How to Create a Joy Filled Morning Routine

​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.

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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.

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GET MOVING

​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.

FREE workout videos you can do from home

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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.

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​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.

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​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.”

GET YOUR FREE WEEKLY GOAL PLANNER HERE

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​GRATITUDE

​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.

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​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:

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