How did your morning routine go this morning? I had a much better morning this morning than yesterday.
It’s still not right in line with my Planned Morning Routine, but little bit by little bit I’m making headway. And I’m hoping to continue slowly moving in the right direction.
Here’s how my morning went:
6:15 a.m. — Wake up, read Bible, read Pursue the Intentional Life, write in my Blessings journal.
6:35 a.m. — Silas wakes up. I snuggle with him and invite him to be apart of my morning prayer time (I’ve really been working on not viewing my children as “interruptions” to my quiet time, but instead, encouraging them to participate in it with me if they get up early!)
6:42 a.m. — I bring Silas out to the garage with me and have him play with the basketball while I run on the treadmill. I listened to my Scripture memory work on my Bible app on my phone while running.
7:00 a.m. — Start a load of laundry. Open the box of toilet paper from Amazon and organize it in the hall closet.
7:10 a.m. — Hop on and check something online really quickly (I know, I know… I’m still working on not doing this until after 8:30 a.m.!)
7:25 a.m. — Jesse gets home from the gym and helps Silas get his breakfast while I hop in the shower.
7:45 a.m. — I get Silas ready for soccer camp and pack a snack for him.
7:52 a.m. — Jesse takes Silas to soccer camp, the girls get up and around, while I finish getting my hair fixed and makeup on.
8:00 a.m. — I make our bed, clean up our room, and do a quick clean of our bathroom.
8:15 a.m. — Then, I head downstairs and make some breakfast (fried eggs — leftover from yesterday’s breakfast, blueberries, and Flaky Biscuits — made last night — with Apple Butter that my sister-in-law made and canned for us).
8:30 a.m. — While the girls are finishing getting their morning chores done, I clean up the kitchen, load the dishwasher, do a few dishes that don’t fit into the dishwasher, and switch the load of laundry to the dryer.
And then it’s time to start my Morning Computer Time. It feels so good to have gotten so much done before I turned on the computer!
How did you do on your morning routine today? Let us know in the comments!
Sam Bishop says
What Scripture Memory app do you use?
Crystal Paine says
I use YouVersion.
Crystal says
Crystal, I recently purchased your book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode and I LOVE it!!! I have also been following Money Saving Mom for awhile now and I am so hooked!!! Last week I went from working outside the home full time to only working outside the home 2 days a week. I also started blogging the beginning of this year and I hope to be working from home full time in the near future! My husband and I have 4 kids and they keep me very busy! Last week I also did as you said in your book and made my morning routine. I am having a hard time getting it started but I am not going to give up. I love your new series about your new morning routine. I feel very motivated to keep working at my morning routine!!!! Thanks so much for all the tips and advice.
Lydia @ The Thrifty Frugal Mom says
I was so inspired by your comment about trying to include your children in your quiet time instead of seeing them as an interruption. I’ve struggled getting into a morning routine that works since my third child was born and some of my frustration comes from the fact that it seems like I ALWAYS get interrupted by one of the children and then it is so hard for me to focus. This idea of including them in what I’m doing is going to be key I think! Not only will I get my quiet time in, it will also hopefully draw their little hearts to God at the same time. Not sure why I didn’t think of it myself! 🙂
Crystal Paine says
I’m so grateful that was an encouragement to you! That one simple thing has made SUCH an impact for me!
Anita says
Hi crystal, I am inspired to start a morning routine myself. Just wondering if you have a set amount of time each morning to workout? I generally workout in the evenings because I find I feel rushed in the mornings and I don’t want to get up crazy early to get a long workout in. I would prefer however to have my workout done in the AM so that it’s done for the day. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Crystal Paine says
I usually only spend 15-30 minutes on my workout. It just depends upon how much time I end up having. My philosophy is that something is better than nothing. So if I only have 10-15 minutes, I just do what I can do and don’t feel guilty that it’s not a 45 minute workout.
Tara says
Your kitchen looks strikingly exactly like the kitchen in a host family’s home who I used to nanny for. I errily felt like I was looking at pictures of their house!
Jill F. says
I’m sure that little change in perspective about getting your kids to join you has made the morning routine that much easier to accomplish. Even with little ones (mine is 10 months) you can still set a routine. It doesn’t need to be timed to a clock. So glad to hear you are making progress on your routine Crystal.
Christie says
Wow, I am just jealous that your kids can eat breakfast in 15 minutes, lol! I have 2 very. slow. eaters. But they’re little, so hopefully they will get better :). -I’ve been encouraged by your updates, so thank you! My morning routine needs some serious help.
