Meaningful Mornings
It’s almost Fall and school is starting which makes the mornings a million times more precious. There is nothing worse than waking up feeling like you are already drowning in your day—But maybe you’re not a morning person! Here are some tips that help me master my morning and motivate me to trade off sleep for some sanity!
1. Clean up your main space the night before. Nobody likes waking up to yesterday’s mess. Each day has a mess of its own ;) Don’t feel like you need to deep clean, but pick up shoes, put dishes into the dishwasher, wipe the counter, put pillows back on the sofa, etc. Nothing will derail your peaceful morning like a mess to tend to—I would rather stay in bed!
2. Get up early. Set your alarm just a little bit earlier. Maybe it’s just 10 minutes earlier, or maybe it’s two hours before everyone else. Extra minutes mean extra time for just you.
3. Light your favorite candle/Turn on your diffuser. The very first thing I do when I come downstairs in the morning is to light a candle. There is something about a lit candle and the smell of something good first thing in the morning.
4. Keep the lighting minimal. I just recently added a lamp on my kitchen counter and I love it. It gives just enough glow so that I don’t feel like the house is quite awake yet. If I’m spending my morning in the family room- I switch on a lamp.
5. Pick a special mug. Not all coffee/tea mugs are created equal. Just the right mug filled with my favorite hot beverage is often the motivation I need to get out of bed. Usually even nice mugs are only around $10—totally worth the splurge!
6. Put on soft music. Sometimes silence in the morning is nice and sometimes it’s daunting. Take a minute and turn on whatever you’re feeling. I usually choose soft instrumental worship.
7. Grab your bible, notebook, and devotional and put it somewhere handy. Store it in the space you spend your quiet time in the morning.
8. Have a plan. Choose a chapter of the bible or a reading plan to keep yourself focused.
Use your journal to write down what God spoke to you or a scripture that stuck out to you.
9. Do not – and I repeat do not pick up your phone. Digital stimulation will rob you of your peace and send you on a path of distraction! A fresh morning means a fresh mind--- enjoy the peace.
10. Set a timer. Set a kitchen timer so you don’t have to keep looking at the clock. When it’s time to move on with your morning—you will know it. When it’s time to transition my morning I will grab my planner, glance at my day, get ready to prep and move onto getting everyone ready to leave the house!