I wonder, how does everyone start their mornings?
I watch a lot of videos about morning routines.
The ones I watch, everyone’s morning looks calm and peaceful.
Waking up at 5 AM in the morning,
opening that huge window in their living room first thing to let in some fresh air.
Trust me, I love watching them because they inspire me to have that kind of morning.
The truth is though, my mornings don’t really look like that….
90% of the time, I wake up to finding out that my older one once again has sneaked into our bed in the middle of the night,
and either his feet are on top of me, or he’s stolen my pillow, or better yet, it’s mostly both and I’m hanging on dear life trying not to fall down on my own bed.
If I’m feeling brave, I will attempt to get up before my kids, so I can have just a little bit of quiet time to myself.
I don’t put on my slippers yet, instead, I tiptoe barefoot because I need to pass by my younger one’s room as well.
He is the ultimate light sleeper in our house.
What do I do if get just a few minutes of precious time to myself?
Well, some mornings I give myself a mini facial, cleaning my face with a cleansing oil ,
Then using a gua sha to depuff my face.
I swear, if you haven’t used a gua sha before to massage your face, you must try one.
Lastly, I like to use a fancy sea sponge to wash it all off.
This is one of my favourite things to feel refreshed in the mornings.
Taking care of myself first thing in the morning, even if it means just a small thing like drinking a glass of warm water, helps me set the tone for a calm and relaxed day.
What is something you like to do for yourself first thing in the morning?
I feel more productive when I change into something like a T-shirt and jeans, even if I’m not going out that day.
I’m still learning to accept the fact that my house will never be 100% clean with kids.
There are days when I’m exhausted after putting my kids to bed.
I always find toys under the sofa.
Both of my kids are usually awake by 7 AM, and today’s a school morning, which means it can get a bit hectic.
I normally let my older one play a bit before I ask him to get ready for school.
I find that it helps when I don’t rush him.
But there are definitely times when I do need to rush him.
I will make myself coffee while they play, but most mornings, they like to follow me around. I mean, literally.
Finding the perfect balance between allowing your kids to take their time, while also hoping they understand their responsibilities is still a learning process for me.
These days my sons just want plain bread, that’s it.
Sometimes they will eat it with strawberry jam, but today, they don’t want anything, they just want it plain and simple.
My older one is a slow eater, so he will eat a simple breakfast like a slice of bread, and a glass of milk, and by that time he’s done we will need to get him out the door.
I wish that time slows down when I’m holding his hands and walking him to school.
Exercise has always been on my to-do list for a productive morning routine, and this month I’ve finally decided that I needed to push myself to go workout at a gym to make that happen.
On days when I wake up feeling groggy and overwhelmed, even a little exercise can work wonders to reset my mind to prepare for the day ahead.
My morning routine is always evolving.
I have to learn to stay flexible and adapt to my son’s schedule.
As my younger one slowly grows out from his baby stage, I suspect I will need to adjust it again.
I’m still trying to figure out how to balance being a stay-at-home mom and working on small projects for myself, like making this Youtube video.
What does your morning routine look like?