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When I became a stay at home mom I struggled to take care of my little one and keep the house in order, while also trying to squeeze in some “me” time.
Something that helped me manage the day-to-day tasks was creating an effective stay at home mom morning routine.
But here’s the deal.
Your morning routine has to be unique to you.
There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Let’s explore how having a structured morning routine as a stay at home mom can help make your life easier.
5 incredible benefits of a stay at home mom morning routine
A morning routine can help you start your day off on the right foot and set yourself up for success throughout the rest of the day.
Here’s why a stay at home mom morning routine is essential.
1. Reduced Stress
A morning routine helps you eliminate having to make small decisions about what needs to get done in order to start your day off right.
Having an established plan also allows you more time during your busy days since you don’t have to think about what comes next or how much time something will take; it’s already planned out.
2. Increased Productivity
When you have a morning routine you already know exactly what needs to be done and you’ve already prepared for those tasks the night before.
Being intentional about how you spend your time helps you focus on the right things and limits how much time you waste on social media.
3. Better Mental Health
Maintaining a consistent routine is important for overall well-being – especially when life gets hectic.
Taking care of yourself first thing in the morning sets up healthy habits for later in the day which leads to better mental health overall.
When you take care of yourself first, you have more energy and patience left over at night when everyone else is winding down from their own days too.
4. Improved Sleep Quality
Waking up earlier than usual may seem daunting which is why an effective morning routine starts with a high-quality evening routine.
Setting aside time before bed to prepare for the next morning improves your sleep quality because you won’t wake up flustered and overwhelmed.
A simple nighttime routine such as brushing your teeth, changing into pajamas, etc., helps signal to your brain that you’re ready for bed which makes falling asleep easier once your head hits the pillow.
5. Increased confidence
Starting off each day knowing exactly what lies ahead provides peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of already so there’s nothing left but to relax until tomorrow rolls around again.
This boosts your self-confidence because it shows you that you’re capable of achieving goals no matter how big or small they may be.
This will help you stay motivated to keep going even when things get tough throughout the day.
Having a morning routine can help stay-at-home moms feel more organized and prepared for the day ahead. It’s important to determine what time is best for waking up in order to make the most of this valuable routine.
Key Takeaway: A morning routine will help you be more organized and have more patience throughout the day.
What time should a stay-at-home mom wake up?
Waking up early is one of the best things you can do to start your day off right.
While it may be tempting to sleep in, getting up before your children will give you some much needed alone time and help set the tone for the rest of your day.
My kids wake up around 7 a.m. so I choose to wake up around 6 a.m.
What time you decide to wake up in the morning will depend on what time your kids typically wake up.
And if they wake up really early in the morning then maybe you’ll want to slowly adjust their bedtime so they still get plenty of sleep but wake up at a later time.
How do you wake up early without waking up your kids?
You can use something like this wristband silent alarm clock that vibrates when it’s time to start the day.
Eventually, you’ll naturally wake up at the same time every day without the alarm clock if you’re consistent.
How Early Should You Wake Up?
Try to wake up at least an hour before your kids get out of bed.
This gives you enough time to lollygag around and enjoy yourself without any interruptions.
If that’s not possible, then even 10 minutes will make a difference in how productive and organized you are throughout the day.
Key Takeaway: You don’t have to wake up at 5 a.m. to be productive. Even 10 minutes of alone time in the morning is beneficial.
What should I do first thing in the morning?
It can be difficult to know what to do first thing in the morning, especially when you’re a stay-at-home mom with a baby or toddler.
But taking time for yourself and setting up your day right is essential for productivity and mental health.
Here are a few ways to start your mornings off right.
Drink Water
Start your day by drinking at least one glass of water.
This will help hydrate you after sleeping all night and get your body ready for the day ahead.
It also helps wake up your brain and give it the energy it needs to tackle whatever tasks come its way.
Meditate or Pray
Taking even just five minutes each morning to meditate or pray can have profound effects on how you approach the rest of the day.
Meditation helps clear away any negative thoughts that may be lingering from yesterday, while prayer gives you an opportunity to connect with your higher power and ask for guidance throughout your day.
Exercise
Exercise doesn’t need to take hours out of your morning – even just 10 minutes can make a huge difference in terms of giving you more energy throughout the day.
Try doing yoga poses, jumping jacks, or even walking around your driveway with the baby monitor.
Anything that gets your heart rate going will work wonders.