Tshanina | Thrifty T's Treasures says
I love that you’re encouraging your kids to be part of your quiet time.
With the fast paced society that we live in, our kids are learning that they have to be on the go all the time. Teaching them to join in with your quiet time is a fabulous idea!
Lesley says
How many miles do you run a day?
Crystal Paine says
It depends upon how much time I have — usually 1-3 miles.
shannon says
sounds like a full day, I love that your counters are so empty and clear. I need to work on doing that. Put up all the stuff we never use, or rarely use. That will be my project after my kitchen floors are done next weekend.
Savannah says
I would love to get back to a morning routine. I’ve been sick all week, though, and my coughing kept me up until 6 a.m. So right now my “morning” routine is to crawl out of bed at noon feeling terrible, and hope I can actually go to sleep.
Once I kick this crud, though, I’m gonna try to get on board!
Little Miss Chatterbox {blog}
Crystal Paine says
{Hugs!} So sorry you’ve been feeling so poorly! 🙁 That is no fun at all!
Bethc says
I find that making my bed as soon as I get up, or having my husband make the bed if he gets up after me, always gets my day off to a good start. I feel like I accomplished something, even on those days where the morning does not go according to plan.
My problem is consistentcy- I recently started working from home 1-2 days a week. I swore that I would get up at the same time as on the days that I commute-but the snooze button has been too tempting! You have inspired me, Chrystal-on to a new routine this week!
Crystal Paine says
The snooze button can be tempting, can’t it?! Here’s to great success for both of us this coming week!
Becky says
I’m slightly jealous of your morning routine. My kiddos are both really little still so once they are up in the morning, my productivity is done for awhile. BUT the tiny years have lots of sweetness so I’m soaking it up the best I can. Productivity can wait until they’re a little more independent I suppose!
Kimber says
As someone whose littles are getting bigger (which breaks my heart), I love your attitude. It goes fast, and it DOES get easier to be productive. But you’re right – soak up the sweetness. You won’t regret it!
Tracy S. says
Yesterday I did pretty good. 🙂 Today I got up a little late and for whatever reaso the soap packet in the dishwasher didn’t dissolve so I’m having to run it again. Not the end of the world. 😉
Jenni says
Some how I slept through my alarm and missed my workout time. Thankfully I was up in time for bible time and the rest flowed from there. Taking tomorrow off and will start fresh again Sunday!
loren says
I am also working on getting quiet time in before jumping right into work. However the last couple days have been tough since I have overslept due to a migraine. I work from home so it is so easy to just jump right into the day without starting it off on the right foot. Computers and phones definitely are a distraction for me.
Mel says
I struggle with this as well, Loren. It’s so tempting to get on the computer immediately and “get an early start” on the day’s work, but I’ve found that this is actually anti-productive. A couple of weeks ago I started a morning routine that keeps me off the computer until about 8:30AM plus began assigning specific times to work on projects. Still tweaking this method, but when I stick to it, I’m HUGELY productive.
Heidi says
Oh my gosh!! How do you get your countertops so clean and keep them that way?
Crystal Paine says
I actually did a post on that, believe it or not: https://moneysavingmom.com/2011/09/qa-tuesday-how-do-you-keep-your-kitchen-countertops-cleaned-off.html
Ginger says
I’m so inspired by the idea of not turning on the computer until a certain time later in the morning! I can’t do it during deployment – don’t want to miss a single text/email – but I might see how I can alter it a little to help with my morning routine! 🙂 Have you found it easy to wait until 0830, or do you get that detox twitch like me? 😉
Crystal Paine says
Your comment about the detox twitch cracked me up! 🙂
Aleah says
It helps me to make a little note of whatever pops into my head that I want to check. Say I’m waiting on a certain email. I can write, “Look for email from Cindy” on a little note and that way I feel like I get it out of my brain without actually getting on the computer to check it before it’s time.
Kerri says
My morning routine went better today. Yeah!
I like your comment about not seeing your children as interruptions to your quiet time, but looking for ways to incorporate them into your routine. That one thought changes the way that I see things when one of my children wakes up early.
Crystal Paine says
It’s made a MAJOR difference for me… I’m glad that it encouraged you, too.
Julie Carns says
What method works best for listening to scripture while on the treadmill? Thanks for sharing!
Crystal Paine says
I just played it on the YouVersion Bible App on the my phone. I love to use that for listening to the Bible while cleaning, getting ready in the morning, etc.
Julie Carns says
Thank you! I’ll have to see if it is louder than the noise of me on the treadmill (panting!) 😉
Crystal Paine says
I use headphones and turn up the volume! 🙂