Welcoming the Morning

I’ve both read and experienced that the way we start our mornings can determine how the rest of the day goes. When our mornings are frenzied, hurried, and stressful, our afternoons typically follow suit. The stress of not having enough time to eat a decent breakfast, looking for the missing shoe that can’t be found, or scurrying about collecting jackets and notes and the laptop for work just sets the tone for the rest of the day. (Even typing that gives me anxiety because I can feel that experience in my bones as recent as last week.)

But when I back up ten steps, when I set myself up for morning success (beginning the night before), my morning runs so much smoother. I rise a little earlier so I can make breakfast, the shoes are already set out for the kids, and everything I need for my workday has been collected and is ready to go right next to my purse. I take a deep breath as I pour a cup of coffee from the pot that was set to brew right on time. I have patience for myself and my kids as we go about our routine in a calm, collected way. And I’m able to approach the rest of my day with the same cool, confident attitude.

Granted, no routine is ever perfect. Someone will oversleep. The umbrella will be misplaced. And there won’t be enough milk for everyone’s cereal. That happens. Developing a tried-and-true morning routine requires equal parts dedication to doing it consistently and grace for when it falls apart. As you begin to dream up your ideal morning routine, I invite you to think high level (big picture) and low level (very granular). Allow yourself to dream. Do you love Adele? Set your alarm to her music. Do you enjoy a few minutes to journal or reflect in the morning? Arrange a blanket, pen, and your Bible or journal near your favorite chair. Within the limits of your real life (yes, we’d all love to have a personal chef make our breakfasts each day, but alas . . . ), how can you create realistic structure and infuse joy as much as possible? I have found it extremely helpful not just to dream up my routines but to actually write them down. I even went so far as to write out my morning skincare routine and tape it to my bathroom mirror so that I will stop forgetting my sunscreen!

Set yourself up for success and you will be so glad you did in the morning. And remember . . . His mercies are new with each rising sun. You don’t have to do this perfectly, but you are fully capable of doing it consistently and truly changing the quality of your life in the process.

Here are a few things that have helped me find a better morning routine:

Set yourself up for success the night before (put the coffee on auto-brew, run the dishwasher, lay out your workout clothes, or whatever will help you the most).
When picking up the house in the evening (or morning, whichever you fancy), throw everything that’s out of place into a laundry basket to be put away whenever you have time. It’s instant gratification and grace in one.
Get your kids involved in the routines. They’ll love taking ownership of their mornings.
Write. It. Down. Put your morning routine on a piece of paper and tape it to the fridge or to your mirror. Keep it where you can see it so you don’t have to waste brainpower remembering which steps you’re forgetting.
Throw a load of laundry in the washer as soon as you wake up. I run mine on the speed cycle to save energy and water—plus it only takes twenty-eight minutes!
Don’t forget to spend some time getting your heart and mind right every morning. Whether it’s a few minutes reading a devotional or studying the Bible, a journaling session, or even a quiet morning meditation listing three things you’re grateful for, this practice will help you approach your morning and your day with a positive frame of mind.

Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Emily has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour and Good Housekeeping. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best New Product at the National Stationery Show, Small Business of the Year, Female Owned Business of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year by Studer Community Institute. Emily and her team collaborated with AT-A-GLANCE to create gift and planning collections carried in Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, and Target. Emily is the author of national bestselling books Grace, Not Perfection, When Less Becomes More, and Sure as the Sunrise. Now, as an author, entrepreneur, wife and mother to three, Emily lives in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband, Bryan, their son Brady, and twins, Tyler and Caroline. Connect with her on her website or Instagram.