A productive morning routine begins as soon as the alarm sounds. Mornings are busy, and they can be quite chaotic. This is especially true if you have kids that you have to help get ready and out the door before getting yourself ready for your morning match. And who plays well after getting a hectic start? Not me!
The good news is that it doesnโt have to be that way, no matter how busy the beginning of your day may appear.
Creating a Productive Morning Routine
The first few hours of the morning set the tone for the entire day. Do you want that tone to be one of frantic rushing about, or do you want it to be calm, collected, productive, and feeling in control? The choice is yours, and itโs all about embracing two simple concepts.
1. Getting Up Early
Donโt simply get up early. Get up early enough. Itโs tempting to hit the snooze button and catch a few more minutes of sleep, right? It can even be difficult to set the alarm early enough that you have plenty of time to accomplish everything.
I get it. If youโre not a morning person, setting the alarm 30 minutes earlier to carve out a little extra time can be tough. However, if you give it a try, youโll find that itโs not nearly as hard as you thought it would be after a few mornings. You get used to it very quickly.
You Snooze, You Loseโฆ Time
Avoiding the snooze button at all costs is the key to a morning that isnโt rushed. The problem with cutting your time too short, or worse, hitting the snooze button a few times is that it puts you behind schedule from the start.
You have to rush to make it out the door in time, making any minor problem or bump in the road a gigantic problem. Being unable to find the car keys transforms from a minor annoyance into a major catastrophe, possibly making the kids late for school or you late to your match.
Remember, a productive morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you begin your day behind and in a bad mood, thatโs likely how the rest of the day will go.
The Early Bird Gets a Great Day
Getting up early enough puts you ahead of the game. Youโre in control. Youโre able to take care of everything that you need to do in the morning in a calm manner and still have time for those things you want to work on for yourself. In short, getting up early sets you up for a productive morning routine and a productive day.
2. Restructuring Your Routine
Spend a little time thinking about your current morning routine and where youโre spending your time. Is it a productive morning routine or is it more like barely controlled chaos?
Think of things you can change and tweak to find more time for the things you really want to do. For example, if you want an extra 30 minutes of prep time for your league snack, look for things that you could take care of ahead of time, eliminate altogether, and delegate to make that 30 minutes a reality.
Letโs take a look at breakfast. If you spend a large part of your time in the morning making breakfast for everyone, ask your other half to do it on tennis days. Get a coffee maker with a timer (those are so great!). Teach the kids to make their own breakfast and put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
Another way to save time in the morning is to set out clothing the night before. Make sure your uniform is clean and ready to go, and the kiddos outfits are set out. I recently purchased this nifty organizer for my 8-year-old daughter, and itโs saved us both SO much time!
Also, keep tennis bags, book bags, purses, briefcases, car keys, and the like in a designated spot so that all everyone has to do in the morning is grab what they need as they head out the door.
Small Changes for a Productive Morning Routine
Small changes like the ones above can have a huge impact on your morning, turning a rushed race into a productive morning routine. I challenge you to look for ways to tweak your morning routine to make it more efficient and time-saving. Try to figure out ways to save yourself 30 minutes every morning. Itโs easier than you think!
1 comment
I don’t think I will ever have a “stress free” morning until all 5 of my kids have grown up and move out, lol! I’ve got 15 years left – hopefully, lol!