Simple Early Morning Routine for Moms to Minimize Burnout

July 28, 2020December 11, 2024
by Jessica Whitney

Mornings come early for moms! So, finding the perfect morning routine is key to avoiding burnout and starting your day off on the right foot.

If you’ve had trouble juggling all of the commitments that come with being a mom, you’re not alone! Whether you are managing your time as a stay at home mom, or you’re wondering if it’s worth it to get up before your kids before work, you’ve come to the right place! Even if you’re not a morning person, there are so many reasons to be the first one in your house to wake up.

I have both increased my productivity and decreased my stress levels by waking up early.

In this post, I want to share WHY you should wake up before your kids, how to do it, some of the benefits I’ve found, as well as morning routine ideas to be the most productive and best version of MOM you can possibly be.

Grab your coffee and let’s chat!

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Simple Early Morning Routine Ideas for Moms and Why You Should Get Up Before Your Kids

I realized that not only could my kids and I have a more peaceful morning, but I could also feel accomplished in the morning and more prepared for my day if I woke up before my kids.

While everyone’s optimal energy levels differ, everyone’s ability to handle multi-tasking doesn’t. It’s been studied, that multi-tasking just doesn’t work. This is the main reason why getting up before your kids can be so beneficial. You can plan for the day as well as think without trying to multi-task and take care of (sometimes impatient) kids.

Why a morning routine for moms

I don’t know about you, but it takes me a little while to wake up in the morning. I’m often a little grumpy as my mind slowly wakes up for the day.

Unfortunately, I noticed that if I slept in and my kids woke me up with whining for breakfast or peppering me with questions the second I got out of bed, I easily snapped at them and became impatient. I was not the best version of mom for them and they didn’t deserve that!

So, before I jump in to WHAT to do in the morning, let’s chat about what EARLY means.

The optimal amount of time to wake up before your kids

I decided that about 1.5 hours or 90 minutes before the kids woke up was enough time for me to feel fulfilled in the mornings.

Turns out, I’m not the only one who likes the 90 minute interval. According to research, the human body functions on ultradian rhythms that correspond to about a 90 min to 100 min cycle of productivity.

What if you’re not a morning person?

Now, some of you are thinking, but Jessica, I am NOT a morning person. Well, here’s the things. Neither am I!

But, with every season and every stage, I believe God calls me to be the best version of myself even when I feel challenged to do so. Even if you don’t have the same faith as me, I’m sure you have an intrinsic desire to be the best mom you possibly can with the least amount of effort.

So even though early mornings are often hard, I know getting up early helps me get more done in LESS amount of time (because the kids aren’t interrupting me), which equals happy mom and happy kids!

So, how do you decide when is the best time for you to wake up before your kids? I started first, by asking a few questions that helped me find my WHY.

Here’s a guide to help you decide on your optimal morning routine.

Find your why – the big picture

Answering these questions will help you focus your mornings:

What do I want to accomplish in the mornings? Why?
What causes me stress throughout the day? Why?
What is one thing I wish I had more time for during the day?
What is a goal I’ve been putting off because I’m too tired in the evenings?
What kind of home culture do I want my family to have?
What atmosphere do I want in my home?
How do I want myself, my spouse, and my kids to feel in our home?
Where do I want to be in 5 years, and what can I be doing now to get there?

Any mom would tell you that motherhood is soooooooo much more than “babysitting your kids and cleaning your house.” It is about SO many things that I can’t even attempt to put into words at this moment.

Goals can often be broken down into daily habits and smaller tasks. From personal goals to family goals, identify one that could be your motivation in the morning.

Even the smallest task is a win towards creating a home filled with love, laughter, creativity, peace, organization, cleanliness, etc.

Here’s a list of over 100 habits you could consider adding to your personal goals.

How to wake up before your kids

Follow these 3 simple steps to be a productive morning person. These are the best routine ideas for moms when they get up early! If you’ve ever wondered how to be a productive morning person, these ideas to stay sane as a stay at home mom have saved me!

