“I’m not a morning person.”
This is one of the most common statements I’ve heard while working as a health and wellness coach for nearly eight years. Motivation and energy don’t come naturally for many people first thing, myself included.
Fortunately, with some planning and a new perspective, you can get by on a little of each, be productive, and still have a less stressful morning.
Before we had Quinn, my mornings were minimally structured. I did the basics to get me to work looking presentable and on time. When Quinn was thrown into the mix, it was a whole new learning curve. Between figuring out how to time feedings, diaper changes, getting myself ready, getting Q to daycare, and drive to work over the I-74 bridge (where there’s either a car accident or a stalled car stalling traffic at least once a week), mornings were hectic and stressful.
I’ve been taking care of morning routines essentially on my own for nearly a year now, while also working full time. It was trial and error for most of that year and still is at times. It helps that Quinn is a little older now, minus the more frequent tantrums.
Here is what I have found that works for me to keep the stress in the morning down to a minimum and to get me to work on time:
It’s all about the night before!
If you’re not a morning person, you’re hopefully a night person instead. Find a time at night where your energy hasn’t fully faded and start prepping some things for the next day to help free up part of your morning.
Here’s what I do the evening before:
Get the coffee pot ready, set it on a timer, and make sure my travel mug is washed. If you’re not a coffee drinker, have your morning beverage of choice ready to go (e.g. a tea bag and mug set out, a filled water bottle in the fridge, etc.)
Prep my oatmeal in a glass Pyrex dish to take and heat up at work for breakfast. These glass Pyrex dishes are my go-to glass containers. I prefer to use glass for anything I plan to heat or reheat in the microwave.
Prep as much of my lunch as possible.
Decide what I’m wearing for the next day. It’s one less decision in the morning and I can steam the clothes, if necessary. Here is the steamer I’ve been using for the last year. It heats up quickly, it’s portable, and stores easily.
Review any major tasks that need to be done the next day such as errands, appointments, or any other miscellaneous items. This way I can get a sense of how my day will flow and pack up any other items I may need to take with me. I’ll also make a to-do list of “must complete” tasks so I don’t forget.
Get my house ready for the next day. It may seem unnecessary, but waking up to a messy house triggers stress immediately for me. I’m not deep cleaning, but I mainly make sure the kitchen is clean and toys are picked up.
Shower and have a nighttime routine that winds me down from the day. I have thick hair and prefer to wash it at night so it’s dry by morning (it’s out of control, but at least it’s clean and dry). This straightener has been a lifesaver for those crazy hair mornings. It gets the job done quickly and doesn’t damage my hair. I don’t wash my hair every night, but I just like getting into bed at night feeling clean. It’s one less thing in the morning too.
You’re probably thinking, “This isn’t new information,” “I know what I need to do, I just need to do it,” or, “I don’t have the energy at night to do all of this.” I totally get it. The follow through of getting this stuff done the night before is the hardest part, but I’m one step a head of you.
Here are some additional tips to help you make it happen.
Just do it. Sometimes it’s that simple. If you recognize that these tasks have to get done regardless, procrastinating until the morning only leaves you wishing you would’ve done it the night before and/or causes you to miss something important. You’ll never regret getting it done at night.
Tell yourself you have the energy to do it. If you tell yourself you’re too tired, of course, you’re only going to feel tired. You’ve convinced yourself of that. Once you start feeding into the tired feeling, it’s hard to come out of it.
Don’t assume it will take a lot of time. This was a big one for me. I used to feel that getting all of this done would take up too much precious time of my night. I was wrong. I can usually get all this done within 30 minutes. That’s 30 extra minutes in the morning to relax, exercise, or a safety net for the unexpected and you don’t have to wake up any earlier for it.
Pair a new nightly task with something that is already routine in the evening. For instance, as you’re cleaning up dinner you could prepare/pack your breakfast and lunch for the next day since you’re already in the kitchen. This helps avoid making another mess later too. Having a trigger/cue is the first part of creating a habit. Use those existing routines to your advantage.
Listen to a podcast or audiobook. This is a great substitute if you would rather be sitting down watching tv at night. It’s a great distraction while getting everything done. I look forward to my evening routine because of podcasts.
I work a rotating schedule at work, so some mornings I have a little bit more time than others to get ready. Regardless of when I start work, I try to get up at the same time every day. It keeps my internal clock in a routine. I also try to get up before Quinn so I can get myself ready first. He’s an early riser (we’re talking 5:30 am), so it’s kind of hit and miss. Which is also why prepping as much as I can the night before helps with the uncertainty of the morning.
Although everyone’s morning looks different, it comes down to how you plan for it. Find a plan that makes the most sense for you and practice putting it into motion.
See you in the morning!
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