Eat Breakfast
Eating breakfast is key for staying energized during the long day ahead.
Make sure you eat something nutritious like oatmeal, eggs, yogurt parfaits, or smoothies so that you have plenty of fuel throughout the morning until lunchtime rolls around.
Get some fresh air
If possible, try stepping outside into nature first thing in the morning before starting other activities indoors such as checking emails or scrolling through social media.
Being outdoors surrounded by trees and plants has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels significantly – so don’t forget this important step every single day.
Even if you just open a window for a bit it’s important to enjoy some form of the great outdoors.
Key Takeaway: To ensure you have an efficient start to the day, it’s important to know what not to do early in the morning.
What should you not do early in the morning?
Start your day off on the wrong foot and you can quickly become overwhelmed.
To help avoid this, it’s important to be mindful of what activities should not be done early in the morning.
Avoid hitting the snooze button
It can be tempting to hit the snooze button when your alarm goes off in the morning, but this is one of the worst things you can do for your productivity.
Hitting snooze will only make it harder to wake up and start your day on time.
Instead, try setting multiple alarms at different times so that you don’t have a chance to hit snooze again.
Or move your phone/ alarm clock across the room so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
Avoid lying in bed
Staying in bed after waking up is another bad habit that many moms fall into.
Even if you’re feeling tired or overwhelmed, getting out of bed as soon as possible will help get your day started on the right foot.
If you find yourself struggling with this, try setting an alarm for 15 minutes earlier than usual and using those extra few minutes to stretch or meditate before starting your day.
Avoid drinking coffee
Drinking coffee first thing in the morning might seem like a good idea, but it can actually leave you feeling jittery and unfocused throughout the rest of the day.
Try swapping out coffee for green tea. Its caffeine content is lower than coffee but still enough to give you an energy boost without making you feel too wired afterward.
Avoid looking at your phone
Looking at your phone first thing in the morning isn’t always a great idea either. Checking emails or scrolling through social media feeds can lead to feelings of stress and overwhelm before even beginning your daily tasks.
To avoid this temptation altogether, keep all devices away from where they are easily accessible until after breakfast (or lunch).
You can also set app limits to prevent you from being on your phone too much throughout the day.
Avoid skipping breakfast
Skipping breakfast should also be avoided if possible.
Not only does eating something nutritious set up healthy habits for later meals during the day, but it also gives you much-needed energy and focus early on.
If mornings are hectic, try prepping some easy grab-and-go options like overnight oats or hard-boiled eggs ahead of time so there’s no excuse not to eat something nutritious each morning.
Next, let’s look at how to trick your brain into waking up early in the morning so you can make the most out of your day.
Key Takeaway: Start your morning right with a simple plan of things you want to accomplish.
How can I trick my brain into waking up early in the morning?
Waking up early in the morning can be a difficult task, especially for stay-at-home moms with young children.
However, it’s possible to trick your brain into waking up earlier. Here are a few strategies that may help.
1. Create a routine
The best way to get your body used to waking up at a certain time each day is by creating a consistent routine.
Even on weekends or days off, try to wake up around the same time as you would during weekdays.
This will help train your body’s internal clock and make it easier for you to rise out of bed when needed.
2. Change Your Mindset
Instead of dreading getting out of bed in the morning, try shifting your mindset towards loving mornings.
Start small by doing something enjoyable first thing in the morning such as drinking tea while reading an inspiring book or listening to a motivational podcast.
These activities will give you something positive to look forward to each morning and make it easier for you to jumpstart your day with enthusiasm rather than dreading it from the start.
3. Prepare Ahead Of Time
Before going to sleep at night, take some time to prepare yourself for tomorrow’s tasks so there won’t be any surprises waiting for you when you wake up.
Make sure all items are ready such as clothes laid out or meals prepped so that everything runs smoothly once it’s time to get started with other activities throughout the day.
4. Have an evening routine
Avoid looking at screens two hours before bedtime if possible since this could disrupt melatonin production.
Melatonin is important because it helps regulate your sleeping patterns and makes you feel sleepy faster when it’s nighttime.
Try reading a book or meditating before bed which can help relax both your mind and body before turning off lights.
Next, let’s look at how you can start creating a simple morning routine as a stay-at-home mom.
Key Takeaway: By setting a regular wake-up time and rewarding yourself for getting up early, you can begin to train your brain to wake up earlier in the morning.
How to create your stay at home mom morning routine
Starting a new routine can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
With the right planning and preparation, you can create an effective morning routine that will help you start your day off on the right foot.
