Fall is almost here and, for most of us, that means a new schedule, the resuming of school, and leaving behind the leisurely days of summer. I don’t know about you, but I always feel inspired to get more organized and back on track at this time of year.
One area that I really want to improve in my life is how I use my mornings. I had a great morning routine going before summer, but it all went out the window in July.
We weren’t on a strict schedule and I stayed up later than I should have many nights. This, in turn, meant that I got up later than I should have many days. By the time I got up and around and took the children to swimming lessons first thing in the mornings, it seemed like our day was half gone and I had little to show for it.
Summer is almost over and it’s time to get back on the ball — starting with my mornings. Because I’ve found that when I begin the day on the right foot, the whole day goes so much better!
And I’d love to have you join me! For the next three weeks, I’ll be hosting a Make the Most of Your Mornings Challenge here. We’ll be talking about specific ways to improve our productivity in the mornings, ways to make the mornings less stressful and chaotic, and how to start the day off well.
Each week day at 1 p.m. EST, I’ll be sharing some inspiring thoughts and practical steps to take to make the most of our mornings, I’ll be issuing a simple project or challenge for you for the following day, and I’ll be giving you an update on how my morning went and asking you to tell us how you’re doing, too.
I, like many of you, also struggle with the getting up before everyone else. Always looking for inspiration. This looks like a great place to start!
Im in! My biggest challenge is going to bed at a descent time. With 7 kiddos needing time & teaching, housework etc there’s hardly a minute to go to the bathroom by myself let alone have an uninterrupted conversation with my hubby! We both end up staying up entirely too late in order to spend time together or to just breath 😉
I don’t know if it counts for me to join in this late in the game but, here goes!
Just came across this! I was visiting my parents last week and had some time to do some thinking/planning. My biggest issue with our day is the way I start my mornings so I am beginning this challenge, just a little late! Thanks for doing this.
I’m with you! I just started my first blog over at http://motherhoodinajiffy.blogspot.com/, and I am super interested in effectively using my morning hours. However I could use some helpful tips an suggestions to get started! Thanks so much for posting!
So I know I’m late but according to my “motivational” sticky note it reads: Do it now, sometimes later becomes never… so I’m signing up now (even though I’m like 9 days behind) before it becomes NEVER 🙂
Love it! Just shared this quote on Facebook and Twitter!
Let’s do this! Mine would have to be getting up early before my kids.
Just saw your site and read this. What a neat thing. My summer went out the door the first of August, school started back here. It has been really hard getting back into the get up early routine. I am way behind with your Make the Most of Your Mornings, but I going start with week 1 and continue on.
I would love to participate in this as I sit here reading this at 11:11pm. I know staying up this late will make school mornings crazy ad I know I have to get back on track so we can all get out the door in a organized and non-frantic manner. I would really love to be able to wake up in time to exercise before my husband leaves by 6:30. If I wait to exercise after my kids get off to school my whole day is off and work begins too late. So I am in on this challenge:)
Yes, yes, yes. Even though i’m late. Hahaha. See, I Ned this. No more squandering my most productive time.
Just catching this on day six…I think it’s six! I’m so in. Morning is my most productive time. But so often I squander it on email, FB reading or other mindless things. Sigh. I’m in!
I desperately need to join this challenge! I am a relatively new stay-at-home-mom (7 months into my new ‘career’, to our 13 month old daughter), and often times feel very overwhelmed and unqualified! My biggest struggle is that my husband gets up at 4am to leave by 4:45am. I try to get up and get him out the door on a good note (breakfast, pack his lunch, etc), and then have my personal Bible study time and get a head-start on my day… before our little one wakes up. The only thing is… 4am comes early, especially if I’ve had to get up with our daughter in the night. I’m looking forward to this challenge and the results!
I’m game! SOOOO glad I happened to come across this page (not by chance, I’m sure) today. 2 days behind schedule, but ready to catch up! Thx for your blog!!
I am doing this! Getting up at 6 every morning is a challenge, but so worth it!
Count me in!
I am in need of a better morning routine. I have my daughter lay out her clothes the night before but our mornings are still a constant clothes battle. Help!
Is it too late to join
No, jump right in; we’d love to have you!
I would like to join! I will catch up. My biggest hurdle is sleep sleep sleep! With a full time job, a two year old little girl and a home to take care of, going to bed early is a daunting task! Even with my husbands help it is tough…always so many things to get done. If I go to bed on time, I get up early simple as that. It’s just doing it…once…and then again and again 🙂
It may seem obvious, but getting up at least an hour before everyone else in the house is extremely helpful!
I really am excited about this. Followed the freezer cooking challenge and it help change my kitchen and dinner time. Ready for this challenge and need it because my oldest is starting Kindergarten this month!
This is exciting. Wondering if you have tips for working moms. I have to be at work at 6:30 during the week. Not really wanting to wake up at 5:30 on weekends, too.
Oh yeah! I am sooooooooooooooo not a morning person.
I will definitely be joining the challenge. I was just thinking about the same thing! Great minds think alike. 🙂 Super excited to see your ideas
I have been thinking recently that I need to get “back on the ball” as well. With 2 girls (almost 6 mo. and 2 1/2 y.o.) routine is key to everyone having a good day AND still getting things done. 🙂
As a single working mother of 2 girls I need help getting us on schedule, I am looking forward to what you can teach me.
I usually get up way too late and feel rushed!
I am in. I need to getback on track because mydays just disappear when I sleep in too long!
I am excited about this challenge. I need to make the most of my mornings. Ideally I need to get up early… and I would like to stretch, and work on core exercises before work in the morning. If I can manage to just get this added to my morning routine – I will be happy. There is more that I need to do, but I am going to start small.
Great challenge… I am looking forward your posts AND making the most of my mornings.
I’m excited to participate. My biggest challenge is not feeling alert enough in the morning to read the Bible. With four kids, the best time to read the Bible is before I get the kids up for school. Unfortunately, I find it hard to concentrate and stay awake that early. I know I need to get to bed earlier!!
I find I don’t feel ready to face the day unless I have a plan in place.
I so need a challenge! My day goes so much better when I wake before my crew and have time to get a head start on chores, plan MIT’s, and enjoy a little quite time. Looking forward to great ideas.
I *really* need to get my mornings back in order! My biggest struggle these days is waking up before it’s time for hubby to leave for work. I used to be such a morning person, almost always up in time to see the sun rise. But ever since baby #6 was born last year, I can’t seem to catch up on sleep. (Or cleaning. Or anything, really. But I digress…) So, yeah, actually waking up when the alarm goes off would be a huge accomplishment for me!
I stay up too late and hit the snooze too many times and when
I get home from work I don’t fix dinner because I’m too tired!
I have been struggling with mornings all my adult life. I am just wired as a night owl. Unfortunately, the rest of the world (and my kids’ schools) don’t agree that the day should start at 10! I’m going to give this a shot.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I need to find some serious help with my mornings. My little one gets up super early and I drag around till around 8am-ish before I start getting motivated. This will be very helpful for me 🙂
My biggest challenge is the kids. The 3 yo wakes up grumpy. And the 6 yo doesn’t wake up or function before 10 am! I’ve been trying all summer to get us all on a good morning routine.
I’m in!
Thanks Crystal!
What a GREAT idea. I am going to follow along and do the best I can.
I have never been a morning person – NEVER. And with a husband that works shift work, it’s quite easy to vary my schedule/sleep times based on his.
My biggest problem with getting up in the morning is hitting snooze. I just cannot get out of bed when that alarm goes off!
I have never followed something like this but I am looking forward to it.
Challenge – get up before the kids! They usually hear me and get up right after me, no matter when I get up.
I am so excited to read this series! My biggest problem is if the Princess gets up before I do, or if she gets up when I am in the middle of my morning routine. She’s autistic and doesn’t want to wait until I’ve finished whatever I have going (like my Bible reading) to give her her shower. She’s nonverbal, so she screams at me to express her displeasure, and then we’re both in a cranky mood to start the day. I really need some inspiration to get in bed earlier and get up earlier to get my routine going before she gets up!
Count me in! I’m always down to try your challenges, and they always help me in the end anyway, too. Let’s do this!
I’m in! I’m so excited. I actually started working on this before you posted this! Awesome!
I am in!!! Thank the Lord I really need these lessons!! 🙂
I am in I need to get more organized my oldest starts kindergarden in less then two weeks. My almost 4 yo starts preschool in three weeks. Not to metion have a 21 month old and a 10 wk old. So getting everyone where they need to be, and keeping the little ones content will mean mommy needs to be up and ready to GO!!!
I am in. I also need to reconstruct my routine from summer.!
Great idea. I need inspiration to go to bed earlier and start earlier.
Yes! This is awesome! I’ve just recently started waking up at least a half an hour before my family, and boy do I get a lot done! 🙂
breanneslifeblog.blogspot.com
My challenge is getting up before my kids. I love to stay up late with my hubby and it’s hard to be disciplined!
Getting up before our 3yr old. I can get up before and he’ll get up with me within 2wks. Bed time is at 8 ( at the latest). He is up at 6am, 7@ the latest. Dh and I go to bed around 9pm. I need ideas on how to get just like 30min to myself in the morning.
Joining in, a day late! ;). I have a 2.5 year old and a 7 week old and things are crazy around here in the morning (all day really)! I would love some help with getting things more organized in the mornings!
I’m in – I’m doing HelloMornings from Inspired to Action, so I’m already ready to maximize my mornings!
I’m in! I think my most difficult thing in the morning is not feeling like drill instructor- barking “hurry up” to my daughter who is a dawdeler by nature. By the time we get her (and us) out the door, I am frazzled and grumpy. Am I the only one who feels this way?
I am so nervous about how things are going to go for us come Sept. My daughter starts kindergarten and my husband is starting a new job. my son will have to be at daycare, my daughter at her before-school program, and both my husband and I have to be at work all before 7 am and with one vehicle. The thought of it is causing huge amounts of stress so any tips are welcome!
I’m in! We start back to school tomorrow and my morning routine during the summer has been nonexistent. My main challenge is preparing the night before for a successful morning.
I love this! I always say I’m going to get up and work out in the morning…but never seem to get around to it. I have a 5 month old and a 2 year old, so I don’t seem to ever get enough sleep, and then in the morning I struggle just to get out of bed and take care of them. Anything extra just goes out the window! I’d love to know how to get on a schedule even when I’m exhausted and struggling just to keep up!
Jumping in with you 100%. I was at the homeschooling conference in Richmond and sat in on your session. I took away from that a number of things but this particular challenge in particular. We have four girls and this year we are embarking on homeschooling, which is exciting, but I know the key to success there and with our family needs, getting off to a good start in the morning is key. It is always nice to travel these challenges together. I look forward to seeing what happens by the end of the third week. Thank you for taking time to challenge so many of us – Blessings as you start of the school year and this challenge as well.
thank you! i’ve been feeling like queen of the sloths lately. the hardest thing for me is merging conflicting schedules. i should get up at 530-600am and try to be in bed by 9pm but hubby leaves for work at 9am and returns about 8-10pm depending on the day. so if i do that, i don’t see him much as he tries to be in bed by 11pm and up at 8am. usually though, we sacrifice much sleep to see each other or the kids. then my brain is fuzzy and i don’t get things done very productively.
I’m a day late but looking forward to this series. My biggest challenge is that I have to get my 2 year old and 3 1/2 year old out the door to daycare before work. My hubby and I have it planned for me to stay home by the time our daughter is 4 in January but till then I need all the advice I can get :0)
I am in! I was just talking with my husband about this. I used to get up when his alarm went off and I got so much done before my little ones rise between 5 and 6. Can’t wait to see the challenges!
This has been on my mind lately. I’ll have to play catch up since I’ll be gone this week, but this is so timely. 🙂
My biggest issue is not waking up before my kids. I feel like if I could do that consistently, I would get a head start on the day. Unfortunately, with my husband’s schedule being what it is (second shift-gets home around 11:30) this makes things very difficult if I want to get adequate sleep. I always wait up for him and save his dinner for him and then we talk for a bit so bedtime is always very late for us. But the kids don’t sleep any later lol! Plus, being pregnant with my fifth, I really have to be sure I get a good night’s sleep just to be able to function during the day. I still haven’t figured out how to make everything work with this new schedule. I would love some suggestions from other women whose husbands work second shift.
I’m very excited about this! I have tried to implement a morning routine, but with my daughter (4.5 months) still waking to eat at 5am, it’s been harder than I expected.
