If there’s one thing that can throw off my whole day, it’s having a chaotic morning! Mornings usually set the tone for the rest of the day. When I have a crazy one, I tend to have a crazy day full of unexpected (usually not-so-good) events. Now, having said that, I run a full time business, have 3 kids, and a lot of animals, so my Crazy might look different other people’s. But there are certainly things that I can do to keep my Crazy at a minimum and set myself up to start the day in the best way possible.

Once I made that connection and took steps to make it happen, I found I could be a lot more productive during the day. The following tips can help you streamline your mornings for more fulfilling days.

Make a Plan the Night Before

I have a planner to lay out everything I have to do daily and through the week. I call this a Brain Dump – I first list out everything I need to get done that week and then I go through each day and figure out when I can feasibly conquer my tasks.

When I make a plan the night before it helps me to at least have a plan so I’m not left scrambling or worse (eh-hem…wasting time…Instagram Stories, I’m looking at you!).

Consider Meditation or Prayer

I’m a huge believer in this one! If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to do so. There are so many books that provide excellent guidance in this area and I promise if you set aside a few minutes to just check in with your body and mind, be silent, focus and connect…This is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself.

Set Aside Time for Emails and Phone

If you’re anything like me, then checking your phone in the morning can be a dicey maneuver. Not only can one negative email or message turn my whole day upside down, but I can also waste a lot of time on Facebook or browsing emails when I could be doing something more productive.

I like to postpone looking at my phone and email until I’ve got a solid (good) vibe going.   

I’m also super particular about keeping my inbox clean. If it’s left in my inbox, it needs attention, otherwise, it’s answered and then filed accordingly. This helps me not get behind on emails while also ensuring I don’t waste a bunch of productivity time.

Take Care of Yourself

Whether you have to dress up for the office or you can work from home in your PJ’s, I’m going to recommend the same thing: make yourself feel good in the morning. I always feel better when I put on some makeup and fix my hair. I don’t do this 100% of the time but I do most days. Let’s be honest, you know when you don’t get dressed and do your hair and makeup, you’ll see everyone and their mother at Target. Am I right? And when you’re decked out looking awesome there’s not a single solitary soul to be found. Happens every time. BUT, I truly feel better when I look better.  

And, when you feel good about yourself first thing in the morning, you’ll be amazed at how this affects the rest of your day.

Stay Consistent

Keeping up with your morning routine is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. We know our kids need stability and routines to thrive, but I think we tend to forget we need some consistency too!

When you get yourself in the habit of streamlining your mornings, your body and brain will get used to the process. You’ll start to notice you automatically do things that make your mornings more sane. When you start thinking less about what you need to do, then that’s one less stress off your shoulders!

So, whatever you do, stick to the routine that works for you.

I hope you’re ready to start making over your mornings to help you conquer the days! What’s your biggest morning struggle? Let me know in a comment below!

xoxo,