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All Day Active LIfe

Balanced & Healthy

How to Create a Joy Filled Morning Routine

4/2/2019

22 Comments

 
how to create a joy filled morning routine to set your day in motion in the right direction
​My morning routine is something that ends up setting my whole day in motion, either positively or negatively.  Over the years, my routine has changed numerous times, depending on what was going on in my life.  When my kids were babies the routine was chaotic at best as every day started off a bit different. But even as my kids have grown and we have a pretty solid routine, it changes from season to season.

What I know about my routine now is that there are a few small things I do just about EVERY SINGLE morning to help me set my day in a positive direction. I find that if I decide to skip these small but positive acts, I have a hard time getting into my groove the rest of the day. Some days it requires a little bit of finagling to get it all in, but I know that if I can squeeze these things in, my day seems to be more on track.

When I set my intention for the day and really ground myself at the very start, it seems like most things throughout the day end up bringing me joy.  I attribute this to the fact that I have my long term goals in mind. I also have in the back of my mind any challenge is merely a season and I will grow and learn from it in the end.

Below are some of the habits I’ve formed for my morning routine that help me throughout my entire day.

SKIP SOCIAL MEDIA & EMAIL

​One of the best choices I’ve made is to charge my phone in my Master Bathroom and NOT on my nightstand.  I have not only slept better, but I’ve also gotten out of the habit of scrolling through social media accounts FIRST thing in the morning.  

To be honest, this practice brought me absolutely no joy.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  Not only was I starting my day completely not present in my own life, I was beginning my day comparing myself to others’ highlight reels.  

As an entrepreneur I use social media for connecting with others quite a bit, but there is a time and place for this, and first thing in the morning wasn’t for me.

I also made it a habit to not even look at my email until after I had my day started.  If someone emailed me over night, it could wait until “business hours.”  I don’t need to start my day responding to other people, right?  I can start my day how I want and by doing what’s best for my and my family.

GET MOVING

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​This is a HUGE one for me.  I know I operate best when I have started my day with some movement.  As I said earlier, my morning routine has had a lot of seasons and changes.  Some seasons only allowed me to quickly stretch in the morning and maybe do a few ab moves.  Other seasons I was able to do a full run  or a pretty long workout.  And still other seasons where I worked out with my kids or simply took the dog for a walk.  No matter what it was though, I knew that working out set my day in motion.  

No matter how you choose to do it, even if it’s just some stretching, getting your blood pumping and your body moving helps invigorate your mind and start your day on the right foot.  You might be a person who loves working out at night -- and you can still do that!  Just do a little bit to limber up in the morning and get your blood flowing.

Some ideas are a quick walk, some stretching or a yoga sequence intended to wake you up.
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​GET READY FOR THE DAY

​I know this might sound like a no-brainer, but when you have kids at home, it makes a HUGE difference in how the day goes. I know for me if I showered, took time to put on at least a little makeup and fix my hair, it made a world of difference in how I felt the rest of the day.

Sometimes I just threw my hair in a bun and other days I had time to dry my hair.  It’s all about being flexible with your routine, but at least doing what makes you feel good.  In the summer my makeup routine seems to be a lot less than in the winter, but I always take care to nourish my skin with healthy products. 

When I take care of myself I feel like I’m ready to take care of the rest of my family.  And feeling put together and ready for the day, makes me feel like I’m ready to do anything and go anywhere.  

While puting on my makeup and doing my hair doesn’t necessarily give me incredible joy, it does help me feel confident, which helps me the rest of the day.

how to create a joy filled morning routine to set your day in motion in the right direction

​DEVOTION

​Every morning I set time aside for me and for God.  I make sure I have a quiet space without distractions and I focus my mind on Him.  Sometimes my devotion has been reading a chapter of an uplifting book and sometimes it’s been a Bible Study I’m working on with friends.  Either way, I make sure that I have time that is fully devoted to Him.

I take this time and pray, asking God to please help me and guide me throughout the day.  I ask Him to show me where He wants me this day and I ask him to open my mind and my heart.  

I have found that this truly helps me set the intention for the whole day.  With this practice I help myself by keeping in mind all day long that He is with me and He has my best interest at heart.  It reminds me I don’t need to sweat the small stuff and I can 100% rely on Him throughout my day. 

When I start the day by asking Him to guide me, I feel like my mind is more open and more receptive to His voice.
Whether you read a self-help book in the morning, pray or read a devotion, I highly recommend it to set your intention for the day.

​WRITE OUT THOSE GOALS

​When I say goals, I don’t mean my to-do list.  I have that too (which I usually prep the night before). The goals I’m talking about are your short term and long term goals.  I have a list of 10 things I’m currently striving for and I write them down in EVERY SINGLE MORNING.

My goals range from intangible things (like being a patient mom) to BIG DREAMS like paying off every last penny of our debt (and you better bet that includes our house).  Some of my goals are more short term like my annual income goals or even things I continue to do on a weekly basis (like volunteer and help others).

I keep a notebook where I write these things out every day in the present tense.  This means instead of writing, “I will be debt free”, I write “I am 100% debt free”.  Instead of writing down “I will be a great wife,” I write, “I am an exceptional wife.” This way I’m programming my brain that these are things I’m doing now.  I’m treating myself as if these have already happened.