My biggest challenge will be getting to bed early. I had my fifth child on May 26 and my husband has been home the whole summer. (He teaches at a community college.) He goes back to work tomorrow and I’ll begin school with the four older kids. I agree that mornings are crucial to a good day, but I know I need more sleep since I’m nursing a baby during the night. I’ll join the challenge and see if I can make the most of each morning.
This is just what I need! Just when I get up early so does my 1 year old. Also my kids don’t go to school until 9 so I feel like we all need to be more productive.
Since I’ve started working outside the home, my mornings have been rather hectic. I’m not a morning person, but need to be. I need to get up earlier and I really need to incorporate an early morning workout (I cringe at the thougth) at least 2 days a week.
My biggest challenge is getting up early enough to get everything done. I work hard at getting to bed early enough but some nights there are things that keep me out until late.
Count me in!
I’m in! Not sure what my biggest challenge is. Maybe just keeping a “happy heart”, not feeling bored and restless and overwhelmed by things to do and no way to peacefully do them with kids in tow. I’m looking forward to good tips!
I’m really excited about this challenge. I need some motivation to get back on track with school approaching just next week for us! I think just getting up and moving to help me start on my “to do” list before heading out to work that way I’ll have less to do when I get back home would be great!
My biggest challenge is myself! We stay up late after the baby is in bed and I am dragging the next morning, but I really want to be up and moving and feel more productive!
I have a 17 month old girl so no school yet but I too need to avoid the TV and get chores done or just spend time with my daughter before I go to work in the afternoon. ( I work the evening shift). I’m on board for the challenge! Can’t wait to here what you have in mind….
SOunds great!
I’d love to try this out! I do need to ‘kickstart’ my mornings. I’m at work every weekday by 730am, but I’m so not a morning person. I shower at night, get my clothes out so in the morning, I put on my clothes, throw some paint on (make up!) and get out the door within about 20-30 minutes. I’d love to be able to be more productive and get up early, maybe exercise or read or something. Can’t wait to start!
Count me in! Our schools have already started last week and my boys start this week at home. My biggest helper went off to a college prep high school this year.I was just asking for prayer on this yesterday.we have been so busy this summer our priories are off and no matter how many times I clean it always looks the same ;(
The biggest challenge for me is getting up and around before my 6 month old, after my husband leaves for work at 6am. I keep in the back of my mind that I have to get through a full workday too!
Sounds just like what I need to get motivated!
Herring put the door by 7a m with a newborn! I’m a F T M having trouble establishing a working morning routine and i just started back to work.
I’m with you. I’ve known for a long time that I get way more done in the morning than at any other time of day. I’d love some new tips to keep me motivated. Thanks!
I’m definitely taking part with you!! My mornings have become terrible lately, and I don’t have the excuse of holidays leading me down that path like you do!!
I have the hardest time resisting the urge to sit on the computer before I head to work. This wastes precious time that I could be doing so many other things! I’m excited about this series- it is something I need!
I’m in! My biggest morning struggle is getting that quiet time/prayer time/productive time before the kids descend on me!
This sounds like a great challenge for me. I am up every morning at 4:30. By 6:30, I have made lunch and driven my daughter to work, made a pot of coffee for Hubby’s thermos, packed his lunch and sent him off to work, and tossed a load of laundry in the washer. The problem is after everyone leaves and the house quiets down, so do I! I have the worst time motivating to get anything done until noon time and by then half my day is gone. I look forward to being more productive in the mornings!
I’m in! My biggest challenge is getting the kids on the ball to get themselves ready in the morning.
I’d love to join in! My biggest challenge is getting up in time to get myself and the kids ready so we can get to school and work on time…okay, to get ANYWHERE on time!
I’m totally in!! I work from home and with a 2 year old and 2 month old its really hard to get anything done and still feel like I’m giving them the attention they deserve. I know maximizing my mornings is the key but I struggle a lot with motivation. I’m NOT a morning person and LOVE sleep. Excited to try and make some serious changes!
I’m in!
I am in!
My husband wakes me up in the morning before he leaves. Usually, I roll over and go back to sleep until one of the kids comes in and says good morning to me. If I get up and take a shower when hubby first wakes me up, I am off to a better start. It is just hard, and I always stay up too late- like right now. 1AM and here I am reading this blog and commenting!
This would be awesome for me, because my days don’t seem to start until around 4:00PM! My husband works nights therefore sleeps in at least until noon everyday. So my 2 year old daughter (who is a night owl anyway) is on a roughly 10-11 schedule depending on what’s going on and if she decides to nap. This way, if she does need to nap, it’s right when my husband is out the door and we can both spend a precious few (literally 2 or sometimes 3) hours with him before it’s back to work and sleep. My mornings usually consist of running errands if needed and keeping her quiet so she doesn’t wake him! I do the majority of my housework late at night, but by then I’m totally dragging and go to bed at 2AM feeling completely defeated and unproductive. (Her room is off the living room on one side of the house, and our room is off the living room on the other side of the house, so I try to be quiet quite a lot!) Another problem I have is my daughter has a slight physical condition with her ankles and is so far unable to stand or walk without assistance (though thru her physical therapist is making wonderful progress!) I have her help me with as much housework as I can think of, but I’m still having to help her. (For example: she loves spraying glass cleaner and furniture polish, but I have to her hold up for anything about her waist high and help her walk back and forth.) I’ve tried many times to go to bed early and get up before her but she always hears me and is up ready to go! I just feel like I live in a constant disaster area in a quiet zone!
Prioritizing everyone’s “needs” first thing.
I am looking forward to participating. My biggest challenge is staying up late the night before to finally have some alone time (seven children and a husband) and then not getting out of bed when the alarm goes off to begin the day with the Lord. The day is just a rush from the very beginning and I am fighting a desire to crawl back in bed the whole day. Not efficient at all!
Going to bed when I should and getting up on time!
I am in!
I am with you!
Awesome your doing this !
Would like to hear more tips on getting to bed Early and Rising Early !!
See you tomorrow !
hugs to all.
Great idea! My little one is going to Kindergarten this year so this school stuff is new to me too! How successful your mornings go can sometimes set the course for the rest of the day, so I think accomplishing a lot in the morning is important. I’d love to read whatever ideas you may have, thanks!
I am so excited for this series! It is much needed in our home. I work full-time and I am a full-time student. It is caos in our home trying to get things going for the day and I miss my devotion time. It can be hard to get that in when I am chasing my 3 kids around. I feel like the our busy life have started to be too busy and I need to take back control of our home! Starting with my mornings 🙂
My biggest challenge is getting out of bed or getting started on anything once I’m up.
I’m in!! I really could use some inspiration. Need to get 4 kids ages, 13, 7, 6 and 4.5 out the door by the 7:30 for school. I try to get up before them, but it doesn’t always work. If my mornings can be productive and less stressful, it would be a blessing!
My biggest challenge is just getting the motivation to do ANYTHING lol. My 20-month-old STILL doesn’t sleep through the night, so by the time morning rolls around I feel like I haven’t slept at all.
I’m in! I work, but I wish I could get up early and get a few household things done beforehand so when I come home I won’t feel so overwhelmed!
Ugh! I NEED to try this challenge in a big way. Summer has found our family up in numbers (adopting 2 school aged boys!) I have lost all routine and structure and need to find it again! By nature I am a night owl, but not a super productive one! I know that if I could drag myself out of bed before everyone I could get so much more done in the day. Looking forward to the challenge!!
I am with you, Crystal. Um, my biggest challenge is getting things done before I jump on the computer to check my email, FB. I can’t wait to see your ideas!
Hello!
I notice that after I get up in the morning, I tend to check Facebook and read a few blogs… looking for an inspiration for me to get started my day. I also notice that it is killing my time. Mornings goes quite fast…
I look forward to learn of how to use time wise and be productive in every mornings.
I would love to participate. I have a hard time getting up early. I want to prepare breakfast for my kids before school and maybe throw in some exercise.
Yessss!!!!!! I am totally in!!! My biggest challenge is little ones still waking up at all hours of the night/unpredictability of when my morning will actually begin.
I’d definitely like to participate. I think my greatest morning challenge is going to be earlier at night. Insomnia has given way to habit, I think. I’m on for any good ideas…
I would like to join and wil do my best, but I really strugglw with this! In my house, all of our bedrooms are close and the second I get up, my young (4 and 2) kids hear me and are up, not to mention that they get up pretty early as it is. So, most of the time, me getting up just ends up being take care of the kids and not get mommy things done time!
Count me in! We have had a great summer, but need to get back on track. I want to have my 4.5 year old be more accountable for his own school stuff which will be great, but will mean we need to have a bit more time built in to our mornings.
I would love to learn how to get my mornings organized, right now it seems like total chaos.
I think the best way to have a productive morning is to prepare the night before.
I am excited for this challenge and would love to link back progress! My biggest challenge is creating a schedule with a pregnancy and teething one year old zapping my get up and go I need lots of time management!
My biggest challenge is getting out of bed and ready for the day before my kids. I am not a morning person but I really need to make this a priority because it sets my day off to a good start so that I have a few things done already.
Yes! This is just what I need. With school starting back for my boys in 2 weeks, I will have about an hour and a half in the mornings to myself before I have to go to work. What to do with that time? Probaly not check email and facebook, etc because that sucks a lot of time from me and then I have nothing to show for it. Let’s see how I can use this time more wisely!
My biggest challenge is my co-sleeping daughter
I want to! I really hate mornings. They are full of cajoling and arguing and threatening and frustration! I have a 2 year old who is just so hard to get to do anything. It’s amazing we make it anywhere.
I am in. I struggle with getting up early.
My biggest challenge is getting out of the bed when my alarm goes off.
I’m so ready for this challenge! I struggle getting up in the morning and pay for it when my 2 yr old won’t let me eat breakfast or get my self in order to make my day more productive. I think if I can get myself on the right track in the mornings then everyone in the family will follow suit. Thanks for this series, it is so what I need to start the school yr off right.
So excited for this challenge! Hopefully you can convince me that email and Facebook dont have to be looked at by 5:15 a.m. or my world will explode!
Count me in! I struggle with getting sidetracted in the mornings, I start off pretty good but then I get distracted with TV , computer etc. and before long, its lunch time.
My biggest roadblock to productive mornings is the fact that I stay up way too late at night and then I’m dragging in the mornings. My husband typically doesn’t get home before 7:30 or 8, so I don’t get any time with him until after bedtime. Most nights we are up until around midnight.
This challenge will be great for me–I love your challenges. My biggest challenge is being disciplined with my time on the computer and/or not trying to go back to sleep after getting up to make my husband’s lunch. I just need to be productive.
I am participating! Getting everything finished before I have to leae in the AM is my challenge. I would like to maximize my time before I leave. Not just getting dressed, and breakfast.
I’m looking forward to this! My two oldest are both in full day school (started today) and my youngest is going to preschool 3x a week, starting in September. I have my own business (at home) and will be working on the mornings that all 3 are gone. I need to figure out how to best organize my time to get morning chores done, Bible study, get the kids off to school, etc., before starting work. I absolutely want to/need to capitalize on the time they’re all gone by focusing almost exclusively on work so I need to be extremely organized with my use of time in the early morning hours. Thanks for helping us all out, Crystal!
My biggest challenge is enjoying the peaceful time with my coffee and email!! Without my even realizing it, this relaxing morning wake-up ritual can stretch into 2 hours… So it looks like I don’t have a problem with the peaceful part, but have a real problem with the productive part – I can’t wait for this challenge.
I am extremely slow to get going, even though I get up early. So I think I need help getting through my routine faster so I make the most of the time. Right now I get up at about 6:00 and stare off into space and generally get distracted until my kids are up at about 7:00.
My biggest challenge in the morning is that I hit the snooze button way to many times, which, in turn, leaves me with no time to spare and doesn’t allow an opportunity to get mentally charged for the day that lies ahead of me.
Ackkkk! This is just what I need! My mornings have gotten so unproductive. I can’t wait to join in!
My biggest challenge to a peaceful and productive morning is that I get up the same time as my four children. I would love to wake up before them, about an hour before and have coffee ready to go.
I´m in!! I volunteer two mornings a week at a community center for Hispanics and need to have lunch ready at 12 noon within 30 minutes of my getting home so that my husband can eat before he goes in to second shift I need some real planning and organizing. It is also so hard for me to get up before my children for some me time. My youngest is a 1 year old who is still waking at night a lot and wakes up the minuet I get out of bed and then I spend the rest of the morning trying to keep everyone quite so daddy can sleep. I feel like I spend all day trying to play catch up barely getting anything done or having time to spend with my family and night after the kids are in bed is spent trying to get the cleaning done so things are at least presentable for our new day. Somehow somewhere everything is falling apart and I am hoping a productive morning will help!!