This is a great way to have a relaxing morning routine for moms to start the day off reaching your goals. I love the example morning schedule below. How can a stay at home mom be more efficient?

Start following the steps below to craft your perfect morning routine.

Start with 30 minutes per day

The next part to finding the best amount of time for you in the mornings, is to start with 30 minutes a day. Sometimes if you jump right in and bite off too much, you might become discouraged too quickly.

By adding morning time in increments, it will also encourage you to change your bedtime routine as well.

Sleep is still important even if you are getting up early, so you’ll have to move up your bedtime as well! This is easier with a slow transition.

So, what do my mornings actually look like and what are the “steps” I’m talking about?? If you’re like me, you like to have some specific examples, just to know! Well, here you go, straight from my house to yours!

infographic 3 steps to be more productive morning routine

How to create a healthy morning routine to be more productive

I follow the same basic three steps in the morning to make my morning routine most productive. These three steps help me create a rhythm and a mindset that allow me to parent and act the way I want for the rest of the day without thinking too hard about it.

I’m not distracted by things I have to do and I don’t feel overwhelmed by my to do list because I’ve already prioritized it for the day.

Stay at home mom morning routine example

0500: Wake-up, start coffee, put away dishes, take my vitamins, drink a glass of water

0520: Drink coffee and sit with my journal or my Bible for a few minutes of quiet time.

0545: I look at my to do list for the day and rearrange it based on priority. I love making an effective to do list that focuses on what’s most important.

0600-0700: I check something off my to do list that I have been putting off because I didn’t want to do it or seemed too tired to do at night. Sometimes I blog or read about photography or work towards another goal I wrote down at the beginning of the year. This might include working out, yoga, or reading a book.

The above schedule is a loose schedule that can vary from day to day which I love.

After this morning routine, I feel so accomplished and ready to be more present for my kids. By the time the kids wake up, I am ready for them and ready to parent with a little more patience and grace.

3 simple morning routine ideas to do before your kids wake up

Step 1: Find your optimal wake-up time. Get up before the kids wake-up, start with thirty minutes and work your way from there. See what rhythm works for you.

Step 2: Kickstart your day with something quick and easy. Find something you can focus on as your first step every day. Something you know will wake you up enough to get you to the second step. For example, get dressed, make your bed, or take a shower. I’ve also seen some articles on morning yoga routines to help you get out of bed and sometimes those work for me too!

Step 3: Invest in yourself. Choose one or more of the below options to invest in your well-being, health, and goals.

– Invest in your spiritual well-being. I know I talk about my faith on here, but this isn’t only for Christians. Take 10 minutes in the morning to practice mindfulness or have quiet reflection time. Pray, read your Bible, or write in a journal. Do something that fosters gratefulness and helps clear the mind.

– Invest in your physical health. I know that this one probably resonates with a lot of people, considering health is normally a goal for the year. Try working out first thing in the morning. Rather than feeling too tired the rest of the day, you might find it energizes you as you go about your day. You also get the added benefit of burning more calories as the day goes on! Try a yoga workout if you want something more relaxing. To make this one social, invest in some friend time and meet a mom from the neighborhood for a morning run sans kids.

– Invest in your emotional self-care. Do something that refills your bucket and brings you joy, or to think about it another way…. Pick something you do not HAVE to do. Nothing on your to-do list. Only something that brings you joy, relaxes you, and makes you happy. Examples for me are reading a book, going for a quiet walk, doing an art project, or writing in my journal.

– Invest in your goals. Arguably the most important, but again figure out what works for you. Check off something that’s been on your to-do list for a longgggg time. Start your day off with something that has hanging over your head. Completing this one task will take a huge weight off your shoulders! Make it doubly productive, and work towards a goal that you set for yourself or for your family. Get passionate again and submit 15 minutes towards those goals.

