Welcome to August! With the first day of school swiftly approaching in many of our households, what better month to focus on shaping up our household routines?
That’s exactly what we’re doing for this month’s Organize and Refine Your Home Challenge assignments. No better place to start than with our morning routine; am I right?
Remember how I confessed a few months ago that I created the print photo organizing challenge primarily for my own benefit? Well, it’s the same deal for this month’s challenge assignments.
You see…this was a different kind of summer for me. In stark contrast to how I typically operate, I really let my hair down and kicked my feet up as I made spending time with my family a major priority.
It was GLORIOUS. But now I’m paying the price as the first day of school is swiftly approaching (like in nine days). The teacher assignment letters are arriving, the online school form deadline is looming, and I have yet to make the yearly half-day pilgrimage to Target for school supplies.
Did I mention that the current bedtime for my kids is in the 11:00 p.m. hour…and they’ll need to be waking up on school days between 6:15-7:00 a.m.?
This week, they’ve been crawling out of bed between 10 a.m. and noon, then sitting around in their PJs for another hour or two watching reruns of Olympic swimming (both kiddos are swimmers, so this week is like Christmas for them).
Needless to say, our morning routine is in SERIOUS need of an overhaul.
Why Should You Create a Morning Routine?
Nailing down a morning routine in your household sets the stage for a more organized, productive day with less stress and more peace. We’ve all had days where we rolled out of bed without a plan and navigated our way out the door in a frenzied, disorganized manner.
I don’t know about you, but I find myself feeling ill-prepared to face the world on days like that, which tends to turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy for me.
In contrast, when we begin our day in a planful, intentional way, we face the day feeling confident and prepared to tackle the world. Aaaahhh, feels much better, right?
Creating a Morning Routine for Your Home
Your morning routine needs to be customized, based on your unique situation and season of life.
If you’re like me and your household includes a family with school-aged kids, your routine will obviously be somewhat dictated by the school day schedule. It will need to incorporate all of the tasks involved with getting the kids to school on time with everything that they need for that day.
Related: check out these 10 back to school organizational tips to set your kids up for a successful year.
Your Kids’ Morning Routine
Using a checklist to help your kids navigate their morning routine can be hugely beneficial. We’ve used checklists to reinforce morning routines since my kids were itty bitty.
The content of the checklists has changed over time (they no longer need to be reminded to Go Potty when they wake up), but the process of listing out all of the tasks they need to accomplish prior to getting on the bus has remained the same.
Need a basic morning checklist for your kiddos? Click on the image below to download this Good Morning Checklist. Once you print it, you can either laminate it or frame it inside a picture frame to create a reusable dry-erase checklist:
Your Morning Routine
You’ll need to operate within the constraints of your other family member’s needs when creating your own morning routine. But don’t let that stop you from including actions and tasks that you’ve prioritized as important for yourself.
The mornings can be a great time for incorporating self-care into your day.
Maybe you’ve set a goal to meditate each morning or to start the day with a brisk walk. It could be as simple as allowing yourself 10 minutes each morning to indulge in some reading while you savor a cup of coffee. Doing something each morning that feeds your soul and/or moves you closer to a personal goal can really energize you as you set out to conquer the day.
Need some ideas for crafting your morning routine? Take a look at this unique archive of morning routines for some inspiration.
The Perfect Resource to Help You Create a Morning Routine
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission, which helps keep my blog up and running but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
I’ve definitely struggled with chaotic mornings in my household over the years. Earlier this year, I discovered Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Mornings course. This course really helped me to bring order and peace to my household while putting together a plan for accomplishing all of the essential tasks that have to be completed in those first few hours of the day.
I completed the course earlier this year, and now I’m re-watching it and completing the exercises again this fall as we prepare for the new school year to start (you get lifetime access to the course so that you can watch it repeatedly as your life circumstances change).
Your Establishing a Morning Routine Assignment:
- Write down all of the tasks you need to complete for yourself and your family members each morning
- Incorporate specific self-care rituals that are aligned with your personal goals
- Track how long each task/ritual takes to complete
- Set your wake up time accordingly
- Create checklists for yourself and your family members to help everyone stick to your new routine
- Explore the Makeover Your Mornings course as a resource for creating your morning routine
I’d love for you to share the details of your new morning routine via Instagram (use the hashtag #ORGANIZEANDREFINECHALLENGE and don’t forget to tag me) and/or share it in the comments below!
Once you’ve nailed down that morning routine, it’s time to move onto the other key household routines:
Pin It
This post is part of the Organize and Refine Your Home Challenge
- Printables for Organizing Home & Life: The ULTIMATE Organizing Printables Vault! - November 28, 2023
- Clipboard Wall Organization for Papers: Easy DIY Paper Storage! - September 4, 2023
- How to Plan a Graduation Party to Remember: The Ultimate Graduation Party Planner - May 9, 2023
Seana Turner says
I honestly don’t think you ever outgrow the need for a morning checklist. I still run through a list in my mind (even if it isn’t written down). If I don’t, I’m likely to walk out the door with the coffee pot still on or with the door unlocked. Very helpful tips!
Erin Bradford says
Where is the link? I need this chart in my life now!!!
Natalie Gallagher says
Hey Erin, just click on the checklist image and you’ll be able to download it immediately 🙂
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project says
Love the idea of a morning chart. I have to try this with my son. #funtasticfriday
Natalie Gallagher says
Thanks Nicole! Come back and let me know how it’s working for you!
Renee says
It is so easy to get off a morning routine during the summer months! I can’t wait to establish a routine again.
Natalie Gallagher says
You said it Renee! Me too!