I am totally in!! My biggest challenge is actually getting myself out of bed before my kids are up… The intention to do so is there when I go to bed but it is a whole different story when morning actually arrives.
I TRY to do as much laundry as I can before the kids leave for school. I do a load and hang it outside on the line (saves money with electric dryer) and any loads that I like in the dryer like towels, I alternate loads so a machine is always going and I try to get everything hung outside to dry so I can get other things done or leave the house without loads sitting in the machines…The I takea them off the line in order of which rooms they go in so I can just walk threw the house and put each pile on the bed in each kids room.
My biggest issue would be getting the kids out of the house by 7:30 and getting myself to work at 8 am. It never fails that someone is always behind. Making the morning routine run smoother is my priority.
I am SO in!! Just this morning, first day back to school for two of my kids, I got up a little earlier to start back with my quiet time. I was shocked and really quite ashamed to open my prayer journal and see the last date: 6/12/12!! Totally let the summer get away from us, but I am getting back on track!! Thanks for the encouragement!
I’m ready for this! I am not a morning person, but we are starting home school for the first time around here, and I want to be up, dressed, devotions done, and breakfast ready when the kids get up. I find that our days go much smoother if I am up before everyone else (yawn!).
This is perfect! I try to do too much in the morning and by the time I look at the clock it is almost lunch time. Somedays I feel like all I am doing is housework and not spending anytime with my kids. So frustrating!!!!
ugh! i know, right?! i was getting up every day at 5 or 530 (almost always without an alarm clock). now? i am up when my husband’s alarm goes off and im draggin’ all day! it is terrible. at least i am still getting my workout in…glad that hasn’t fallen apart. anyway, count me in!!
http://houseofwoyaks.blogspot.com
My biggest challenge is getting up and ready for the day before my kids get up.
This year my oldest will be starting middle school and he must be in school by 7:15 at the latest to be ready for classes to begin at 7:30. I have three children and really need to be organized every morning to get my two oldest to school ontime without the mad rush…..I drive them both to school, so with the lines to wait in being organized will be key for me. My youngest will be in a special education preschool for a couple of hours each morning starting in September- I want to use those few hours to their fullest after the first week or more of tears.
My biggest challenge each and every morning is just getting started (moving). I get up and sit down with my early morning tea. By the time I savor each minute of drinking my tea and waking up, I’m behind time and hurrying to leave on time, which I never do. I am always running about 20 minutes behind.
Getting out of my comfy bed before my kids wake up is a daunting task! I also struggle staying focused on the things I NEED to do and find myself doing trivial unproductive things during those precious moments of kid free time.
Sounds perfect! Would love some advice on a functional morning routine. We already will be getting up at 550 this year so I personally don’t think I could get up any earlier but i would love some tips on how to stay focused. I feel like most days i’m spinning around in circles not completing anything I start. Count me in 🙂
Yes, I would love to participate. I am trying to get back to my morning routine this week actually so this comes at a great time. My biggest challenges are actually getting up and not getting sidetracked once I am up.
I do OK until I sit down for a “couple minutes to check email” and then 2 hours later after time on Pinterest, reading blogs and even playing a couple games, I donot feel like doing anthing more. Maybe this challenge will get me to stay off the PC or in front of RV long enough to do something productive before I give into my vises. I so not have children to contend with, but do have parrots, dogs and cats that need attention to their needs. Having raised 3 children, I can say they are easier as they can do for themselves most of the time. Animals need you to fix the food, open the door, ETC. Looking forward to the challenge. Hope it can make me organize my time better.
Great timing! I’ve been thinking that I need to be more disciplined about getting up earlier, especially now that all my kiddos are sleeping through the night on a regular basis. I’d love to get to the point where I’m up, read my Bible, and then out for a brisk walk before the littlest one is up and ready to nurse (I’m blessed to have a husband who works from home!). Glad to join you, on some level at least! 😉
Boy do I need this! If I had my way, morning would start at noon! I have never been a morning person, and I know I need to get up before my kids to get going, but the bed feels SO good when my alarm goes off!
Anyway, thanks for starting this….
Rebecca
Right now, my biggest challenge is just plain getting enough sleep! I have a 2 month old, a three year old, a 5 year old, and a 7 year old. My two month old is up 3-4 times a night, my 5 and 7 year olds are both required to be at school by 8am, and my husband works nights at the hospital and substitute teaches during the day a few times a week. Life is a bit crazy right now and while I want to get up early every morning to excercise and read, and just plain have a little time to wake up before herding children, it seems impossible with six different schedules to juggle and 3-4 hours of sleep a night (if I’m lucky). Any ideas??
This is just what I need! I’m always trying to get up early so I can have some “me” time before we all start the day but my 6 yo seems to sense when I’m up and sabotage my morning plans. Let’s hear it for all day 1st grade starting in 3 weeks…YAY!
I don’t have any little ones in the house anymore, but when I can get on a routine it sure helps me feel productive at the end of the day. Lately, it seems like I can’t get that morning routine going. So I’ll be looking for some inspiration to get back on track.
Me!
I’m a newlywed so I’m still working on a schedule. My husband has an academic job, so we’ve been able to be really flexible this summer. He goes back to school in a few weeks and I start teaching part time next week. I’ve got to get back into the habit of getting out the door by 7:15…
OMG I can’t get up out of the bed! I am wide awake before the alarm goes off, and yet I just stay there looking up at the ceiling and I just can’t get up! HELP ME!!!
I am totally in on this one! I have a hard time getting motivated/up to get things done before the kids get up. My husband leaves at 5 AM and it feels like I have just gotten back to a good sleep when the kids get up 7 or 7:30.
I would love to join you on this. My 2 year old just started preschool today and I would love to make sure I very productive days while he is at school. I got on a great schedule when I did the last challenge with making a list of all the things I planned to do but fell off track, hope this helps to get me back on schedule!
YES!!! I am in. Thank you so much for this challenge! I need this bad! 🙂
I’m not a morning person…never have been, never will be. However, I’m up for the challenge and look forward to hints on ways to make my mornings more productive and inspiring!
This is such a great idea! I need to get back on track…this summer has just sucked the life out of my schedules 🙂
I think my biggest problem right now is that I set my alarm for 6 a.m., but I don’t get up until closer to 6:45. Then I have just enough time to make a cup of coffee, read one or two pages of my Bible, and then my kids are up.
The rest of the day isn’t any better…lunch is late most days and I’m not getting my laundry put away (and other chores done) because I spend too much time looking at stuff online or doing other mindless stuff.
I have a great morning routine that works well, but I also have let it slip away during these lazy days of summer! I get up w/hubby @ 5, he leaves at 6 and our 4 kids usually do not get up til 7:30. My challenge is getting in gear and using that hour& a half wisely. I also really want to model to & encourage my children to have a wisely planned morning routine. We homeschool & sometimes I enjoy my quiet morning so much I let them sleep a lil later than I should….
I’m so excited for this! I’m going back to school this fall (classes start tomorrow – eek!) and I’ll still be working part-time and of course a full-time relationship with the hubby 😀 I definitely need to use my mornings well to be able to balance all my responsibilities, so this series comes at a great time!
Truly this is a sign from the Lord and couldn’t have come at a better time! I had just decided to start this week making changes to our routine in preparation for starting our home school year.
My biggest challenge right now is that my husband used to work a night shift schedule, and has for a long time. We kept that schedule with him so he could have time with the kids, but now he has been moved to more of a morning schedule. I have 6 kiddos who are all used to being night owls! So, hubby must go to bed earlier and I am trying to adjust the babies to going to bed earlier. Until it happens we are going to bed later and getting up later and that is really putting a dent in the day. I have started by backing everything up starting at dinner and getting bedtime in earlier by 15 min. increments. (Working with the olders, but babies are being less cooperative,lol.)
Looking forward to this!
2 challenges:
1. I am a slow starter in the morning and not able to utilize caffeine due to health concerns.
2. Sometimes I don’t sleep well and end up sleeping in.
i will be joining you and my most troube area is getting up and time management lol
Count me in too! Now that I don’t have to be out the door for work and am staying home with our son I need some good ideas to make the most of my time! Great series at a great time!
Thanks!
I think just getting up is my biggest problem. Once I’m out of bed, I’m Super Woman. My husband keeps a fan on at all times when he’s sleeping, and it makes the room ice cold in the morning. I never want to leave my cozy bed.
I have downstairs neighbors and I can’t be too active when I get up in the mornings (at 5:30), but I’d love to make some kind of plan to eat breakfast, catch the AM news, and do a few quiet household chores before I leave for work at 6:30.
My biggest challenge is getting up early enough to make good use of my mornings. I get up once or twice a night to feed my six-month-old, and I don’t go to bed early enough to get up early. So I just get up when my baby gets up, which makes it hard to shower or study the scriptures.
I’m retired & live alone, but my mornings are getting slower as time goes by. I’m actually a morning person, but have a bad habit of getting on the internet & then not having a quiet time, or excercise, or getting dressed, or having breakfast. Next thing I know, it’s lunchtime.
Looking forward to this challenge!
Thank you for this! As the kids go back to school tomorrow I’m looking forward to the break (after a summer of constant fighting)! There’s so much I “should” do! I need help in just doing things step-by-step instead of being overwhelmed by the magnitiude of all the “To Do’s.” Proscrastination and perfectionism are my greatest enemies!
I really don’t have too much of an issue with the need for peaceful mornings — once the kids are out the door to school it is peaceful. My problem is being productive! It is too easy for me to get onto facebook, pinterest, etc and spend hours and hours without realizing it. Next thing I know, it is Noon and my day has been wasted!
I’m in! Mornings have never been easy for me… I’m not a morning person. I do know that getting to bed early/earlier would help so maybe I can add that as a challenge to myself!
This is sooo what I needed!!! My hardest part is going to bed early and then trying to physically get out of bed.
I’m 100% in!
In January I had my first baby, so finding my routine has been a little challenging. Then, over the summer our two nephews (6,7 years old) came to live with us. Talk about a life transition! As we approach school I have been excited to get into a solid routine. Our nephews will be attending our church’s school so we will be up and out the door early. I would like to meet them each morning refreshed from good Bible reading and prayer, and energized from a good work out.
Thanks for the accountability!
I’m in! Just what I need after this fun, crazy, unstructured summer we’ve had!!
I am pretty good about rising early its a natural thing in me. But the area we have been sufferring is in our quiet reading. A year ago you suggested reading for 5 mins every morning. I started this and found I was reading through my books plus I had the children doing it as well. It was a quiet way to start the morning and I felt accomplished. Of course life happens and we stopped the routine. How do you stay encouraged to press on even in the midst of lifes struggles. I am up for a challenge though! We homeschool too and will be starting our year in a couple weeks
My biggest problem is…. I just can’t bring myself to get up before 9. Our schedule is a later one. My hubby gets off work no earlier than 7pm, usually later. We eat around 8 or 9pm some nights, and after bedtime routines my 3 and 1.5 yo get to bed around 10 or 10:30pm.
My daughter, 3, will get up around 8am, come in and talk to me where she’s instructed to play quietly in her room. My hubby gets up around 8:30 am for work at 9 am. My son, 1.5, will sleep til 9:30 am or just play quietly until I get him up (quiet and sweet baby).
I know I need to spend time with God everyday, but I only naturally do it maybe once a week at most I’m ashamed to admit. I feel the only way to create that habit is if I can just get up early… Every time I try, I reason why sleep is more important. I don’t know why I’m always so tired, I’m not pregnant… I don’t think… Lol!
Also we’re going to start our homeschool routine in the fall. I know they’re young, but I feel like I should get used to everything and make good habits.
I am sooo in! My days seem like a blur and with an active 3 yo in tow, I would love to get my day set up for success vs. my failures of always being behind. I miss crafting, which I enjoyed pre-baby and long to create a schedule where I can get all my “chores” and stuff done before the afternoon naptime so that I can enjoy crafting then. I find that now I am chasing my schedule and when the afternoon naptime comes around I am either too tired to do anything motivating or else find that I am trying to run around and play catch up! This couldn’t have come at a better time…thanks in advance by the way Crystal! 🙂
I’ve been struggling with any kind of routine for a long time. My schedule changes every week and it’s just hard to have any kind of routine in place.
