How to Create a Solid Morning Routine: Part 2 of Routines are Better Than Schedules

As a kid, your parents or caregivers probably instituted routines, like giving hugs or saying I love you at a hello or goodbye, having dinner together, or reading stories before bedtime. 

Routines create a safe, secure environment for kids, but grownups need them too!

As an adult, we have to realize that we are now the parent. Whether we have kids or not, we have to learn how to parent ourselves. The good kind of parenting, not the bossy commanding parent. 

What I mean by the good kind of parenting is developing routines of self care. When do I get groceries? How often and how?

The unconditionally loving parent. Combating negative self talk with phrases like, "I'm doing my best and I can get better." "I get to choose", and "I can listen to my body's needs and take a break." 

Routines SERVE YOU. They are things we can drop when they aren’t possible or helpful that day and are waiting for us to pick right back up when they do serve us. 

Read about the difference between routines and schedules here.

I’d love to share with you how I've developed a solid morning routine - and you can take what works for you:

First, choose your big three.

Some people call these big rocks - you know the rocks and sand time management analogy?

When you choose these 3 things (one or two is great too) think about what things you are very unlikely to do outside of the morning hours. WHY do you want to be doing these things on a regular basis? And is it even possible to check them off on a normal morning? Remember that life's an experiment. 

Next, find the action that sets the rest of your day in motion.

There might be many of these! Is it checking email or social? Driving to work? Getting on the phone? Getting dressed? Starting a project? Your kids waking up? Once you do this thing, the morning is over and it won’t come back. Now you have your anchor. 

Now, before you can start that anchor, your routine is to check off your big three.

Obviously this is a “normal” day kind of routine. Some days start before you wake up and we don’t always have control. This is where you can practice flexibility and mindfulness.

One more tip: Use solid end times for when you have to be done with your morning routine.

Sometimes these are natural - like school starts at 7:30! But if we don’t have something dictating an end, morning routines can stretch beyond noon. That’s not really that helpful either is it?

So set a time to start the day and finish up your routine by then, even if that means you spend 3 minutes reading and 10 minutes moving your body. Once you’re done, you are done! No more workout clothes all day because you intend to do more later. 

Many days, I spend only 15-30 minutes doing my 3 things. It feels luxurious to spend 2 hours, but I get the same benefit either way. And, if you can check off those important three before starting the day, you’ve created a routine that will serve you too.

I love helping my clients work routines of self care into their lives to feel better while freeing up more brain-space. Find out more here!

❤ Lauresa