Doing this helps me keep in mind my purpose for the day.  I know why I’m doing certain things and why I’m giving up other indulgences.  It’s basically a long list of my “why.”
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GET YOUR FREE WEEKLY GOAL PLANNER HERE

​GRATITUDE

start a gratitude journal to have a joy filled day
​In my same journal I also start the day with three things I’m thankful for. This is probably the quickest part of my whole routine, but honestly, just the small task of thinking of things’ I’m grateful for turns my mood positive.

It makes me remember how blessed I am.  Many times it’s not even huge things that make the list, but rather small things I’m so thankful I have in my life.  For example, yesterday morning I felt so grateful that my youngest daughter is always reaching for my hand whenever we walk anywhere.  This small thing probably goes unnoticed 90% of the time, but realizing that I’m grateful for this tiny act helps me ignore the things I’m not so grateful for (like the four year old sass she sends my way).

I jot down three different things every day to remind me how God has blessed me and how He’s really provided everything I need.  It’s a great way to fill your heart before the day begins.

​UPLIFTING OILS

​Another thing I do in the morning, is I start my day with essential oils that provide emotional support. I started using oils about two years ago and I honestly cannot imagine my life without them at this point.

I started using them to promote health in our constantly sick home, and over time I’ve continued using them for emotional support.  I love the uplifting feeling they provide and I love the support they offer my kids (who have the biggest emotions of all of us).  

These oils have really enhanced my devotion time and my journaling time to keep me grounded and present.  I use them throughout the day to lift my mood and provide peace and joy at the same time. 

One of my favorite blends to diffuse is Abundance while I’m journaling.  And sometimes, I need a big pick me up when I go to En-R-Gee with Peppermint.  Below are some of my favorite blends for my morning routine:
get stuff done diffuser blend with essential oils
joy essential oil and lemon essential oil diffuser blend
wake up diffuser blend of grapefruit essential oil, bergamot essential oil and peppermint essential oil
grounding diffuser blend with lavender, frankincense, vetiver and cedarwood
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22 Comments
Janell
4/3/2019 10:47:32 am

Great tips for taking care of yourself first to set the tone for the remainder of the day. I know I could benefit from a few of these ideas.

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Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:04:13 am

Thanks, Janell! :)

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Sarah Anderson link
4/3/2019 12:11:29 pm

Thank you for sharing these suggestions. I love to start the day off with mediation and sometimes I get to squeeze in some exercise. Mostly, I try to have quiet before my day starts but that rarely happens with little ones running around. :)

Sarah.

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:05:29 am

I know! It can really be hard to have quiet moments with kiddos :) I love your tip for meditation in the morning. I'd love to add that to my morning routine.

Reply
Stephanie link
4/3/2019 01:13:23 pm

Great tips for an easier morning! I want to work on waking a bit earlier so I can get a few things done, including a workout, before my boys wake and we have to start the morning school routine. I also love that Wake Up! blend for the diffuser, I have all the oils so I'll have to try it tomorrow morning.

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:06:25 am

Thanks, Stephanie! The wake up blend is an absolute favorite of mine too!

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Jessie link
4/3/2019 11:03:32 pm

These are great tips. I'm all info essential oils. I'm going to try these blends! I first have to get grapefruit. I'm going to save this.

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:07:29 am

Thanks, Jessie! Grapefruit has become one of my favorite oils for the morning. You'll love it!

Reply
Patricia Chamberlain
4/4/2019 06:14:11 am

Thank you for sharing these great suggestions. My mornings are pretty hectic since my toddler likes to start her day around 5AM. I am definitely going to try these things to start the day off better.

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:08:28 am

It can be so hard with littles around, Patricia! Just give yourself that extra grace and do whatever works for you :)

Reply
Neely Moldovan
4/4/2019 08:25:19 am

Doing some sort o physical activity is huge for me and for me being happy!

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:08:59 am

Neely, I agree completely! It's a must for my mornings :)

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Adam Johnson link
4/4/2019 09:55:36 am

Love those ideas, definitely need to increase my morning activity but I have the habit of wake up to door in 45 mins which is not great

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Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:10:23 am

Thanks, Adam! It definitely gets easier with more sunlight in the spring and summer to get up a little earlier.

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Christa
4/4/2019 02:53:14 pm

There are so many amazing suggestions here! I love the whole premise of having a joy filled morning. It really can set up your day. I actually have a similar routine. It was hard to learn how to not reach for the phone first thing, but it’s been a game changer.

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:11:52 am

Yes - you're so right, Christa! Total game changer to have your mind free from social media and your inbox first thing. :)

Reply
Hooda link
4/5/2019 09:49:59 am

Great tips! I especially like the part about gratitude. I have started saying a few gratitude statements as soon as I wake up and I have been doing it for the past few months. It really does make a difference in your day!

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:12:31 am

That's so great, Hooda! I think it makes a big difference for me too.

Reply
Melanie williams
4/5/2019 11:29:38 am

These are really great tips. However, I do find skipping social media is a real tough one for me xx

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:13:23 am

Thank you, Melanie!! That one took me a while to give up too. It was hard when the notifications are right there staring at me when I turn off my alarm. But over time it became a habit. :)

Reply
NAti link
4/5/2019 01:13:43 pm

I also start my morning offline! I turn my devices on at around 10, once I'm totally into my day! I will try your idea about writing down my goals, that seems great!

Reply
Amanda | All Day Active Life link
4/11/2019 08:15:26 am

That is awesome!! I usually check in after an hour of my own routine, but sometimes it feels like I'm then handing the rest of my day over to my inbox and social media.

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    Amanda Klecker

    Seeking a balanced life through healthy living and a healthy environment


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