I’m in! My biggest challenge is that my youngest of three (19 mos.) is in a very high-maintenance stage right now, not talking yet, but constantly getting into trouble and fussing, no matter how much attention I’m giving him.
My problem is getting up before my 3 kids do so I can start the day less stressed.
My biggest challenge is not giving in to “self” and sleeping longer and just dozing and putting off the morning. In theory, I want to get up, but I feel drugged for about 15 to 20 minutes upon waking. Praying I can make some changes.
My biggest struggle is sticking with my schedule for more than a week or two! It all comes down to me getting out of bed when I should… 😉
Well we are heading into spring here in Australia but i’m still in, any help with motivation to get things done in here in the mornings will be great.
My biggest challenge is getting up before my kids and making sure the kitchen is clean before we go to bed.
I would love to particpate! Even though I’m a morning person, I feel so overwhelmed with day to day stuff that has to get done — at least, to me it has to. Type A Personality — no doubt! My daughter will start 1 st grade on August 27th, and my husband is a shift-worker at my area chemical plant. I would easier to live with if I were less grouchy!
Sounds like a good challenge to me. I’ve got 4 kids and they’ll be in 3 different schools this year, (elementary, middle, and high.) I’m already good at prepping the night before, this year I’d like to add planning my lunch box menus more in advance and prepping food for those on the weekends.
I’m absolutely in! I find that when the kids are in school it’s easier to get things accomplished but during the summer and really any day it’s so easy to get sucked into my computer – checking emails, working, catching up with friends and doing research it seems like there are more days than not that I feel like I’ve spent all day on the computer!
i need to get my mornings back on track.. The biggest obstacle is being online with emails and FB. FB is the worst for me! I get on it and wow two hours are gone.
I am SO in!!! I have just started walking in the morning with a few friends and im up at 515 to start that. So, this nightowl is trying to change her ways! I want to be as productive as I can in the morning before the kids get up and we get ready to start school. I try so hard to make sure the kitchen is cleaned up before bed and things like that so they arent staring me in the face when I get up but if I could get dinner going, school stuff together, blog some, have some quiet time, any of those would be great! Looking forward to the motivation!!
Thank you!!! As the sun is coming up later so am I. This is exactly what I need to reel me back into a productive morning. Will you be posting your new fall schedule as well?
I need help getting motivated in the mornings. I have a REALLY bad habit of sitting on the couch with my laptop and coffee and hanging out there for far too long. I know I have the most energy in the morning, so I need to learn how to capitalize on that and get moving!
My biggest struggle in the morning is managing “my” time (checking emails, getting lists together for the day, getting ready, ect) and making sure I am getting my 3 kiddos ready in time for what ever we are doing that day. So often my daughters hair does not get brushed because we just run out of time. I always feel so behind in the mornings, even when I try to be productive and prepared the night before.
Let’s give it a shot! My biggest challenge is my little one, up at 5AM!!! My oldest is also starting preschool, so this fall will be interesting to say the least. Looking forward to some good tips! Thanks!
i would like to particpate in the challegene
I will be definately joining this. I have 5 kids that I need to get back into the swing of things for school in 3 weeks and I HATE MORNINGS! So any challenge taht gets me up and allows me to do something productive IM ALL FOR IT. I cant wait.
I would like to join the challenge. My biggest challenge in the morning is waking up a little earlier.
Nice idea – I fall into the same “summer sleep” boat – no more!
I need to start getting up BEFORE the kids. Currently, I get up when my two year old wakes me over the monitor. My mornings are not as productive as they should be and I get no “alone” time since I homeschool. I’ve been needing a new moring routine for a long time!
My main problem is staying up too late. I got up early one day last week and it was amazing what a difference it made! My oldest is starting school in a few weeks so we will have to be out the door by 8am every morning. We aren’t even up at that time most days! This challenge came at a great time for me,. Looking forward to participating!
I’m in! Our biggest struggle in our home is my husband’s schedule – his office has three different start times, and each week, he starts at a different time. This week, he’s working 9:30-6 pm, next week is 8-4:30, and the following week is 6:50-3:20. Talk about annoying. We tend to sleep in on the late weeks, and stay up later, but with preschool starting soon, I gotta get myself on a regular schedule for the kids. 🙂
I’m in…bring it on!
Meeeeee!! My biggest problem is getting out of bed, as well as getting sidetracked when I am finally up. Blargh!
I need to do this. I stay up too late and then I get up too late to even take a shower some mornings before work.
I am definitely on board. I need my husband and children to also understand the importance of getting up early and being organzized. Not sure I will get them to change their ways!
Yay! Sign me up! My biggest challenge is just simply getting up before my kiddos to get exercise in. I’d love to also get my quiet time done in the morning as well, but not sure how to get both exercise and quiet time done before 6:30 when my kiddos get up. Also, getting to bed early is also a challenge!! Thanks for letting us get on board with you!! 🙂
I’m in! My daughter is starting kindergarten and now we need to be up about 90 minutes earlier. Getting back on track with your challenge would be great!!
I’ll give this a try! I have a newborn-enough said:)
I’m game!
I have a different sort of challenge, as my kids are 17 and 18, so they stay up later than I do and at times disrupt my sleep. It will be interesting this fall as the older son starts college (living at home). Wish me luck 😉 This sounds like a super fun challenge; thanks Crystal!
This’ll be my first! I’m hoping I’ll be able to stick with it! :S I wake my oldest up by 6:15, we’re out the door by 6:45, after dropping her off at school (its 20-30 min roundtrip), I’m making breakfast and lunch before my other child wakes up and I have to get her ready. Then we’re out by 9:15 to drop her off at the sitters or my grandma’s and I’m on my way to work. Ack! And thats only my morning!
I live in a house with 5 other adults and 2 children. My biggest challenge has been adjusting to not having time by myself in the mornings, no matter how early I rise. It’s tough to have a good first impression in the mornings when I’m greeted by a TV blasting and children that are full of energy. (Much as I love them I’m not a natural morning person.) Oh, and my partner has started getting home at midnight his new job which has made our schedules hard to sync.
I really want to try this! The biggest challenge to my mornings? Getting them going before I’m drug out of bed by hungry kids, or by school right around the corner. Of course, I stay up entirely too late, so that never helps things on the other end.
I’m looking forward to the challenge and getting myself into gear! Thanks for the motivation.
Michelle
Count me in. I’ve been trying to implement a schedule for the last two weeks. I even printed out a homemade schedule. If I have more ideas to get more motivated it would be better. I need to get to bed at night so I can get up in the morning. It’s hard to get motivated with four kids under 5 but I know it can be done!
I struggle with actually DRAGGING myself out of bed, haha! Once I’m UP, I’m fine, its just those first 5 minutes that can either make or break my day!
I’m so in! Yah, I love this challenge. And need it!
I am in! I certainly can use the help and encouragement in this area!
This sounds like just what I need! I’m often awake early, but lack the motivation to actually get up and be productive!
Oh I’m so ready for this! I was thinking about the need for a better morning schedule once we start homeschool back up. My biggest challenge is just getting to bed on time and up in the morning.
Thanks you so much for this! It is so necessary at our home, for we are jumping into the “homeschool” world for the first time this year. Struggling with finding a “good” schedule with our homeschooler (age 4 1/2) and our “side kick” (age 9 months). Any suggestions or helpful tips are great!
So timely! I’m not having trouble getting up on time…I’m having trouble with a toddler who wakes up at the same time! Still trying to figure out how to make a “peaceful” morning work for both of us.
I am definitely going to try this. I have been getting up earlier more consistently, but now I need to learn how to make that time more productive. Thanks!!
I need this! My biggest challenge is getting up before my son.
Right now I am in stand still mode…I am preparing to send my son off to college in Florida. UGH aways from home. My challenge is that I need to get reorganized and get my house back on track. I look forward to doing this. Looking forward to some great motivational ideas and goals.
I need to get up before my kids, so that I can get my quiet time in and a few basic chores started 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Would love to have some ideas on making the most of your mornings with little ones who still keep you up multiple times a night! 🙂 I know you’ve said to give yourself grace during seasons like that, but piles of dishes, mountains of laundry, and floors covered with dust and dirt aren’t exactly okay to live with long-term 🙂
I’m definitely most productive in the mornings, but being up twice to feed the baby in the night, and sometimes one or two more times to soothe an upset tummy makes it awfully hard to get up before 7 (when he usually wakes up for good).
Looking forward to this, though–the whole day does go better if we have a good morning!
Have you tried napping in the afternoon? That has worked for me, at times, and allowed me to get up early even when I wasn’t getting a good night’s rest at night.
The other option is to go to bed when your kiddos do at night. That doesn’t work for a lot of families, but it may be an option for you to consider.
Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, naps definitely help a lot, but I still usually feel like I need the extra sleep in the mornings. Maybe that’s just the lazy side of me and maybe I’d find if I actually got up that I’d be fine. I’ll give it a try! 🙂
I do try to go to bed soon after he’s in bed, but that also is the best time for hubby and me to catch up, so if I do it too often I feel like I never see him!
Maybe it will also help to treat his first nap like my “morning” and try to make that segment of time as productive as possible,
Thankfully I know this is only a season, but sometimes it feels like it’s going to be a forever season 🙂
I hope it is OK for me to chime in here.
I just could not read this without replying! I remember those days so well!
I have five children now, and my youngest sleeps through the night now, but I remember being up and down all night and how exhausting that time was. I could be off base, but it sounds like you have one baby. If that is the case, and you do not have to wake up to take care of other people, then yes, spend time with your husband at night, and then do not feel guilty about sleeping in as much as you can! And lie down and rest during at least one of your baby’s naps. That is not lazy, that is taking care of yourself and avoiding burnout!!!! If you are better rested, the rest of your day will be more productive, and you will not have to rely as much on a productive morning time.
I know it feels like the time with a tiny one is forever, but it really does pass quickly, and even more quickly with each subsequent child. Only with subsequent children, it is harder and harder to take naps or sleep in.
Your idea to treat his first nap like your morning is a good one.
My biggest challenge is that I don’t have a pressing need to get up earlier than I have to for work- no kids, dogs, etc. I just need a little motivation to make it more productive!
I would love to participate. My biggest challenge is getting my daughter who has ADD moving in the morning, it is such a struggle to be on time for school. I have tried checklists and getting her up earlier but it doesn’t work. Looking forward to ideas.
I am SO excited to get some tips on improving my morning schedule. I am ALWAYS behind in the morning and am ALWAYS tired. When I get up to do my morning devotion, I am almost always falling back asleep (even when I get more than 7 hours of sleep!). Then I feel as though I’m doing God a disservice (like falling asleep while someone else is talking). I can’t wait to get the school year off to a great start with this series!
Looking forward to doing this. Have one in Kinder, another in P-K and a toddler (all boys). Definitely need a schedule. Thanks!
Yes,!! I always feel better with a good start to the day! My challenge is the kids get up pretty early around here, so enjoying a peaceful house looks very early to me!
I’m very excited about this! I am a night owl, and always have been, making waking up early in the morning my biggest challenge. If it were just me I would sleep until 11am everyday. However it is not just me I have a 4 yo, 2 yo, and almost 1 mos old that need and want my attention. I would love to start getting up before them and get stuff done and have some me time, but in the morning the temptation of sleep always wins. Excited by this challenge and hoping to become a morning person so I can start my days off right.
Perfect timing! I go back to work as a teacher tomorrow, my oldest starts kindergarten next week, and my youngest starts a new daycare! I, too, was very good at using mornings during the school year, but have been relaxed over the summer and we traveled a good bit to visit various family members! Ready for a routine!
Can’t wait to participate! Just in time for back to school too! We are off schedual and where I use to be up at 530 and the kids got up at 6/630 we are now all up about 7/730 so I get no me time in the mornings!
Perfect timing this is the first year for all day school for my daughter, so getting all 3 of my kids out the door by 7:30 is going to be crazy I want to get up before them and be prepared for my day
I’m in! My biggest challenges are not getting up early enough, lack of routine, distractedness, indecision…it’s all just a big mess!
I would love to get a better morning schedule. I really need to be getting up before my kids but it seems like I am always cleaning before bed and up the next day with the kids and there is no break in between. I will have 2 girls in preschool this year and we need to be able to get up and moving in the morning. We are also preparing to move and getting ready is just adding more strain to our already busy life. I would love to be able to start my day with a little piece and quiet.
