It's about deciding to do what you know you should do. Exercising isn't a revolutionary idea. Doing it is.
All the changes I'm making this month you probably already know, have heard of, do, or did in the past. I don't really have new ideas. I just have new habits.
This is my place for accountability, first and foremost. Accountability to do what I know I'm supposed to.
So on to my not-so-revolutionary idea for intentional living today.
Setting yourself up for successful mornings
[NO STRESS PLEASE!]
The change to waking up earlier is becoming easier everyday. I'm enjoying the time I have to be quiet and pray, whether it be for 15 minutes or an hour.. but I've noticed something that hadn't become easier.
When the kids wake up.
It was still crazy.
I thought getting up before them and having time to wake up, meditate, etc. would rid of the stressful-breakfast-new-diaper-energetic-yelling-madness that is our mornings. But in reality, it was the same. Even crazier on the days I'm scheduled to be at the gym at 8 AM. The only differences was that I was wearing clean sweatpants and already had coffee.
As soon as breakfast is done, I have both babes rallied to get dressed.
But when I get up to grab a diaper and one runs (or crawls) off. I grab socks and the other one disappears. It takes me 20+ minutes to make sure they have a diaper, socks, pants, a shirt, a coat, decent looking hair, and footwear. Then it takes another 15 minutes to throw some clean diapers and wipes, back up outfits, headphones, after-work-out clothes, and snacks into a diaper bag before we are finally out the door.
There has to be an easier way.
Ways to Intentional Ensure a Successful Morning Routine
1. Pack all bags the night before
I remember reading one time (I believe it was on the fly lady?) about having your "command center" set up each night for the next day.
After our first morning of being out the door by 7:45, I knew I needed to implement this. So from now on, if we are going out in the morning: I spend 7 minutes before bed packing diapers, snacks, toiletries/clean clothes, wipes, and anything else I need into my "diaper bag" and set it by the door.
It literally takes me seven minutes to do at night versus 15 in the morning, because
A) I have no babies all over me half naked, and
B) I'm not also trying to put my shoes on/find my keys/make sure I don't look like I threw whatever clean shirts I could find on my family with no regard to matching - simultaneously
2. Laying out outfits for everyone
Including me! Even though I am usually up before my kids now and have time to 'ponder what to wear', it just makes it easier. Less time thinking about an outfit = more time thinking about nothing and just enjoying the peace.
I lay all our outfits out on a table in our living room (I also put a diaper by the kids clothes). After breakfast I can dress a baby completely in 3 minutes (with no having to chase them down for each time they escape when I need to reach for something).
3. Setting out morning necessities
Again, this is something that takes a minute before bed but maybe saves me 5 minutes in the AM (since I'm more alert/quick at night and not groggy-morning-Beth).
For me this includes:
- Vitamins (Right now I take cod liver oil, prenatal, vitamin B, and 2 drops of elderberry tincture)
- Orange juice glass (which I drink to take my vitamins)
- Bible
- Devotional book, journal, and pen
- A glass of water (which I drink at room temperature first thing)
That's it. It typically takes me 10 minutes in the morning to stumble around until I finally gather everything and begin my studying. This way I can literally wake up, have my drinks/vitamins, and sit down.
Somethings that take upwards of 30 minutes in the morning in 10 minutes by doing them the night before. Maybe next I'll even learn how to set my coffee maker to start brewing by itself :)
Ps. Mad props to the working moms who gets everyone up and out the door in the mornings every day! Please share more of your tips with me!
This is Day 8 of 31. Click here to see the entire series.
Thank you following along on our journey to simplicity. Please be sure to learn about our family, like our page on Facebook, and visit the right column to subscribe to our posts :)
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12
God Bless!
Yes! Even though I wake up before my kids, as soon as they are up, they are ready to go for the day. Always crazy! I think maybe that is because my kids are so young - at least that is what I keep telling myself. I try to get stuff set out the night before so that our morning runs smoother. Of course, I am not going anywhere early in the morning - we do school before we go anywhere - so it might be easier in that aspect. Although it is crazy, I still feel better being able to drink hot coffee and also to have a chance to ask (cry out to) God for some peace and a good day :-)
ReplyDelete"Choosing to live more intentionally isn't about figuring out some crazy formula or new idea. It's about deciding to do what you know you *should* do." Love this, Beth - it's exactly right. I'm going to adopt this habit as a new goal.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I should also attempt to get more things ready the night before. It feels like the morning just slips away from me completely!
ReplyDeleteI shower at night instead of the morning. That extra 15 minutes in the morning is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going to try to do more at night, maybe then I wont have such a hard time frantically racing around trying to get out of the door on time.
Kaydee
The Sweet Life
http://anotheradventurewithourcupcake.blogspot.com
Oh Beth I just love you! Our mornings are so similar. I have really looked forward to reading your 31 day challenge more than any others. I hope to be able to live a little more intentionally too!
ReplyDeleteThese are good tips, its amazing how much quicker and easier it can be to do something at night vs in the morning when you are not fulling awake and chasing a baby or two!
ReplyDeleteI have a 6-year old boy in Kindergarten and a (almost) 2-year old girl in daycare (I work full time), and we have to be out the door by 7:50am. I am normally awake between 6:15 and 6:30 every day. I take a shower, then I wake up my son around 7:00. He eats breakfast, gets himself dressed (obviously your kiddos are a little tiny for that yet!), and then is able to watch a little TV. I found out about three years ago that he needs time in the morning to chill out and "wake up". My daughter, on the other hand, wakes up ready to go! I wake her up after 15 minutes before we leave, get her dressed upstairs, then she comes downstairs and plays with her brother while I start the car, gather coats, etc. This also allows me some alone time in the morning, and my son and I some alone time as well. While he's eating breakfast, I'm making his lunch and talking with him about what he's going to do that day.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I started picking out her outfit the night before and it helped reduce the tears and decision making in the morning! It is so important to have a routine especially for very young kids (and sleep deprived parents)
ReplyDeleteI have 5 kids. Getting myself taken care of before getting them up certainly helps me feel less stressed. On the mornings, when I get out the door at 5:15 for my run, I can come back and settle right into the routine. If I get out later, I end up feeling rushed.
ReplyDeleteThis school year, I started 2 lists for the kids to follow in the morning. One is in their bedrooms with tasks to do before coming downstairs after breakfast. The other is in the kitchen and lists when they need to do before doing their electronic time. Now I just refer them to the lists rather than remind all 4 little ones every 5 minutes.
It's still crazy getting out the door sometimes. Things happen.
We've started to figure out a routine too. I need to lay out my clothes the night before so that I have an idea of what to wear and be ready to go in the morning. Thanks for sharing your routine!
ReplyDeleteIts the little things you do to prepare for the next day that make such a huge difference! I used to be really good at getting everything ready for the next day, but I've gotten slack about it lately. Thanks for the reminder! Now if I could just get my 21 month old to wake up on time for me to leave for work...haha! ( ;
ReplyDeleteThough I've been following your series from the beginning, I keep finding posts I missed... and this is one of them. Great tips!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I would add, you probably already know. It doesn't always work (believe me, I know), but I find that putting in the work ahead of time to train the children to stay where I put them when I tell them to helps a TON!! In our home, at lease with the last couple, I start the training with diaper changes. I don't want them rolling all over when I'm trying to clean them up or fighting to get the new one done up (especially with cloth diapering), so I train them to stay still during that time. And eventually, that can transition into staying put during the whole getting ready process. Like I said, it doesn't always work. My 2 year old still tries to run away, but what it means is that I have a way to bring him back without chasing him through the house with a diaper in my hand and none on him! :)