How to Create the Perfect Daily Morning Routine as a Work From Home Mom

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The morning can be such a difficult time when you have small children. Especially if you have a strong-willed 4-year-old who has started refusing to get out of bed (ask me how I know).

You’ve got to get everyone breakfast, the kids need to get dressed, hair brushed, teeth, and…

It’s a lot. And that’s not even accounting for the adults showering and getting ready.

Mornings can be very chaotic. It’s easy for the morning to spiral into stress for moms.

I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be like that.

If you have a well-planned daily morning routine, you can find calm amid the craziness so you and your family have a more pleasant morning.

Here’s how we’ve achieved a daily morning routine that doesn’t leave us drained.

Start the Night Before

I know this one can be tough. You’ve had a long day with the kids and want nothing more than to sit on the couch and enjoy not being needed.

But my husband and I have found that if we take a half hour or so at night and get some things prepped for the next day, the whole day goes much more smoothly. And that leaves us feeling a little less exhausted at the end of the day.

It was difficult at first, but once we got into the routine, it was much easier. And we really notice the difference on the rare days we don’t get to prep.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

• Prepare breakfast: You may not be able to prepare everything, especially if you have a kid who likes to change their mind about what they want to eat. But my husband and I eat the same thing every morning, so we prepare what we can for ourselves. This makes it less challenging to prepare whatever our kids are asking for.
• Set out your clothes for the next day: We always have clothes set out for ourselves and the kids for the next day (making sure that there are options for the kids). This saves time scrambling to figure out what you’ll wear and wasting time looking for that other sock that’s always MIA.
• Create a simple schedule: We have a simple schedule done up for our mornings so we know whether we’re running late or not. It’s exactly the same every weekday morning, so there are no surprises for anybody. Consider posting the schedule somewhere that everyone can see so it becomes familiar.

Handling as much as possible the night before will make your morning run much more smoothly.

Keep Your Schedule Flexible

When we started with a morning schedule, we were pretty rigid about it. We didn’t leave much room for anything that put us behind.

But as any parent knows, kids don’t care about your plans. So, after a lot of frustration, we realized the need for flexibility and to build in time for setbacks.

You really need to go with the flow and not feel tied to a rigid schedule. Focus more on a general order of things so you don’t lose your mind when things don’t go exactly as expected.

• Prioritize what matters: Think about what your non-negotiables are. Make sure those are the things you focus on, and ditch what you can when needed.
• Allow extra time for transitions: Kids can have such a hard time transitioning from one thing to another. Building some time in for those tough transitions is in everyone’s best interest.
• Be prepared for unexpected events: Things can happen, whether a spill or a meltdown. Kids get so worked up and overwhelmed, sometimes over seemingly insignificant things. Keeping a calm attitude and being flexible will help you navigate the morning with less stress.

This one is difficult for me. I struggle a lot when plans change, or things don’t go how I was hoping.

It’s something I actively work on and prep myself for mentally ahead of time.

Set an Early Alarm for Personal Time

I will be honest and say this is something that doesn’t work for me. Especially in this stage of motherhood with a wakeful toddler.

But I know this can be helpful for some, so I’ve included it.

Set your alarm 30 minutes to an hour earlier than everyone else, and give yourself much-needed alone time to prepare mentally for the day.

• Enjoy a peaceful moment: Sip a warm cup of coffee or tea while soaking in the quiet.
• Practice mindfulness: Try incorporating a short meditation or breathing exercises into your routine. A few minutes of mindfulness can help you stay grounded and more present throughout the day.
• Stretch or exercise: Physical activity, like yoga or simple stretching, can help boost your mood and give you energy for the busy day ahead.

Having this time in your morning routine helps you start the day with calm and readiness.

Nail Your Morning Routine

Creating a calm morningroutine is about preparation, simplicity, and flexibility.

Planning ahead, taking time for yourself, and focusing

on what matters can make the morning much more enjoyable.

Incorporate these tips into your morning routine, and remember: a calm and happy mom sets the tone for a peaceful and happy day

And if you’d like some tips on how to be productive during your work day, check out this post.