With seven kids still home and homeschooling, my biggest struggle is to get everyone through the morning chore process so we can get started on school. Ugh! All too often, that delay leads to a late start for school, which just really seems to mess up the rest of my day!
I’M IN! The most challenging thing for me is getting up before the kids because my 11 month old still gets up 2-3 times in the middle of the night to nurse. I’m beat by morning!
Yes! I’m in!! I’m really struggling with getting myself in gear. What I WANT to do is sit and drink my tea at the computer in peace. What ends up happening is the kids need breakfast, need changing, need my attention…and I keep trying to sit here. Which means I’m here longer, the kids are annoyed, and it’s 9am before I get off my rear, the morning is half gone, I’m irritated at myself for wasting the time, and the whole day gets started badly. So excited to have small and manageable goals to work through! Thank you! <3
I’m in! For me, the most challenging part is wanting to wake up slowly, not in a hurry.
What eats my mornings? Just popping in to facebook to harvest my crops. 3 hour later…
I keep using the Olympics and the fact that I’m 7 months pregnant as an excuse to not get up early! But alas the Olympics are over and baby will be here soon so I started today with getting up with the sun! It was a rougher than I expected morning as apparently my 13m old sleeps even lighter than I thought so he woke up early with me! I have remedied that by putting an extra fan in his room to block out the noise and we will try again tomorrow!
My biggest challenge is finding the motivation to actually get up early instead of sleeping in.
I am so excited about this challenge!! I’m a stay-at-home mom of three and my oldest is starting Kindergarten TOMORROW!! We have not had strict bedtimes this summer and most mornings would not have to get up at any specific time! I’m really worried about how I’m going to get us on a tight schedule to have my son to school by 8am. I’m really looking forward to making a change! Thanks for doing this challenge!
I’m in! Our mornings are crazy and I would love to get a morning routine down before #2 arrives in October!
I definitely need more productive mornings!! I’ve been staying up late and getting up later than I should also and then it seems I am behind all day! My biggest challenge to having a peaceful and productive morning is getting to bed early enough so that I CAN get up and get going in the morning!
Thanks for your inspiring.
I’ll follow you until I set up my routine.
I can’t wait it untill tomorrow!
I like this idea. I think my challenge is actually trying to do too much and stressing out. I take a days worth of work and try to cram it in to the morning. I need to streamline and create a workable routine.
Hi,
I’m from Puerto Rico and here school already started. I’m a very organized person when it comes to other people’s stuff or work. But when its about me I’m a total disaster. I’ve been reading your posts for the last 2 weeks and they have been very helpful. I finally have my daily routine on paper now and being organized in the mornings gives up to an extra hour thru the day. I’m definitely up for the challenge.
Looking forward to following along and reading your encouragement!
My greatest problem to having a productive morning is not getting up early, but actually doing something productive once I do get up. I KNOW that for me I need to exercise and shower first thing before anyone else gets up. But instead I get a cup of coffee and get online. Before I know it everyone is up and needing something and I have not exercised or showered.
I’m in! My biggest challenge is getting my quiet time and a few chores done BEFORE the kids wake up. They have radar! Looking for inspiration and accountability.
This summer I’ve started getting up before my kids wake me most mornings. It’s made a huge improvement in the stressfulness of our mornings. Now my biggest challenge is getting a meal on the table by noon. My husband works 2nd shift, so our “dinner” is at lunchtime and I always seem to be running behind getting a full meal made for us to enjoy together.
My biggest challenge is the actual getting up as well as doing more than sinking into coch first thing in morning. Can’t wait for this and will be posting my ownprogress on my blOg, if that’s okay? (will link back happily)
I’d love for you to post your progress on your blog!
I used to think that I was a somewhat type A person until I started reading this blog (which I love) a few years ago. But now I realize that I’m more type B! I’m amazed at the people with little babies who deliberately get up before they have to!
I’m not very productive in the morning, even though the kids get me up early, and I DON’T EVEN CARE!! Well, I do believe that it’s important to be hard-working and industrious, but I guess not as much as some . . . .
Perhaps it’s that I had the whole career thing going on until I had my first at age 30, and now (almost ten years later), I just love not rushing around like a maniac. To me, that’s one of the great benefits of staying at home with the kids. So I will read about this challenge with interest, and may even try a few new things, but count me as the ONE person who is NOT joining in!
No criticism – I just wanted to speak up for the rest of us (or maybe I’m the only one? Ha ha). I think it’s great that some of you are so driven.
Hey, if you’re happy with how your mornings are already going, I say there’s no need to change them!
I’d love to join in. My biggest challenge is getting everyone out the door in a manner that sets them up for positive day. I also struggle with trying to prep for the evening in the morning too… I just need to get up earlier I know. 🙂 Thanks for the challenge!
I am in!!
My emotional toddler is my biggest issue. She is always whining in the morning because she refuses to sleep in. I have 25 pounds clinging to my leg and screaming for the first 30 minutes of my day. We both need to get it together in the morning.
I am excited to join in! My kids are back in school, and I find that once I have dropped them off in the morning, I lack energy for housework and exercising. I would love to be able to get a ton of stuff done in the morning to make my day seem more productive!
I’d like to participate too, but this seems like it’s going to be heavily marketed to people with children. Those of us without kids have time crunched mornings too.
My goal is that the ideas shared will work for anyone in any stage of life. That’s my hope — as we have lots of readers who don’t have kids and I know you all have plenty to do in the mornings, too! 🙂
I know that getting up earlier will make the day go smoother. But I have a hard time convincing myself of that when the alarm goes off!
I’ve been working on a new schedule to implement when school starts next week and I will take all of the help I can get!
I love this idea and need the help with motivation too. I have a really hard time waking up and getting my day started. I want to take the phrase “we are running late!” out of our mornings an be able to start our days on a calm note instead.
sounds like a great challenge to me! i will be homeschooling my 3 and 4 year old this fall and need to start making myself get up for my kids, not to my kids!
I’m super excited about this! Streamlining my morning routine is one my goals for 2012. Can’t wait for tomorrow! Thanks, Crystal!!!
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I struggle with giving myself enough time in the morning to get myself and daughter ready and out the door by 530 am! I need to work on using my time wisely pn my days off so I can accomplish things when I have the time.
I’m all in! I usually get up at 5 a.m. from Mondays to Fridays so I can shower and get breakfast ready for the whole family before everyone else rises at 6 a.m. But when my husband has left for work, my eldest has left for school and the little one is in kindergarden I start to “slow down”. The internet is a big problem for me – once I start blogging I get distracted easily.
I’m already very curious what kind of challenges you are going to post here!
My biggest challeng in the morning is to get my bible study done, lunch packed, plus get myself in my little kindergartner ready and out the door on time. Forgot to mention getting all the animals fed (we have a mini-hobby farm). I am looking forward to this series, since my husband thinks I need to learn some time management skilss.
I am definitely joining! I want to start getting up earlier but it is such a challenge for me. I would like to have my bible study and workout done and have my day planned out before the kids get up. My first child is starting kindergarten in a week so I defintely need to get my morning routine down!
My biggest challenge is actually getting myself out of bed. :-/
Even though I don’t WANT to do this (love my late nights and sleeping in), I desperately NEED to do this b/c I am getting less and less productive. So I’m in! And thanks for the encouragement, sometimes I just need to be told what to do 😉
My biggest challenge right now is waking up before my 6 children. I am 25 weeks pregnant & I am tired all the time. It is hard to wake up early cause I don’t get a nap each day. I can & do go to bed at a good time. I will try to change a few things to make my mornings better. It will be a lot easier when I am not pregnant. Looking forward to your posts & challenges.
I’m ready to give this a whirl! I am a SAHM with a 6 month old and the days seem to fly by. I exclusively pump his milk, so it’s exhausting trying to schedule pumps before he wakes up, not to mention get out of bed after getting up in the middle of the night to pump ! I’d love to hear tips & tricks!
I am in. With my kids off school, I have been able to sleep an extra hour in the mornings, I need to get back on track.
This sounds like just what I need.
Looking forward to this, Crystal.
I, too, had a pretty good morning routine going but have let it slide. My trouble is that I have a night owl husband! I like to stay up with him, but then I pay for it in the morning. We also have a lot of late nights due to church activities (my hubby is a preacher), so I feel like I am rushing to get to bed if I try to go to sleep at a decent hour.
So, I guess my main problem is getting to bed early!
Biggest challenge: not getting sucked into the computer and Facebook right off! Hate that it tends to be the first thing I do if the kids aren’t awake yet.
Looking forward to the challenge!
I so need this challenge. I am a single working mom and I struggle so much in the morning with getting my son up and out the door for the bus without having to rush. And then I lose all motivation to get myself ready and out the door at a good time. I have 1 hour between when he goes to the bus and when I need to leave and it never seems like enough time.
I’m so glad I caught this post–I need this! Between the kiddos waking up extra-early (thus not allowing for any am “mommy” time) and trying to complete every job with a baby on my hip, I feel like my mornings could definitely use a make-over. Looking forward to the challenge!
I’m pretty good with a morning routine during the school year (I’m a teacher), but I found this summer I barely got anything done in my house! How could it be that I get more done when I’m working full time? Then I realized I get more done when I shower early! I’m in for the challenge!
Definatly, I need to work on getting up earlier for work and having plenty of time to get ready, set up dinner and(my worst habit) actually eat breakfast….
i’m excited to participate!! i think like many others, my challenge is getting myself together before the kids are up. and when they wake up earlier than normal, what to do with them to give myself a little more time before our day takes off.
Always up for a good challenge! This is exactly what I need. I’m not a morning person but with three kids is school this year I need to learn how to be. Once I get everyone ready and delivered to school I am wore out and ready for a nap. I need motivated to keep moving after I get back home from the school and bus stop.
I’ve already started – LOL! My son starts Kindergarten on Wednesday and last nite we started our new schedule. If I’ve learned anything over the summer from your blog and all the comments, it’s planning ahead and organization. I started getting up before sunrise on June 17 for some ME time and a 30 minute walk. Now that school is starting and the sunrise is getting later, I have less of a morning window for that time that I’ve grown to rely on in a very short time. So, I’m focusing most of my energy on “The Night Before Routine” so the mornings are less stressed and get off to a good (and healthy) start. Some of my “Night Before” steps are: lunches made and waiting in fridge, ready to grab in the morning; shoes/backpack, etc. waiting by the door; breakfast made or prepped. It’s gonna be a fun and exciting ride! Good luck to everyone!
I’m in!! Well, actually, I’m going to enjoy the last week of summer vacation with my tween and will start with you next Tuesday. 😉
I am really bad about not prioritizing things. I check my email, see something “shiny” and start off the morning on a wild goose chase instead of tackling the really important things. I almost think I should avoid email most of the day—but so many important things do come to me via email, so that’s not practical either. I need to better manage my time, though, and do things in blocks. Hmmm…. maybe there’s some wisdom in that thought that I really need to follow up on!!
Yeah! This is just what I need. I too have been staying up way too late and not having a quiet morning time. Count me in on this Challenge! So excited to get started!!! I have struggled with getting up early enough to exercise and have quiet time before my kids are up.
I’d love to participate in this! I am a mom that goes to college right after I drop my kids off at school. I know there is so much more that I can get done in the mornings and would love to figure out how!
i need all the help i can get 🙂
I was just thinking about this myself. Before the summer I was a work outside the home mom and now I’m a work at home mom, The biggest challenge for me is trying to do too much in the morning before the kids wake up. I promised myself that would be my planning and Bible study time but other things keep getting in the way.
I am definitely in. My biggest challenge is gettin out of bed and getting motivated for the day. I would really like to be able to get up, get a short but beneficial workout in, shower taken amd ready for the day before the kids have to get on the bus for school. They are both old enough I don’t have to “help” them get ready but need to be able to keep the youngest on task. Any ideas or suggestions are great and maybe just a challenge like this can help me get motivated!
This is EXACTLY what my plan for the next couple weeks was going to be! Getting my schedule started (specifically mornings) this week and starting my oldest daughter (7) on her school morning routine so that when we really start rolling things would be set up for success! THANK YOU! I’m looking forward to keeping up with this challenge!
Fabulous! I could not agree more, my day just goes so much better when I start the day off. I can not wait for the challenges and the inspiration that will follow.
I’m in. We have been so lazy this summer! School starts next week and I am feeling overwhelmed trying to get the boys back on schedule without driving myself crazy. Also, I feel my best in the morning, but never take advantage of it. Maybe this is just what I need to get going.
