Start your mornings with mindset work to achieve your goals in the new year
One thing I’ve noticed working with mamas over the last few years is that mamas tend to put off their own needs, and their wellbeing, to take care of everyone else. However, we can only do this for so long before we have nothing left to give. I’ve found that starting our days with a mindset routine helps give mamas the boost they need to fulfill their own needs and take care of their families.
I encourage you to use the start of the new year to create your own morning routine that fills YOU up. I’ll go through the important parts of a mindset routine, but I want to stress that what fills me up might not work for you. You should cater your morning routine to fit your needs and goals. Otherwise, you’ll never stick to it!
Decide what you want to include in your morning routine
The purpose of this morning routine is to focus on your mental needs before you have to focus on anyone else’s needs, which means that you need to fill your routine with the things you need.
Here’s a quick look at the things you can include (I got these ideas from my Macros Made Easy clients, real mamas like you who are making big leaps in their lives!)
Reading books or listening to podcasts
Setting daily/weekly goals
Doing a gratitude practice
Devotional study
Enjoying a cup of coffee (alone!!)
A breathing or meditation routine
Working out
Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list! These ideas may give you a jump in off point or they may fill your morning routine. The most important aspect is that you find a routine that empowers you to face your day with strength!
Create a schedule and stick to it!
The next step in creating a mindset morning is to schedule it! I like to complete my routine before my kids get up, because we all know that once the kids are up your time isn’t really yours anymore. Then, I determine how much time I want to spend on each of my morning routine activities. Once you know how long your morning routine will take and when it needs to end, you can decide when to start it!
I also like to create a very precise schedule for my routine.
Here’s a quick example:
4:30 a.m - Alarm goes off, get out of bed.
4:35 a.m. - Walk downstairs and get my coffee
4:45 a.m. - Sit in my office and start listening to a devotional
5:30 a.m. - Write in my gratitude journal
5:35 a.m. - Work for 2 hours before kids get up
With this kind of schedule I don’t waste time scrolling my phone (in fact, you may notice my phone isn’t a part of my routine at all!) or try to sneak in house chores. I know exactly what to do and at what time.
Decide where you will complete your morning routine
The final step in a successful mindset routine is to decide where you’re going to complete your routine. I like to sit in my office for my morning routine. I know that it’s a space where I can be alone and stay focused on my needs.
It doesn’t really matter where you do it, but it does matter that you have a specific place. I always suggest finding a space where you can be alone and where it will be quiet so you can relax and focus.
Avoid picking a place where you’re going to be distracted, or tempted to fall back asleep if you’re not a morning person! Your bed sounds like a great plan, but it also is going to make it more difficult for you to really get out of bed and be intentional about your mindset work.
It’s always a fun idea to create a space just for you! Maybe you have a chair or couch that would be good. Add a cozy blanket and a cup of coffee and that sounds like paradise! In the summer, I enjoy sitting outside by the pool so I can watch the sunrise. The space just needs to be comfortable to you!
I encourage you to take some time before you start your morning routine to journal about how you feel. Are you overwhelmed, stressed out? Maybe you’re at peace and excited. Then, once you spend a week doing your mindset work, take another chance to journal about where you’re at. It’s always surprising what a difference it makes to spend time working on ourselves every day. Tell me about your experiences in the comments!