I challenge you to implement at least one item per week and see what works for you! These are different areas to focus on for a more balanced morning!

If you’re looking for a goal setting book that guides you to set intentions and live a purpose-driven life, grab THIS ONE the second it’s released for the new year. You won’t regret the investment!

As with most things in life, it is about moderation and finding the right rhythm that works for you and your family.

9 Early Morning Routine Ideas to Become a Better Mom

Pinterest Pink 9 morning routines ideas for moms (to be the most productive) coffee and journal picture

Here are a few of my favorite things to add to a productive morning routine:

9. Do Yoga

I love Yoga with Adriene on YouTube in the morning. Waking up the body is so nice in the morning!

8. Drink more water

I’ve made a commitment to drink more water throughout the day. Water increases the functionality of the brain, improves your skin, and has lots of other health benefits.

I always try to drink 8 oz. of water while my coffee brews in my fancy french press in the morning. I get hydrated first thing in the morning, and I’m motivated to drink the water because I know I get to enjoy my coffee next. Haha!

7. Work-off the arm flab

You know it’s true…freshly ground coffee just tastes better. And for the coffee connoisseurs out there, a burr grinder elevates the coffee experience to the next level.

And do you want to know what else improves the taste? Coffee grounds that you have to work for (well that’s what I reason with myself anyway…).

Don’t want to splurge on an electric burr grinder because you’re on a budget? Try this hand one that we love from Amazon and get in a little arm exercise first thing in the morning.

6. Drink your coffee/tea HOT

This is probably the most directly related improvement to my daily morning routine. I get up earlier because I like to sip and enjoy my coffee without being interrupted. It brings me so much joy!

I love the smooth taste, the cozy aroma, and the warmth of coffee first thing in the morning. Those things make me look forward to getting out of bed.

Do you have something you look forward to doing every day? Plan to do that thing first thing in the morning and it will motivate you to get up when that alarm goes off (no more than one snooze… just do it!)

5. Bible time and Meditation

I like to read my Bible first thing in the morning when I wake-up. Not only does it center me on what I consider important in my life, but I know the house will be quiet so I can also reflect and pray as well.

Even if you don’t have the same beliefs as me, reflection, meditation, and quiet reading helps improve your overall well-being and reduce stress.

4. Clean the kitchen

If you run the dishwasher at night (which is a great evening routine to start), unload the dishwasher while the coffee is brewing.

The activity doesn’t take too long, and if you’re making a whole pot for the family then you might even have time to tidy a little bit more while you wait.

3. Declutter

Taking it one step further, if you want to start a new routine to be more productive, you could declutter for 15 minutes before drinking the first cup of brew.

I get up early before the kids (like 5 a.m. early). Because of that, I don’t want to be vacuuming or doing other loud activities.

But, I don’t mind sorting mail, picking up a few miscellaneous toys, or other decluttering tactics prior to sitting down in my favorite cozy corner of the house.

2. Do NOT get on your phone

Whatever you do, do not start your mornings with your phone. It’s so tempting to check your e-mail, jump on social media, or even just play a mindless game.

But I’m telling you, if you have a plan the night before, stick to it and do not even open your phone and get sucked into it. If this is hard for you, a digital detox might be something that you would benefit from.

1. Create an intention for the day

Whether you take the time to medidate or not, I definitely think you should set an intention for your day. Before your kids wake up, review your priorities, schedule, and to do list for the day, and then decide your intention.

I find that a mantra like “live joyfully” or “be authentic” or “embrace patience” help me to be the best version of myself during the valleys of the day. Bonus points if you write your intention down and post it where you can see it!

If you only have 15 min, tackle procrastination and “eat the frog”

On a serious side note, normally things that I’m “putting off” and procrastinating from take WAY less time than I actually think they will and really aren’t as bad as I thought they would be. I guess I kind of build them up in my brain.