Gee…I don’t necessarily want this, but I sure do need it! My biggest challenge = staying up too late and sleeping until my little ones wake me up. I know I need to get up before them, but I’d rather sleep.
I’d like to participate! My biggest challenge is getting up before the kids do. Usually, we all get up at the same time and after getting them cleaned up, dressed, and fed, there is no time for me to get my stuff done. I keep meaning to set my alarm to get up before the rest of the family but that hasn’t happened yet. Looking forward to the challenge!
I’m in! I need to end the rushing out the door routine. I would love a calm morning of getting ready for our day.
I’d LOVE to do this 🙂
Lets do this….
I’m so excited about this challenge. My oldest starts kindergarten his week and I’ve been wondering where to find the motivation to get up and be productive in the mornings. This is perfect timing.
I would love to be a part of this! My kids are early risers, so I have a really hard time waking up early and making the most of my time before they are awake!
I’m in! Mornings have always been difficult for me. After reading the comments it seems ridiculous to have a hard time at this, when my husband and I don’t even have children. I definitely need to improve my morning routine, now! Excited for this!
My biggest challenge is getting thing accomplished with kiddos up. It seems that no matter how early I get up, they wake up and need…..well anything and everything. We have a small ranch and so they don’t seem to sleep for long once someone gets up.
I’m in. I have trouble getting up and getting moving.
I NEED this terribly!!! Thank you!
I’m in! I set my alarm clock for the first time today and …..uuugh…
I’m in! Mornings are my nemesis. My hubs works a lot of nights and is on the night schedule. So in order to spend time with him on his nights off, I stay up late and then it is so hard to drag out of bed in the AM to take care of our 10month old. I usually nap during the baby’s morning nap and thus shoot my one good opportunity to get things done without a baby underfoot…..
Sounds like me!! I know how you feel!
My biggest challenge is waking up on time to get things done before the kids wake up. Looking forward to this series very much.
I am SOOO in! With a toddler and infant, an almost impossibly small house, and a Hubby that is a night owl, my mornings are usually a whirlwind of coffee and wishing I was sleeping! Worst frustration for me: How do I spend quality time with my Hubby (whose a night owl and up till at least midnight) after the kids go to sleep (7-8pm) and still wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to be productive?! I am tired just thinking about it!
I wholeheartedly sympathize. I’m in the same boat. I’ve tried putting the baby to bed late in hopes that he will sleep in, but he only gets up earlier…..:-(
I’d say it’s more important to have a good marriage than to be “productive” in the mornings. And isn’t getting needed rest productive?
You could compromise by going to bed at 11, so that way you are up for most of the time he is up, but it’s not so late. Depending on what you two like to do in the evenings, you can get some work done also, like bill-paying, coupon clipping, menu planning, etc.
My biggest challenge is that my children are early risers and I tend to be a night owl. I will get up thinking that I have a jump on the day, and 10 minutes into my Bible reading/quiet time with God one of the three is up! I need to learn how to get up earlier without falling asleep in my coffee cup! 😀
This series couldn’t have come at a better time for me – even though I don’t have children so “back to school” doesn’t mean anything different, I have still gotten lax about being intentional with my time – ESPECIALLY in the mornings. I tend to do the bare minimum and then I feel like I am dragging the entire day. My biggest challenging is having a spouse who stays up late and sleeps late, where I have to do the opposite. I often find myself staying up late just to spend time with him – but then I still have to get up early!
I love this idea! Lately my biggest challenge to a peaceful and productive morning is having 4 children. The little ones, during the summer, are typically up before I am, then I’m having to drag the 2 older ones out of their bed. Would be nice if we were all up at the same time!
I too am excited to join this group of women striving to make our mornings ( life) better. I have the joy of taking my granddaughter to pre school starting next week so I plan to get my routine back by first starting back to Jazzercise after I drop her off. Thanks so much for offering this opportunity ot us. We achieve more when we have supportive people around us. God bless …
Perfect timing. This is the week before school and we are trying to move toward our school day routine. Each summer by July any part of a productive routine is gone.
I’m in! I’ve been trying to motivate myself on this one, but haven’t quite taken that step. Still holding on to the last bit of summer! My biggest challenge is that our children (5 total) wake up super early already. I’m not a morning person by nature….but my kids sure are!
It seems I’ve been staying up later getting up later as a result. I need structure. That’s for the challenge. It will be a huge help I’m sure!
I’m in! I just started getting up at 5 a.m. to workout and get a cup of coffee in before the kiddos wake up. This will be great motivation to stick with it
Wow. My biggest problem will be the fact that we’ve all slept late every day this summer! I know everyone will be tired and cranky so we’d better get everything we can done the night before!
I would love some motivation! My biggest challenge is getting out of the bed. My husband goes to work early and I’d love to get up with him and get my day going before the kiddo gets up. Yet, I just lay there while he gets ready and eats breakfast. I just need motivation to get up!!!!
I’ll be joining everyone too! My biggest struggle is going to bed early so I can get up early. Looking forward to this series!!
This is just what I need. I struggle with exercise in the morning.
Being ready for my little is up. And I mean READY, not almost ready. I get caught up in the odds and ends and then I’m late. AGAIN.
I’m in! I’m so not a morning person so maybe this will help!
I am so looking forward to this series! Until July, I was so good about my morning routine, and getting things accomplished before the girls got up. Need help getting back on track!
I have always been a jump out of bed and get major things done kind of person, which puts me in a bit of a panic this time of year and I am faced with the reality that my mornings are going to be cut dramatically shorter.
Time in the AM is crucial to the effectiveness of the rest of my day. So I would love to join. Thanks Crystal for hosting.
Awesome! I would love to participate…I have 3 kids under the age of 6. My 6 year old will be starting kindergarten in 2 days and I often don’t get out of bed until I hear one of them stirring and then are morning is just a frenzy and it does set the tone for the rest of the day. Can’t wait to be challenged in this area as I enter a new season of life with a child in school:)
motivation!! without a doubt!!! I want to get up and shower and dress right away ….. but I lack MOTVATION! then it’s 11:00 and I haven’t showered and dressed yet!!
I will be starting a new job this fall that requires me to be up and out the door much earlier my last one. I seem to always stay up late trying to fit “one more thing” into my day (usually just a little child-free relaxation, surfing the internet, etc) and then am exhausted when my alarm goes off with the best of intentions at 5:30. I hit snooze too many times and before I know it, my 18-month old is up and the rest of the morning revolves around her! I am looking forward to hearing your ideas, and maybe just a little motivation and time management!
My kids are older so don’t need me as much first thing in the morning… which I take too much advantage of! They are up and going, but I have a hard tme getting going. I would love to take better advantage of that time. (and yes, I also tend to stay up too late on the comp… and am tired in the morning.)
I get side tracked in the mornings. The kids and I have had some long lazy pj days this summer. It’s time to get in track!
Count me in!
My biggest morning challenge is staying up too late and waking up the last minute.
Count me in!! I have a huge problem being productive in the mornings. I stay up too late, then have a really hard time getting up. Then, when I do get up, I struggle with being tired and I don’t have real motivation to get things accomplished. I do seem to be able to check email and read blogs though
I am with you! It’s like you read my mind 🙂
On a different note… I see many mom’s with new additions to the family. We or rather I am wondering how do you know when to add another? I currently have a 3 yr old and 22 month old and lost a pregnancy this year. I have soooo many reasons to not have a third child, i.e. will not be able to take enough time off of work (work FT), husband applying to medical school next year, child care prices, post partum female physical issues, maternal age (35 in 4 months) etc. But I am at a crossroads about whether we should close shop for good or try again. We do not want a surprise while he is in medical school, that’s the only sure thing we know at this point.
Excited…my biggest challenge is just having a routine in general. 3 kiddos…3, almost 2, and 12 weeks!!!
Oh Crystal, really? Now? Can’t we wait a while? I’m in the morning sickness stage (ahem, all day sickness…who in the world labeled that as morning sickness anyway??) growing this precious fifth child while I try my best to care for my four littles. I’d love to join you, but it would only be a major disappoint for me each day. My current goal is *survival*!
Charity, I feel for you…we just had our 5th in January and I remember all. too. well. the first months of sickness and 4 energetic children. You just keep your self surviving for now! Get through the morning sickness and then go back and look at these posts (or maybe wait ’til the kiddo is here and a few months old 😉 ).
I’m excited about this ch challenge. My biggest obstacle with the mornings is first off, getting a good night’s sleep (hard to do with a baby who’s still waking up at night), and then getting everyone dressed and out the door by 9:00 so I can exercise. Also I am trying to homeschool, but feeling a little overwhelmed at times. Hopefully this series will help me!
I’m in, too! I’ve been in a really good routine all summer, but am worried when school starts (I teach evening classes), I’ll be too tired in the morning to continue. However, I’m really going to push myself to keep up the momentum!
I definitely need the positive motivation in the morning! I like many have a difficult time getting going before my kids wake up. With a baby that sleeps thru the night half of the time, those nights that he wakes, I often have troubles falling back asleep. I will also be starting a homeschooling schedule for my four year old.. Eeek!
Can’t wait! This sounds like what I need. My biggest challenge to getting the most out of my mornings is going to bed early enough to up before the kiddos. When I get up at the same time or after them, I feel about 10 steps behind them most of the day. I feel much better if I can stay ahead of them. Thanks!
Yeah! This is exactly the challenge I need right now! I had a great morning routine, getting up early to exercise and put things in place before everyone awoke. Somehow, that fell apart. I miss the quiet productivity of early mornings and I am truly excited for your latest challenge! Thank you so very much!
My baby will be 3 weeks old on Wednesday and I am DYING to get into a routine! He is such a good boy, he sleeps through the night and keeps his own fairly consistent schedule, so I say bring on the challenge! Can’t wait to get my old self back! 🙂
Definitely in!!! Biggest challenge is getting out of bed.
I’m so excited for this! I think my biggest challenge is creating a routine for my children in the mornings. Going to bed earlier so I can get up early would also help :-).
I’m in! My biggest challenge in the morning if being up before my children. They’re early risers, but I feel like if I can at least get a fifteen minute start before they are up, I can recharge for the day and be ready for them when they are awake!
I’m in!
I have the exact same problem as Crystal; over the last couple months, I’ve been staying up too late and can’t get myself up early. I MUCH prefer to wake up early because I get so much more done, but I just haven’t been able to motivate myself to make it happen. This challenge comes at just the right time for me! I’m very excited.
I am looking forward to gleaning from this series. For now, my 11 month old wakes up a LOT most nights, so if I can sleep in then it definitely takes priority. But if I’m too awake to actually sleep after my husband leaves for work, then I’ve been trying to get up and going instead of laying there wishing for sleep.
I need this challenge! My oldest daughter got married in July and we were so busy all summer preparing for the wedding. Now that it’s over, I feel like I’ve become lazy, not that I don’t have lots of things to do, they just don’t seem as pressing as the wedding did. I’d like to get going before all those things are pressing in on me!
I love and look forward to your challenges! The last one on freezer cooking was so motivating for me! My biggest challenge is getting back up for a second time in the morning- my hubby goes to work at 4am, and so I get up and make him breakfast, straighten up the kitchen a little bit, and then head back to bed. I usually fall asleep so deeply that I end up sleeping too late and running late for work myself. I would love to be able to catch a quick nap when he leaves for work, and then get up with enough time to workout before my shower and getting ready for work time. We have no kids yet, so this is something I really think I should be able to master, and get very discouraged when I can’t.
I am in! I have a hard time just getting up. Then I have a hard time not spending too much time on the computer. Yikes!
This is just what I need! My mornings go okay unless something happens and I cant get my shower in before the kids are up, then my whole day is off it seems like! I am looking forward to hearing your ideas and implementing them as we start preschool this year with our oldest. Thanks!
I’m in!
My biggest challenge? It’s hard to choose, but I guess getting up earlier would help and spending less time on Facebook! If the dog would stop barking and the cat would leave him alone that would help too.
my biggest challenge is getting all 5 of us out the door without someone melting down and on time! 🙂
🙂 I’m usually the one with the biggest meltdown trying to get out the door.
I’m in :/ I’m not excited about it, though….I won’t lie. But it is necessary, and I know I won’t be sorry I committed. This challenge will be great in holding me accountable!
I’m in! Like you, I had a routine when school was in session. Since school’s been out, those routines have gone by the wayside and a whole day can go by without feeling like I’ve got much done. Looking forward to reading and participating in these challenges!
