Routines: How to create a great and effective morning one.
Table of Contents
- Routines are important
- Plan the night before.
- Start your day with a mantra.
- Make your bed.
- Make yourself presentable.
- Have your quiet time.
- Eat a good breakfast.
- Exercise.
- Tackle your list.
Routines are important
Routines are really important if we want to live an organized life. For some of you, having a routine is synonymous with BORING! So, if this is not for you, read no further. But if you want to have time for the things you really want to do, you might want to consider a routine. It’s interesting because in order to have more free time, you need to schedule your tasks. And getting done your important tasks before 12:00 really makes a difference.
Think about babies and children. What do they thrive on? They thrive on structure. Structure is the overall framework for routines. It’s how they feel safe. It provides a sense of order, consistency, and familiarity. While we think we outgrow this, I suggest maybe we don’t. It may be nuanced in regard to any one person. Some people will admit to this; many probably won’t. But if you give it some thought, I think most of you will agree you like routine and structure. Many social studies have shown this to be true.
But routineS and scheduling aren’t boring. It’s anything but. And, as I said earlier, the more you schedule and plan, the more free time you will have. One of the reasons this is true is that with routines, we keep tasks on schedule. For example, you never have to clean the entire house all at once if you plan on doing a little every day. You won’t run out of staples in the kitchen if you keep a running list.
So, obviously, before you start any of this, you have to know your most important tasks. What are those things that really start your day off right? As you read this, remember to plan your routine so it reflects your life.
Plan the night before.
This is so important. Some people like to write in a gratitude journal at night. That’s great. But when it comes to what helps you sleep best, guess what researchers have found? It’s having a plan for the next day. It reduces stress. And, of course, you can do both.
I don’t plan every minute of every day for the entire week. But I always plan for the morning, and that rarely changes. I change it only if someone needs me to do something. I write down my EOW (end-of-week) goals and my EOM (end-of-month) goals, and just by doing that, I feel on top of things.
Wardrobe for the week.
I’ll admit this was not originally on my list. While I do have my clothes picked out for the next day, I haven’t planned for a whole week. I often wear the same pants two days in a row but change out the tops. I think I might give this a try. Of course, you’d have to really have your week planned well in order to do this.
Start your day with a mantra.
Have a statement that works for you. It can be the same every day, or you could have a different one daily or weekly. I like “This is the day the LORD has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Having a positive mantra can start your day off on a high note. Your mood is pretty well determined in the first minutes after you wake up.
Make your bed.
I was encouraging people to do this long before it became popular. If you struggle with depression, this is a must. If you make your bed and shut the door, you are tricking your mind into believing you are NOT depressed because it’s like telling your mind, “You can’t make me go back to bed and ruin my day.”
Trust me, this really works.
Make yourself presentable.
Brush your hair. Make yourself presentable to yourself. I don’t put on all my makeup until after breakfast, but I want to feel good about myself. It gets me in the right mental mood. It says, “Here I come, world!” If I’m a little tired, I might put on some lipstick to brighten up my face. Whether I’m leaving the house or not, I am always put together to a degree. When my husband was traveling, I followed this same routine. Some of you might find this extreme. That’s OK. But I find it makes a positive difference in my morning.
Have your quiet time.
Christians call this morning routine “devotions,” “quiet time”, or “morning time with God.” I read my Bible, take notes, and pray. Then, I look over my plans for the day and the week. Some might write in a journal during this time. I do most days. I also read from a couple of devotionals. But some of you might see it more as a time to gather your thoughts, review your notes, and prepare for the day ahead.
You might really have a hard time with this, but one of the reasons I brush my hair and make myself presentable before I begin my devotions is that I feel I am honoring God this way. Does that mean I think everyone should do as I do and that it’s absolutely sinful to have your devotions in your pajamas with uncombed hair?
Of course not. I share it with you so you can do with it as you choose. It’s something to think about.
Nothing will sabotage your morning routine more than looking at social media. If you do, you will be going down a rabbit hole from which you might not recover.
Eat a good breakfast.
Have protein for breakfast. I have a hard-boiled egg and usually toast with peanut butter and banana or avocado toast. You might choose a high-protein shake. The point is to make sure you have protein.
Exercise.
For many people, this is the first thing they do. For me, I like to have my devotions first. But as the weather begins to get warm, I sometimes choose to walk first as I don’t walk outside when it’s really hot because I don’t tolerate heat well.
Routines are not set in stone. They change as our lives change. Certainly, if we have young children and if we work outside the home, our routines will look different. My daughter is one of those, and yet she, too, has a morning routine. In fact, the more you have going on, the more important it is to have a morning routine.
Tackle your list.
Now, get moving and tackle your list. But remember, you are not a better or worse person depending on what you check off at the end of the day. Life happens. Routines have to be recreated depending on what’s going on. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good practice. Just keep working on it. You’ll find the routine that works best for you.
God bless, and I hope you have a good day.
- Are You Hearing the Spirit’s Voice? Four ways to know.Every believer hears two voices. Hearing the Spirit’s voice isn’t that hard. But it means silencing the other one. Scripture: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 Four ways to tell the difference. The Holy Spirit’s conviction is a gift. It is the gentle nudge of a Father who refuses to let you settle for less than the best. The Spirit’s voice is clear, specific, and full… Read more: Are You Hearing the Spirit’s Voice? Four ways to know.
- How To Find Joy In God When Life Feels Heavy
🌘 It’s hard to find joy, even the joy that comes from God, when life feels so heavy. That’s because we often confuse joy with happiness. They’re not the same. Happiness depends on our circumstances, while joy comes from God. There are seasons when the world feels dimmer than it should. Times when you wake up, and the weight of the world lies heavy on your shoulders. It’s an uphill battle. In those moments, it’s… Read more: How To Find Joy In God When Life Feels Heavy - How to confront honestly and with integrity.
I don’t know anybody who likes to confront, at least not among the people I know. But we’re all going to have to do it at some point in our lives. So, we need to learn to do so with honesty and integrity. Confrontation is not a bad thing. Honest communication handled with integrity can ensure a positive outcome. God Confronts If we need justification, we only have to look at the Bible. The Old… Read more: How to confront honestly and with integrity.
Discover more from goodthoughtsgoodlives
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