Step 1: Decide What Time You Want To Wake Up
The first step in creating your morning routine is deciding what time you want to wake up.
This should depend on when your baby or toddler wakes up and how much sleep they need each night.
If possible, try to get up before them so you have some time for yourself before tending to their needs.
Step 2: Have A Plan For What You Want To Do In The Morning
Once you’ve decided what time you want to wake up, make sure you have a plan for what activities or tasks you want to do in the morning.
This could include anything from drinking tea while reading a book, taking a shower and getting dressed, making breakfast for yourself and/or your family, checking emails or social media accounts, etc.
Having these tasks planned out ahead of time will help ensure that nothing gets forgotten during the rush of the morning hours.
Step 3: Prepare As Much As Possible The Night Before
To make mornings easier on yourself (and everyone else), try preparing as much as possible the night before such as packing lunches for school-age children or prepping dinner ingredients so all that needs to be done is cooking it later in the day.
Doing this will save precious minutes in the morning which can add up over time.
It also helps reduce stress levels since there are fewer things left undone when waking up early in the morning.
Step 4: Go to sleep early
Choose a bedtime that allows you to get at least 8 hours of sleep.
If you have kids that still wake up throughout the night try to go to sleep even earlier so you can still get plenty of rest.
Getting enough sleep is essential if you want your body and mind to function at their best throughout the day.
Aiming for 8 hours of quality sleep every night is ideal but may not always be achievable with young kids around.
However, trying your best will still benefit you.
Plus having an earlier bedtime means more “me” time after putting the kids down which often leads to better productivity during those late evening hours too.
Step 5: Make adjustments
Once everything has been set into motion with steps one through four above, it’s important to adjust accordingly depending on any changes within your life such as school transitions or babies being born.
By adjusting regularly, you’ll find yourself able to “ balance all of your responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.
Key Takeaway: Having a routine as a stay-at-home mom can help you manage your time better and make the most of each day.
Do stay-at-home moms take naps?
As a stay-at-home mom, it can be difficult to find the time and energy for everything you need to do in a day.
Taking a nap can help give you the extra boost of energy and focus that you need to get through your day.
According to Mayo Clinic, naps have many benefits including:
- relaxation
- reduced fatigue
- increased alertness
- improved mood
- improved performance
- better memory
Napping is an important part of self-care for stay-at-home moms who are often juggling multiple tasks throughout the day.
It’s also beneficial for babies and toddlers as well since they tend to take naps during the day too.
When done correctly, taking a nap can provide restorative sleep that helps improve mental clarity and physical well-being.
Taking a nap can be a great way for stay-at-home moms to get the rest they need, but it’s important to know how to take one effectively.
In the next section, we’ll explore what’s the best way to take a nap so you can still get a good night’s rest.
Key Takeaway: Taking a nap can improve your mood and memory.
What’s the best way to take a nap?
Naps can be a great way to recharge and reset your energy levels.
But if you’re not careful, napping too long or at the wrong time of day can interfere with your nighttime sleep.
Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your nap.
Timing:
Aim to take a nap between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when our natural circadian rhythm is in its afternoon dip so that it doesn’t interfere with nighttime sleep.
Length:
Keep your nap short—ideally no more than 20 minutes—so that you don’t enter deep sleep and wake up feeling groggy instead of refreshed.
If you have difficulty waking up after 20 minutes, set an alarm or use a timer app on your phone as an extra reminder to wake up once the time is up.
Location:
Find a comfortable spot where you won’t be disturbed during your nap; this could be anywhere from a bedroom couch or armchair to even outside in nature (weather permitting).
Make sure there isn’t too much light coming into the room as well – this will help signal to your body that it’s time for restful sleep rather than alertness and activity.
Preparation:
Before taking a nap, try doing something calming like reading, listening to music, stretching, or meditating for 5–10 minutes.
This will help you relax and make falling asleep easier.
Additionally, drinking chamomile tea beforehand has been known to aid relaxation.
Key Takeaway: Napping is beneficial for mental clarity and focus.
Quick recap…
Having a morning routine as a stay-at-home mom can be incredibly beneficial for your productivity and mental health.
Waking up early, avoiding distractions, and starting the day with self-care activities are all important steps to creating an effective routine.
Taking naps during the day is also key in order to maintaining energy levels throughout the day.
With some planning and dedication, you can create a successful stay at home mom morning routine that works best for you.