My biggest challenge – once I am out of bed is keeping my tablet turned off until I have my morning routine done. Speaking of which, I need to pull it back out and get it updated for this fall. School starts in 3 weeks.
I’m on board! At this point, any increase in morning productivity would be significant. 🙂
My biggest challenge is two-fold: my husband works evening shift (4pm-2am) and my 3 month old isn’t in line with the routine we had before leaving on a two week vacation to see family.
I’ve always been a morning person (more productive then than evenings), but family has other schedules right now. 🙂
It is hardest for me to get out of bed for a quiet time for my devotion or bible study that I am doing.
I am so in!!! My biggest challenge is just getting moving and motivated. I feel so tired in the morning , even to the point sometimes I can’t make myself make coffee lol. You see I am a newly single mother of a 4 and almost 3 year old. I have to work and care for them alone, I am legally blind, and don’t drive. I know I am very blessed in my life for what I have and don’t complain about these things, but it makes things a bit more challenging. This series should really help me I think. Thank you for starting it 🙂
My biggest challenge is getting myself up. It takes me at least 10 minutes to fully wake up.
Biggest challenge is getting out of bed before my kiddos
I’m intrigued!…My biggest challenge is that my two girls (1 yr tomorrow and 3.5 yrs) wake up at totally different times every day! Sometimes the 1 yr old is awake at 6:45 and other days she sleeps until 8:30. Same with the older child, although she knows she must stay in her room until 7:15.
Every time I get in a little routine (getting up at 6:30 and then being productive until, say, 7:15), little bitty one decides to throw me for a loop!
Looking forward to hearing ideas from everyone 🙂
I used to have no problem getting up early, but about a month ago I started sleeping in until I absolutely had to get up because I had no real routine and just wasted time in the mornings. I figured I was better off sleeping than doing nothing! I want to figure out how I can get some me time in the morning before heading off to work.
I am so with you! I have let my schedule go by the wayside for most of the summer and this is the perfect opportunity to get back on track.
My biggest challenge is honoring my set time for getting up (it is so easy to sleep in!) and staying organized so I’m not frazzled or rushed in the mornings.
Thanks for hosting this, Crystal. I’m looking forward to a productive three weeks. 🙂
Count me in! My hardest thing is getting up sooner than the very last minute!
I have three boys 3, 5, 7. Two are going in to school this year full time. I have the hardest time getting them all moving in the morning. They drag their feet and mess around until we are late. I plan out outfits, lunches, and everything the day before. They just move so slow and I can’t seem to get them to get moving. I would love some helpful ideas to deal with this issue. Thanks!
I would love to participate!
This came at an ideal time for me as I went back to work this week and kids go back to school next week. Being a single mom with 4 kiddos I need to stay on top of things! I did well this weekend–made lunch supplies, arranged sitter and work schedule, and cooked things for the freezer for meals and got laundry done. Then set my alarm at 5:45 am to go off which it did but I did not! I did not get out of bed. I am way, way behind and I have lots to do today.
I am not motivated to get back into a fall schedule so this challenge is perfect for me!
I’m in. I second many of the comments thus far — I’m in my 3rd trimester with boy #2, my 3yo seems to sense when I get up early, it’s difficult to avoid the squeaky spots in the floor, it’s easy to spend too much time on the computer, etc. etc. etc.
I do think the biggest challenge for me right now is balancing house, 3yo, and pregnancy, especially when I seem to need so much more rest than I did with my first pregnancy. (Of course, I wasn’t chasing a 3yo then!)
Great challenge idea; looking forward to it.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only person that literally has to tiptoe to avoid the squeaky spots on my floor, those things have cost my family hours of sleep!
I need this challenge! I really struggle with getting up in the morning. Part of the problem is I like my quiet alone time in the evening. And that snooze alarm is too easy to hit in the morning. I have three alarms to wake me up in the morning. : )
Please include me in the Make the Most of your Mornings challenge. Thanks!
Wow, me too- this summer we have really slipped in staying up too late, and thus sleeping in too late. I could use the encouragement! I think my biggest issue is wanting to accomplish too many things in the morning. I need to have more realistic expectations of myself, and to figure out a good routine that is productive yet manageable.
My biggest challenge is not getting overwhelmed with all that I have to do everyday. I am trying to break chores into 3 or 4 things to do everyday. Having two toddlers is wonderful but brings lots of extra distractions during the day.
I’d like to participate. My challenge is that Tues-Thurs I have to get up early to go into work. I try to keep the same wake up time on Mondays and Fridays (5:30am), but since I don’t really have to get up (no where to be at a set time), I often “sleep in” (7:00am). If I could get out of bed earlier I could really be more productive.
I’m looking forward to the challenge!
I came to the blog this mornning to peruse your quiche recipes as I decided last night that making a meal in the evening for breakfast may make my morning routine a little easier)…and I ran across this delightfully intimidating post! Great…can you hear my sarcasm? 🙂 So I think I’m in. I’m definitely interested in the challenge! Looking forward to tomorrow’s post!
Oh, and my two biggest challenges are:
-getting things ready at night (clothes ironed, for example) so that I don’t have to rush in the morning..I don’t get in bed usually until 1130 and then I’m up again at 645 (after hitting the snooze for 15 minutes)
and
-keeping all three boys on task (aged 11, 5, and 4) w/o arguing about who’s wearing what, who’s going to do what, etc.
I need to start ironing my clothes earlier too! I really need to start picking out my clothes the night before too…I have been wasting 15-20 minutes every morning deciding what I am going to wear. It would take me 2 minutes the night before!
This sounds great! I have never been a morning person, but my husband and I have had frequent discussions about getting up before the kids, just to have time together over coffee. I’m excited for your tips and encouragement!
I usually get up at around 5:30am during the week. My biggest challenge is using my morning time to exercise rather than sitting around enjoying a quiet cup of tea (which is so nice).
I am interested in joining you. My biggest is getting up early in a disciplined fashion to get my home biz work done before my kids get up. If I don’t do that, my biz drags into family time (in the summer) and school time in the fall (we homeschool). Problematic on all accounts. I would also like to have a Bible/QT before even starting my work time. Could I get exercise in there too? Don’t know if I’m asking for too much but this is my dream…
-Bible time
-exercise
-home biz work
-shower
Ready for kids! (:=
Love this idea! 🙂
I am so in! I finish grad school this month and am going to be staying home/ possibly working part time. I want to start a good structure from the beginning.
I’m a little late but would love to participate!
I will participate! I cleaned my refrigerator out and mended some shirts this morning and this is still while the kids were sleeping! 🙂 I feel so accomplished, lol!
I would LOVE to take on this challenge. My biggest obstacle in the morning is… everything. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 10-month old, so my mornings are hectic trying to get to work, them to daycare, etc. My husband works the same hours as me, so it’s a struggle in the morning to get everyone ready and out the door. I have good i ntentions of getting up in the morning to have some “quiet time”, but that never happens.
Yes, yes, yes!! I’m so in and this timing is perfect for me! My biggest challenge is getting up early enough to exercise, shower, and read my Bible before my children are out of bed. Also I want to check my smart phone before doing anything else :/
I want to stop checking my smart phone first thing in the morning! I use it as my alarm, but I think I need to start leaving it elsewhere in the house and make reading the Bible a higher priority in the morning.
I think overall the most frustrating thing is the fact that my kids have to deal with 3 homes. My house, their dad’s, and also my parents. So there are different routines and i’m pretty on the ball about no tv in the mornings, and we try to have breakfast together so that we get some talking in and the plan for the day is set. But at my parents’ house it’s whatever they want for breakfast, sleeping in an extra hour, and at their dad’s house it’s whatever gets them out the door because he focuses on his toddler with their stepmom.
My kids get up at different times every day. Sometimes at 5:30 or maybe 6:00 or even 7:00. So it is hard to get a schedule going.
I am not sure how old your children are, but mine are 4, 7, and 10. Something that has really helped our family is making a rule that kids stay in their rooms until 6:30am. They know that if they wake up before then, they need to occupy themselves until that time. The youngest is a little young to tell time, so we remind him if he asks, and a timer helps. If they sleep later, that’s fine too. It has helped us so much, knowing I have until 630 to get “ready”. If only I could train myself to get up before 620!!
I’m in! Tha hardest part for me is waking up earlier than my kids so that I have atleast 15 to 20 mins to myself in the am.
I so need this! I have not been using my mornings effectively for a while. With us starting to homeschool next week (kindergarten) I need to be more effective!
Getting my 4yr old to go to bed early, do we can get up early, since she starting kinder in sept.and getting my morn. To go smoothly since I work at the same school my 3 kids go to I need to be ready also,its gonna be a challenge dressed,fed and out the door all 4 of us help!
I’m in! I have a 4 month old (my first) and now that he’s sleeping through the night, I need to establish more of a routine for us. Looking forward to this challenge!
Also, Crystal, I used to subscribe to your magazine years and years ago when I was homeschooling through ATI! I recently found your blog and I’m excited to follow it. 🙂
I’m in!! And excited!! My biggest challenge is having an almost 2 yr old who is up before 7 every day and wants breakfast the minute his feet hit the floor!!
I’m SO in! 😉 My biggest challenge is trying to fit everything in before my toddler wakes up, never knowing when that will really be. She has a 6:30-7:00 window and I always push myself to 7:00. If I could just be done with my stuff by 6:30 every morning I would feel so much more relaxed!
I’m in! My kids start back to school this Wednesday, and I’ve been intending to get us all up a little earlier to prepare. I procrastinated. :-\ My biggest challenge is getting up before everyone else. If I don’t get my quiet time before everyone else is up, the day just doesn’t go well.
Count me in! My biggest challenge is being an unemployed teacher and having to get up at 5AM and search for jobs. It’s tough to not be able to schedule your day ahead of time.
Getting in bed early enough that I get up in plenty of time to get ready. My son starts school a lot earlier this year (he is now in middle school) and if I don’t get up on time, all three of us are trying to get ready at the same time. It just doesn’t work very well and makes for a stressful, hectic morning.
Count me in! The biggest challenge for me is staying on track. I always get up and make my to-do list but then I get sidetracked by the computer (like email and Facebook). I want to feel like I have accomplished A LOT, especially while I have this extra time since my daughter is in school.
Sounds great! My biggest challenge is a very squirrely 10 month old to contend with while trying to get everything done AND take her father to classes and back. 1:00 feels like midnight these days!
I am awake more than 3 hours before I actually have to go to work, yet I don’t take any of that time for myself. I’d definitely like to feel like I was included in my own mornings 🙂
I will be joining you! Have been working on getting up in between 5 and 5:30 every morning. My kids are up BY 6 (sometimes they are up when I get up at 5!- They are 7, 4, and 3) so it is really hard to get up with time to spend in my Bible before they are up and at them!
I’m in!
I’m excited for this challenge and ready!
I am very excited to start this challenge! My snooze button has won the battle of getting up before my girls almost every morning since I can remember. Thanks for doing this!
I definitely need this. Biggest challenge is getting teens out of bed while trying to get myself ready. I miss breakfast and don’t remember lunch. This makes for an expensive day. Help!
I’m looking forward to this. I need this. My challenge is getting up before the kids and working out. I have been staying up to late trying to get stuff done and then can’t get up in the morning.
I am! My biggest challenge is my 3.5 month old daughter who is not yet sleeping through the night – I never know how much we’ll be up! But she’s consistently waking up around 8:30 every day and I’d like to get a routine established for our mornings.
I’m excited to read your ideas! I do wake up early and exercise at 5 AM, before my husband leaves for work, but sometimes I nap afterwards instead of doing something productive.
Please tell me how you pull yourself out of bed that early? If I could just get out of bed at 5 I would be ok to get a workout in before the boy and Hubby wake up I would feel so accomplished each day. Letting me get the other parts going without feeling rushed.
I would like to participate. With my son starting kindergarten, I have to make my mornings work better. I have an almost 2 year old and a three month old. My biggest challenge is staying up too late, causing me to want to sleep late.
I am a homeschool mom who also works from home. I work until midnight each night so in the mornings it is easy to justify ” dragging” when I need to get up and get things done.
I am totally up for the challenge. I used to be so great with my mornings, but I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant with our third and well this summer has thrown the mornings out the window. I’m ready to get back on track.
I’m in. I’ll try anything at this point. The hardest thing is getting the kids to realize that we are on a time schedule and that we have to leave at a certain time every day.
