Practical Morning Tips
From an overstimulated, burnt out friend
Hi there sweet friends! I hope this article finds you with joy on this Monday. You know how sometimes you just wake up, choosing happiness? Today is that day.
To paint you a picture. I woke up this morning, kissed my husband goodbye as he left for work, brewed a pot of coffee, sat down, and read, with a lovely ambiance YouTube ambiance playing in the background. As I often say, there is something magical about being up in the early hours, before the world rises.
If you read my last newsletter, you know I got laid off a bit over a month ago, and if you haven’t, I linked it below. It’s on par for figuring it out as a gal in her 20s, nothing groundbreakingly new. The honest version of the last few weeks has been a lot of adulting, a lot of figuring it out, and if I’m being real, more couch time than I’d like to admit.
Playing Dolls, but I'm the Barbie
As younger girls, my cousin Kelly and I would disappear into her funhouse of an attic to play dolls for hours. Barbies, Bratz, American Girl Dolls. It wasn’t who we picked, it was what the story was to unfold.
An Introduction to My Blue Mornings
With everything feeling a little unsteady, I kept coming back to the same thing: a day without a foundation just spins. And for me, lately, that foundation has had to start in the morning. Not a perfect morning. Not a productive one, necessarily. Just one with enough structure to remind me who I am before the rest of the day has a chance to tell me otherwise.
I’m a checklist and to do list girl. If it isn’t in my iCal and just pops up, I am immediately driven with anxiety. But in the past few weeks, having a slower morning to actually reflect has brought me back to one recurring thought: taking the time to slow down, and be intentional with every act, provides real happiness. Unemployment, as uncomfortable as it is, has gifted me mornings. And I’ve been trying to use them well.
So these are the things that have been helping me — from one girl who doesn’t always want to get out of bed, to another.
The Habits Anchoring My Mornings
Waking up anyways!! Continuing to wake up early, despite the no agenda, agenda, has kept my sense of normalcy intact. I’m a nap girl…you can always bet on one somewhere in my day, and I make no apologies. But keeping a consistent morning time has been my quiet anchor. Windows open, candles lit, morning light coming in. Pure joy!
Pets first, then me. Our less dramatic orange kitty gets tended to first, then we’re off to the races. Potty walk, breakfast, refilling all the bowls. Full time pet mom hours. Only after is when I take care of myself in whatever way feels right for that morning. Ice rolling, an eye mask, throwing on something I can actually walk in later. Quick skincare, teeth brushed, low bun. It’s small. But it’s better than pajamas all day…though some days I cannot say that I am not in a moomoo happy as can be!
Phone stays away. Charged in another room, untouched in the AM. Emails? Nope. News? Hard pass. Texts? They can wait. I have enough in my head already, and checking my phone first thing only adds to it. I’ll call D once I’m fully up. He leaves earlier than I do, and some mornings I’m back asleep until 7. Other mornings I’m up before that, just me, my coffee, and my Kindle before the dogs wake up and the chaos begins
My current morning read which has been an absolute delight: How to Love Your Morning1: Faith Filled Habits to Build a Life of Joy and Purpose One Day at a Time, by Jennifer Dukes Lee
Another non phone activity I love to slow down in the morning: analog activity of choice! Mine is typically a word search, or NYT crosswords, quite literally anything to not get my eyes on my phone
A quick tidy before I sit down. I thrive when my home is clear. Not spotless, just clear. So I set a timer on Alexa for 30 minutes, throw on an audiobook, and knock out the key tasks before I let myself sit. It means my evenings can be quality time with D instead of endless to do’s. I want turndown service at night, not a chore list — loved the insight from the below publication, Intentional Allie
Quiet time — the cornerstone. This is what the whole morning is actually building toward. It is the moment I sit down on my couch, with nothing on my mind but to connect with Jesus. My Bible, a devotional, and my journal are my musts. The rotation often changes, in whatever I feel called to read. I am currently rereading the book of Ruth, and going through Acts with our church, but often deviate my reading depending on what I feel called to daily. Honestly, not every day is spent with as much time as I would like, but if I can have uninterrupted time with Jesus for 30 minutes, I feel wholly content for the day ahead
My current morning rotation: my Bible, Christian women Q&A daily (3y) journal, Hosana 5y prayer journal, my regular journal for my morning pages, + current devotional: Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is, Demi Tebow*
By this time it’s rolling close to 9AM, and I’ve had the luxury of a slow morning, geared to set me up for a successful day ahead.
It’s time to review the agenda, check in with loved ones, and begin the rest of my unplanned planned day.
I’m writing this post because I feel like as someone who loves reading about routines, and checklists I’m in a season where I’m lucky to change out of the pajamas I’ve been in for a few days too long. Yet, I am clinging to the Truth I know, which is Jesus has, and will provide, and it is up to me to continue to listen, obey, and act. So here I am, writing about my morning blues in hopes that whoever reading feels seen, and the white picket fence isn’t always a perfect shade (in fact, it’s probably way off white than you can even see, ha…get it?)
And until next time, I’d love to hear what something that is a part of your morning routine that is a necessity before your day begins?
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this resonated with me deeply! there is something about a tidy, quiet morning after pets have been fed and taken care of that truly feels like 'me time.' if you aren't pushing yourself to get up anyway, and leaving the phone alone, you're only shortening that 'me time' which should be sacred!
i have 3 cats and a dog, and it's been difficult to find the "right" routine that still prioritizes that downtime before work. but i've learned that phone off/away really helps.