If you only tackle one thing in the morning, it should be the thing you’ve been procrastinating the most on. Sometimes it’s called “eating the frog” first thing in the morning. Just get’er done, you’ll feel so much better once it’s complete!

Morning routine ideas for working moms before work

Does this sound familiar? This was a typical morning for me as a working mom of 1. I was a new mom and still trying to figure out a good routine.

When I was getting my toddler dressed in the morning, he struggled the entire way, turning and twisting and trying to reach who knows what. Then while I was getting dressed, my little one got into some make-up and spilled it all over the floor.

While I rushed around the kitchen preparing breakfast, making coffee, and getting together my lunch for the day, he pulled on my clothes impatiently asking for his food.

I was trying to multi-task by packing my own lunch, and he apparently thought I was taking too long for his little tyrant/toddler self.

After I gave him his breakfast, he got mad because I cut the banana instead of leaving it whole, he literally threw his cereal bowl on the floor! I felt like that meme for #whytoddlerscry was the story of my life.

In response, I was irritated, impatient, angry, threatening, yelling, and every other parenting reaction that spills out when your bowl is too full.

My husband was out of town, I was running late to work, and I had had enough.

After one particularly bad morning, here’s what I learned about ways to make my mornings less frustrating as a working mom.

Identify that frustration points

I looked at what I could and could not control. I analyzed all the points where I felt the most frustrated and where I wanted to yell the most. Through all of this, I had a sudden realization about a pretty convicting truth about our little family morning situation (because I won’t even call that it was a routine at the time).

The times when I felt MOST frustrated were the ones where I needed to do MY stuff. Where I needed to make MY lunch. When I was getting dressed. When I needed to run upstairs because I forgot something for MY bag for work.

In other words, I felt the most frustrated and took out my anger, when I was being just a little bit selfish for me, me, me, when I was being self-centered, and I felt that my toddler was getting in the way of what I wanted.

Keep it simple in the mornings

You know that mile long to do list you have? Once your kids are awake, that is NOT the time to tackle it.

Have you ever told your kids “just a minute” or “I’m on my way!”

But instead, you decided to switch the laundry, pick up some toys, and make the bed because I mean…you were already there, so you can do it really quick!

All of these things are “productive” but in your kids’ minds, you told them you’d be right there, and you are taking too long! They then start to whine and your morning because even more frustrating.

Tackle all these items either before the kids wake up or the night before during your evening routine.

Stop making excuses

I realize and subscribe to the idea that you need to teach your kids that it isn’t all about them. That eventually they need to learn that they are not the center of attention for everything.

But, in the above situation, I knew I could do a better job preparing.

I could do better for my toddler and for myself to prepare for our mornings. I could not only prepare our stuff to be ready to go for the day, but I could better prepare my mindset to be present as a parent.

I could be more present as a mom with little things and demonstrate better patience, understanding, and grace.

Write down your perfect morning

Although the perfect morning probably won’t ever happen, if you know what you desire, you can start working towards it.

Okay, first step, no yelling. From either of us. That’s always a good first step, right?

Okay, what else?

I wanted to spend time with my toddler. Precious, oh so precious time, especially since I worked full time. Mornings and evenings were all I had with my toddler, and I was literally wasting that God given time by being frustrating and yelling.

I wanted to be able to enjoy some breakfast with my kiddo. To make him smile and appreciate him while still small. I wanted to be able to have the space to tickle him while I dressed him or to cuddle him as I helped him put on his shoes rather than always feeling like I was rushing out the door.

Tips to prepare for work with kids

Here are the actionable steps I took to be more present in the mornings before work:

Pick and lay out your kids’ clothes the night before
Pack your gym bag and anything else you need for work the night before
Load the car with everything you can before your kids wake up
Preload the coffee machine the night before
Get up before your kids
Set a 5 minute intention while putting on your make up
Eat breakfast with my kids
Get completely dressed before your kids wake up