Mornings are sacred to me. I’ve always been an early riser and I cherish the time alone. It wasn’t until I experienced the early newborn stage (waking up every two hours at night) that my priorities shifted and I chose sleep over my quiet mornings. I felt out of whack and noticed that I was a different person when I didn’t have that “me time.” However, I knew getting as much sleep as I could was the better choice at the time.
As a stay-at-home mom of two babies, my “me time” is more important now than ever. When my babies sleep well, I like to get up early and do what I need to do to feel good and to set myself up for the day.
The last few weeks, we’ve been going THROUGH IT at night with sleep regressions. I’m back to making sleep the priority and cutting my morning routine shorter. During hectic times, I prioritize my non-negotiables so that I can still have some peace before the chaos of our busy days.
I try to complete my non-negotiables before my kids wake up, but most of these can be completed even if they wake up earlier than normal. Please note the times below are never the same depending on the morning – just an estimation! Hopefully this can inspire you to make your list of non-negotiables so that your day starts off on the right foot as well.
Pro-Tip: Invest in an alarm clock. Waking up to your phone is disruptive to your peace. It’s too tempting to check social media, texts and emails if you’re already holding your phone to turn your alarm off. Remember, this time is for you! Don’t let the whole world into your day before your feet even touch the ground. I recommend the Restore Hatch alarm clock. I wake up to a “Malibu sunrise” every morning!
- Water (5:45 a.m.)
- I drink water right away so that coffee isn’t the first thing that hits my system! I have Hashimoto’s, so it’s an easy step since I take my thyroid medication right when I wake up. Keep water next to your bed to make this step effortless.
- Movement (6 a.m.)
- This is probably the most impactful thing I do in the morning. It gives me the energy I need for those busy mama mornings, and I feel accomplished. Lately my morning movement has either consisted of some version of 12-3-30 (12 incline, 3 mph, 30 mins) on the treadmill or a 15-20 minute Pilates class on the Melissa Wood Health app. If my sleep is lacking from the night before, I will lean more into the 15 minute workout class. As long as I get something in, I am able to show up for myself and my kids in a much better way.
- Shower (6:30 a.m.)
- Even if I don’t sweat during my morning workout, a shower is a must for me. It’s not so much for the hygiene as it is for the significance of a new day – a fresh start. I carry a lot of guilt as a mom, it’s something I’m working on. So it’s almost as if I’m signaling to my brain that it’s a new day and I can learn from the day before. I’ve gotten my body showers down to two minutes so there’s really no excuse for me!
- Get Dressed (6:35 a.m.)
- Something I’ve learned as a SAHM is that getting dressed for the day is critical for my mental health. Even if I don’t leave the house, I feel better and more productive when I’m not just in my PJs all day. Even a matching sweat set can be enough to make me feel cute and put together.
- Empty The Dishwasher (6:45 a.m.) *This is a bonus, not necessarily a non-negotiable
- Before kids I maybe ran my dishwasher every other day. Now if we miss one night, we pay for it the next day. Dishes pile up fast with toddlers! Emptying the dishwasher before the kids wake up is helpful to avoid that inevitable mess in your sink.
With kids, there seems to always be something going on that makes life unpredictable. Whether it’s teething, sleep regressions, or sicknesses, it’s important to honor your non-negotiables, however they look. When coming up with your non-negotiables, I recommend starting small. Movement for me is what can take the longest amount of time. However, I’ve adapted to 15 minute workouts – not everything has to look perfect!
Since becoming a mom, I’ve been able to shift my mindset and go with the flow. Obviously, I would love to have more time for myself, but some mornings, that’s not possible. As long as I get to my non-negotiables, I feel much better about my day. Adaptation is all part of motherhood, and while I still have a lot to work on, I’ve come a long way. I trust this post can help you make the best of your morning, and I’d love to hear what some of your non-negotiables are!
XO,
Kassie
