Mornings are oftentimes busy and can even run into the chaotic range--especially if you have ‘little people’ to deal with. Ask anyone how their day has gone endeavouring to get ‘little people’ out the door and they’re quite likely to share tales of woe, abandoned breakfasts and frantically prepared lunch boxes. It’s sometimes not any better if you only have yourself to get out the door.
The good news is that it doesn’t always have to be this way. With a little careful pre-planning the morning can run smoothly.
In the last blog I shared with you how the first few hours in the morning set the tone for the entire rest of the day. Do you want that to be:
frantic, rushed and feeling like you’re constantly behind the eight ball and always trying to catch up? Or;
do you long for a feeling that you’re in control? For the morning to be a collected, calm and productive time.
How would you feel if I told you that it’s up to you how the morning goes and it’s all about embracing a couple of simple habits.
Get out of bed early
Who hasn’t been tempted hit the snooze button and grab a few more minutes of sleep? I get that it’s hard enough to set the alarm to get done what you feel needs to be done. But I promise you, if you can set the alarm for ten or twenty minutes earlier and give yourself some much needed ‘breathing space’ the morning will go smoothly.
If you’re not a morning person (and believe me, I used to think I wasn’t--but things have changed--and that’s another blog post entirely), getting up earlier can seem like an enormous mountain to climb. I promise you’ll get used to it and after a few mornings you’ll wonder why you didn’t start doing it earlier. If you really can’t get out of bed when the alarm goes--put the alarm on the other side of the room--then you’ll have to get out of bed!
Avoiding the snooze button at all costs is the key to a smooth running morning. Here’s the problem with not allowing yourself enough time, or worse hitting the snooze button a few times too many. You’re on the back foot from the very moment you (eventually) get out of bed.
You have an uphill battle to make it out the door on time and any little problem (the cat throws a fur ball in your shoe, the kids can’t find a necessary item for school, where did you put those shoes you need to wear?) turns into an insurmountable problem. Not being able to find the car keys actually becomes a major crisis instead of a bothersome thing to deal with.
Remember, we talked about your morning setting the tone for the rest of your day? If you start it in a rush, surrounded by chaos and crisis, then that’s the way it’s likely to proceed.
Getting out of bed those few minutes earlier, on the other hand puts you way ahead of the game. You’re in control. You feel in control. You can take care of what needs doing in a calm and serene manner and the bonus is that you still have time for the important things you want to work on.
To be blunt, getting up early enough sets you up for a productive, serene and amazing day.
How’s your morning routine?
Before we finish, I want you to think about your current morning routine (even do a little audit) and think about where you’re spending your time. Look for the wasteful things you do and cut them out. Do you really need to check Facebook? What about turning off morning TV. Find things you can change and tweak to free up those extra minutes for the things you really want to do.
For example, say you want an extra 15 minutes in the morning to meditate. Take a look at what you could work into your routine the night before, or maybe you could delegate something to another family member. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in the mornings--you don’t have to be Superwoman!
Get into the habit of setting the breakfast table the night before. Can your significant other get the coffee ready? Maybe the kids can get their own breakfast and prepare their lunches the night before.
Plan what you’re going to wear and put it out before you go to bed. Then there’s no standing in front of the wardrobe wondering what to put on the next morning. Put the kids clothes on the end of their bed, so all they have to do is get up and put on their clothes.
How about arranging a designated place for book bags, purses, briefcases, and car keys?
Little changes add up and can make a huge difference to the way your morning flows.
What tweaks do you think you can come up with to save yourself at least 30 minutes in the morning?
Let me know.
Lots of love,
Toni x