Oh My Maegan, If you figure out how to do that please share it with me. Seriously e-mail me. That alone I think would save my life. (Read mental sanity)
Don’t get on the computer! When I stopped getting the paper I started getting online to “catch up on the news”. Ha! I just get sucked into surfing and can hardly stop. Now I understand how my teens can seem so addicted.
I certainly need this challenge. As a (7 month pregnant) SAHM to a toddler I find lately that things don’t get done like they used to! I need to reprioritize and restructure my routine to fit my life now… and I think this challenge is just what I need to do that!
Thanks!
I am so in! My biggest issues with the morning are getting out of bed and getting focused once I am up. So excited!
I would LOVE to make the most of my mornings! My biggest challenge is getting up before the kids! I have an infant and my most productive time is at night…so that makes for rough mornings!
I’m with you. I have a couple main issues, first I am not a morning person, second I have a 6 yr old daughter who has no concept of time and can be very poky. We don’t start school until Sept 5th.
I’m in! It is not easy for me to get out of bed, however once I’m up for a few minutes, I wake up quickly! I need motivation to get up with enough time so I’m not rushing out the door every.single.morning. 🙂
This is great! Definitely going to participate! My biggest challenge is how early school starts and my kids have to get up. I’m trying to balance the morning rush with the ok, now what to do with the rest of my morning! Thanks for this series, it’s going to be so helpful!
I am so on board with this! My biggest problem is just feeling so tired in the morning and telling myself that a little more sleep will help. It’s hard to say no to yourself when you don’t have an appt in the morning to keep you accountable. Looking forward to changing my routine!
Getting the kids to school on time and not coming back to an hour with of clean up . I need to start my work day (I work from home) when I get back from dropping the kids off.
Because we all seem to be getting up in the mornings at different times this summer, we’re not on a usual schedule. Our house is small, and if I’m up the earliest, I don’t like to creep up and down the squeaky wooden floors in the hallway. So I try to remember to keep a small stack of ‘to do’ items in the kitchen (it’s on the opposite side of the house from the bedrooms) If I’m feeling energized in the morning, I can write a letter, go through mail, read that newspaper from 4 days ago, etc. and no one else is disturbed.
I’m in! Great timing for this challenge. My biggest hinderance to productive mornings is not getting enough sleep either due to children or going to bed too late, and not being consistent with my wake time.
I’m in!! For me, the hardest thing about mornings is I have tried many times to get up before my kids to shower, have some coffee…just time before the busy begins. Every time, every single time, they wake up before my alarm would go off. For example; they routinely(set your clocks to these kids!) Wake up between 7:30 and 8am. I would set an alarm for 6:45(I’m up at 4:30 to wake my husband, then go back to sleep). At 6:35am, my oldest son comes wandering into my room!! Almost as though he could sense I had a plan…
He starts pre-k this September and it’s the first time he’s going to school. I want to be able to get myself ready for the day, get an errand or two in the works as well before he’s off to school.
I look forward to what you have in store for us!! I think once I get this morning routine down, I. Going to redo your last big challenge.
I will be interested to read your make the most of your mornings. I do not have any children at home t this stage of my life, and was more productive when I did. My biggest obstacle is re-setting my body clock so I do not stay up too late… and then either don’t want to get up early, or do get up and am very tired.
My biggest challenge to a great morning is waking up early enough to actually follow through with the plan I created the night before. Also, if I get on the Internet in the morning I can kiss my plans goodbye! I get too distracted with emails, other peoples trivial Facebook updates and all the creative ideas I’d love to try on pinterest.
I’d love to participate! Being a new stay at home mom to a 4 yr old and 15 mo old, my biggest challenge is being organized enough to have activities for both of them.
I’m with ya! We started school this morning and it went great, but I want it to continue that way.
Thank you! I need this!
I’m in!!!
I seriously need to make the most of my mornings. I have been off this summer (I work in a public school system) and have been staying up late and sleeping in. I am a single mom to two wonderful kids (ages 10 and 12 1/2). I am taking 2 classes this fall (it’s been 17 years since I took a college class) and working full-time as a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant. I know my mornings are going to be hard!!!
Hi, I am with you! My son is in daycare and not school yet, but I would still benefit from a morning overhaul.
My biggest challenge is trying to get anything done without waking up my 18 month old! I am happy if I get in a cup of coffee and a shower.
This sounds like it could be very helpful. I have a 4.5 year old that I have to get up and moving to be at the sitter by 7:45 am each morning and we are always late! Now in the fall I will have to get him to pre-K by 8:50 am three days a week. Anything to make my mornings easier will be a help!
I am a total procrastinator so it will be a great help to me also!
i do great on the week day mornings – its the weekends that is a mess for me
I’m in. I have a “routine” that I’m trying to follow, but I feel like I have no control over whether I follow it or not. If I lack motivation and energy to start it right, then the whole day ends up lazy and undisciplined. I think it comes down to how I start my mornings!
Great! I need to wake up earlier to be less rushed gettin gout the door for work and to look more put together. This is hindered by my 1 year old or 3 year old gettin gup in the night. The 1 year old still frequently comes to bed at some point in the night to nurse. This leaves me so tired I sleep in tot he last second leaving enough time only to shower while my husband throws some food in my lunch bag! Occaisionally the kids will wake up while I am still home which slows the process waaay down!
looking forward to the challenge!!!!! once school starts my mornings seem so much harder! like you we have been sleeping in and just having lazy mornings! I hope to not be crazy in the am and get all the kids off to school with out having to stress to much!!! :/
I’m in! My greatest challenge is not getting up early enough, and then jumping straight into computer work when I get up instead of doing the less-anticipated things first (dishes, housework, etc.)– so I feel like the home languishes even on days when my other work thrives.
I am with you. I have the worst time with mornings. I know that if I get up before the kids then we do so much better, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. I would love to have a good morning routine to start our day on the right foot. Count me in!!!!
I am in! All of us are night owls and getting to bed and getting off I the mornings on time is definitely a struggle!
Sign me up! I am ready to get back into a functional routine.
I would love to try this. My biggest challenge is motivation. We’re expecting, and I’m exhausted, so some mornings it is difficult to get going.
so very in…definitely need the accountability too!
My biggest challenge is feeling rushed. Even though we homeschool I have certain things that need to be done at a specific time. I need to get my husband breakfast and lunch ready and get him off to work. The kids need their medication at a specific time and the dogs are always ready to be taken out. All of this happens each morning within 30 minutes of all of us getting up. So most of the time my routine saves me but some days I still feel really rushed. Thanks for hosting this series.
If its anything like the other challenges you’ve had I’m in. I’m off in the summer and haven totally fallen off the morning routine band wagon. I need some inspiration and maybe some new ideas. Thanks for keeping things fresh and relative.
I’m in. I’ve always had a hard time getting a morning routine going but we’ve had a hard summer with the loss of our baby. I would very much like to get back into a routine and schedule for me and for our two toddlers.
So sorry for your loss.
(((huge hugs))) I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are not alone. Saying a prayer for you today. Be kind to yourself as you get back into the swing of things.
Shannon,
So very, very sorry to hear of your loss. Healing takes so much time, so give yourself grace in this period. As you find what is right for you in providing structure and routine for your toddlers, whatever works best in your situation is what is best.
Grace to you,
Ellen
So sorry for your loss, Shannon. Saying a prayer for you.
I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts as well as your family.
I am so very sorry for your loss, Shannon. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way…
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my prayers.
{Hugs to you!} I am so, so sorry for your loss and difficult summer. I just prayed for you and your family.
If you’ve not already read it, I’d love to send you a copy of Angie Smith’s book, I Will Carry You.
Email me with your mailing address and I’ll send one to you: moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com
Thank you everyone. I am so touched at the thoughtful and loving comments. I didn’t expect that! Thank you for your prayers.
Shannon I’m so sorry for your loss!! I echo what others have said, and hope you know that you are not alone! I also lost a baby, full term about 3 and half years ago. I found great comfort and healing just knowing that I was not the only one to experience such pain. Please email me if you ever need some support or just someone to listen.
I am an early riser by nature, so that’s not a problem, but I end up getting sucked into looking at the computer end up behind. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned 🙂
I’m joining you! I, too, felt like July went down the drain as far as productivity. I had surgery and our whole family got sick, not once, but twice and it wasn’t all at once. It happened just as one person was getting better. What is my biggest challenge right now is I’ve gotten in a bad habit of staying up late and sleeping in later and feel like once I do that I can’t get much traction the rest of the day. Going to bed earlier tonight!
I feel the exact same way. I had my second child at the end of May, and our schedule has definitely changed. Now that I’ve had a couple months to adjust (and get some sleep), I want to start being more productive throughout the day. I think to accomplish that, I need to start the day more productively. I am excited to hear your ideas!
Yay! Looking forward to this one!
My biggest challenge isn’t getting up (kids always make sure I’m awake bright and early!) but using my time wisely. I end up puttering around the house or getting sucked into Facebook and forum reading. Before I know it, 11 or 12 has arrived, and I realize I’ve squandered what should have been the most productive part of the day.
I think my days would be much better if I could do one of two things in the morning: 1.) sit down and get my work on the computer done before hitting the social sites or 2.) get all my cleaning done first thing so that isn’t hovering over me all day.
Maryalene
Ditto for me on the social sites, plus checking moneysavingmom and other blogs to “better organize” my life and home BUT I am STILL lacking in the diligent “doing” part. On paper I have my house on a cleaning schedule and decluttering projects. Crystal, I need this challenge.
I can totally relate to this, I’ve been reading a ton and want to implement some things but actually DOING something about all I’m reading is harder…
I’m with you! Your challenges are always so relevant and so applicable to my life. And the way you approach the challenge leaves me feeling encouraged and inspired as opposed to instantly defeated by my shortcomings. Thanks for all you do!
Oh yes can’t wait to see what’s in store!! I let me morning routine go during the summer too but as you said with school starting back up it will make the whole day so much smoother if I start back with the morning routine. Count me in!! =)
Getting up to workout and have some mommy time before my day really starts!!
My biggest challenge is getting up and getting ready before my children are up!
This is me! I guess this will mean eariler bedtime for me! All 4 of my kids will be in school this year. So my challange will be getting them up, fed, dressed and out the door before 7:30am. Anyone have any tips to get our morning to go smoothier?
Doing as much as possible the night before. I am at home full-time and we homeschool so I’m not getting children ready for school. However last year I worked 2 days a week outside the home and had to be out the door most mornings by 7:15 with 2 young children. I found by packing everyone’s lunches, having the kitchen cleaned, and their bag ready to go the night before made our mornings less stressful. Even having sippy cups filled in the fridge ready for the next day saves time. Maybe even having your children pick out their clothes the night before and setting them out would be helpful. And my last tip would be to set your alarm for the time you Need to get up…..hitting the snooze button studies have found doesn’t give you more rest b/c you can not fall into a sleep cycle, thus making you more tired. Tempting I know, guilty of it myself, but I find if I just set a realistic time to get up it works so much better. Hope this helps!
My biggest challenge is just staying motivated and not sinking in to watch tv. There are so many things I want to get done each day but just lack the motivation to do them!
Jennifer, I know that if I turn on the TV I am done, so I turn on the raido. Actually I turn Bott online raido on and get in some bible teaching in me in the morning as I work. It’s not to quiet in the house but yet not turning into a zombie at the same time!
I am so excited to start this, I am ALWAYS the one who is late because I didn’t completely preprae the night before or went to bed to late preparing last minute and then can’t get out of bed!
Crystal, your last paragraph could have been written by me! I’m always trying to get there on time, always trying to catch up. Always hitting the snooze for just a few more minutes in bed.
I’m really looking forward to this challenge. Anything that will help me be better prepared for the day ahead will be an improvement over the chaos I typically deal with.
Biggest challenge is to be productive in the time before the kids are up. I tend to get side-tracked so easily and question how to spend the time.
I’m excited to join in! Your challenges are always so motivating and encouraging! I think the biggest challenge for me is getting going in the morning when I have a long to-do list and don’t know where to start! Plus with a baby and trying to get him on a good schedule, some mornings are more hectic than others.
Awesome! I would love to participate. I definitely need inspiration to get my mornings in order. My kiddo wakes me up around 5-5:30 and I’m dragging around from then on. I need to make the most of my morning and be productive. Thanks for starting this series – it’s just what I needed!
Have them help you clean! My little ones love to dust and clorox wipe down their toys- plus it keeps them busy while I get other things- like breakfast- done