5 Am Morning Routine Tips That Meet You Where YOU Are

Morning routines work, but the morning routine you settle on is only successful if it meets you where you are.

The best high performance routine for a single executive with no children versus someone that has a family and school drop off’s along the way is not going to look the same. Spare yourself from the red light therapy, cold plunge and any other trending suggestions, unless that’s what you want to do, but your routine needs to work FOR YOU!

Keep reading for my suggestions on how to create the framework for your perfect morning routine!

#1 - What season are you in?
Are you married with two kids in school and have to commute into an office? Are you a stay at home mom with a little one that is home with you? Do you work remotely, but still need to get kids to school? Depending on your situation - I want you to look at where you currently are; use this script.

I am (married/single) with (x) many kids. I work from (home/an office). My (x) kids (got to school/stay home).

This clarification alone determines a few things - If you’re married, there is typically someone else in the picture that can assist in getting things going in the morning. If you’re single, then it’s on you to successfully execute all the morning things. If you work from home than the time you need to put into getting out the door is different than someone who has to be in an office by a certain time. If your kids stay home versus go to school, than that also determines how much time they need to get ready (if at all) for the day.

All these aspects factor into how much time you actually need in the morning. Which leads to point #2.

#2 - Give yourself more time
Most women tell me “I wish I had more time to do x.” The fact is that we all have the same amount of time during the day. It’s how you use it.

Using point one - What can you delegate to your partner in the mornings to help move things more smoothly? For example; maybe your spouse is in charge of getting breakfast on the table, can your partner be in charge of walking the dog? Can they be in charge of kid teeth brushing?

What can you prep the night before? For example; can you make lunches the night before? Can you set out clothes? Can water bottles be filled? Can laundry be pre-loaded? Can breakfast be pre-made?

Maximize your time where you can, because that frees you up to not only have more time in the morning for your family, but more importantly - for you.

#3) Figure out how much time you need
To understand your needs versus wants on your time in the morning, write down your ideal morning routine. Compare that against what needs to happen for you and your family and at what time all those activities have to happen.

For example; My ideal routine is that I wake up, meditate, exercise, get ready for work and enjoy breakfast with my kids before getting out the door to drop them off at school at 8 AM. But the reality is that you have an infant, your older child is not self sufficient enough to get themselves ready and your spouse commutes into work, so you are largely on your own getting the kids fed and out the door amongst getting your own self ready.

To make your ideal routine, if you were to back calculate time maybe you’d have to wake up earlier than you really want to - like 4 AM. Then it’s time for point #4

#4) Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize
What is most important to you with your time? You’ve delegated, you’re maximizing the time from the evening before to free up precious AM minutes, but you still can’t possibly do all the things that you ideally would like to do with the time you have in the mornings.

Maybe this looks like; Meditating, getting yourself and kids ready while focusing on having a nice breakfast with your kids and pushing exercise to your lunch break.

I'll add here that these routines don't need to be unanimously the same for M - F, maybe your schedules differ from day to day… use these differences to maximize a schedule that gets you closer to your ideal routine.

#5) Negotiate Your Schedule with Your Work
I am putting in this point, because you’re likely not a fresh out of school/green worker. You probably have some leverage with your employer (especially as a parent). Can you start work 30 minutes later? Can you take extra long lunches a few days a week? Are there opportunities to discuss remote work to cut down on commute time? Again, you know you and your situation best, but consider this if you think it’s something that could help make your life run more smoothly on a regular basis.

#6) Know Your Non-Negotiables
There are going to be days where everything goes to hell in a handbasket and it doesn’t matter what you do, the efficiency train has been derailed. Take a breath, and know what absolutely needs to happen - do those things and let everything else go. Tomorrow will be a fresh day. If you want all my other tips about waking up early to get your day off on the right foot, you can view these videos.

Until next time, Bye Mama!