If you’re a mom looking for Christian advice about how to start your day, Gina M Poirier shares 35 simple morning routine ideas in today’s post that are great tools to have!
I am bundled up in blankets before dawn, a fluffy dog nestled by my feet. It’s a peaceful moment, so warm and quiet…
…interrupted by my energetic three-year-old jumping on topping me and demanding food. Now.
I groan and look at my watch. I calculate that I got five, maybe six hours of sleep. The baby had a wakeful night, and so did I.
But the demands of parenting deny me the luxury of sleeping in. I kick off the blankets and shuffle to the kitchen, get my daughter her breakfast, let the dog out, start the coffee pot. The day has begun.
I take a deep breath. I can do this.
As a mom of five kids, I’ve learned a thing or two after trying out lots of morning routine ideas. Even during life’s most demanding seasons, having just a few simple tasks I complete when I wake up can help generate a positive rhythm for the rest of the day.
Related Reading: How to Plan Your Day for Optimal Energy
Why Is a Good Morning Routine Important for Christians?
It’s no secret that a good, morning routine is an essential part of a great day; it’s what all the productivity experts say you should have. You can find endless morning routine ideas for success all over the internet.
But is “success” really the goal for Christians? And what does that really mean, anyway? Plus, whoever writes a lot of the advice out there clearly does not have kids!!!
Rather than concerning myself with productivity (although I do like it a lot), I like to approach my day with a rhythm and a posture that is aligned with God’s Spirit. My morning routine in many ways sets the tone for the day.
And the more I walk in step with God, the more peaceful the atmosphere is in my home.
Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” In the Gospels, Jesus gets up early to spend time alone praying to the Father. So there’s biblical precedent for starting the day in a way that is intentional, seeking out God’s will.
There is also common-sense wisdom in getting a positive momentum going in the morning, physically and mentally. Just like a car runs better when it is warmed up and has adequate gas and oil, we humans run better when we’re taking care of ourselves and practicing healthy habits.
And these morning routine ideas are that: healthy habits that can benefit you your whole life.
Related Reading: What Does the Bible Say About Self-Care? (A Christian Perspective)
How to Implement Your Morning Routine Ideas Well
Before you jump into the list of morning routine ideas below, there are a few things you’ll want to consider:
- Start your morning routine the night before. Mornings can be difficult because many households are in a rush to get everything done before getting out the door or starting the rest of the day. Make it easier by preparing as much as you can in the evening, including quiet time materials, food, outfits, backpacks and cleanup.
- Wake up before you kids—but only if you can. I’ll be honest; in my current season I do not wake up before the kids because I need as much sleep as I can get. If you can get some time to focus before the kids are up, it can be wonderful, but you can still have a great day if you don’t.
- Write out your plan. Putting your morning ritual on paper can help you visualize it and follow through with it. Use a habit tracker if that is helpful to you (I have a template.)
- Avoid distractions. I’m looking at you, smartphone. I try to only go to my phone as a reward for completing other parts of my morning routine.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule. Mama of an infant here—I know it’s tough sometimes, but the more you can go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day, the better you’re going to feel, even if you don’t have a great night’s sleep.
- Put God first. I know that if I don’t carve out at least a little bit of time for reading my Bible and saying a quick prayer, it’s less likely to happen at all.
- Be realistic. I am frequently way too ambitious whenever I try to tweak my morning routine ideas. If I didn’t have kids, I’d have time for a long quiet time with coffee, a workout, a shower and time to make my bed and clean up the kitchen each morning! Ha! But I do have kids, which means I must cut out a lot of those tasks (or at least shorten them).
- Have grace. No matter what I have planned, it is going to be interrupted by somebody needing something that can potentially throw off the whole routine. It’s not the end of the world if I don’t follow my morning routine ideas exactly as I want to. I try to give myself as much flexibility as possible, because life happens.
- Change things up. I need to revisit my morning routine ideas every quarter or so, because the rhythms of the household change.
- You do you. Pick the morning routine ideas you like and make them work for your unique personality, season of life and personal needs. Your routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Related Reading: 5 Ways to Make Time for God When You Barely Have Time to Pee!
35 Morning Routine Ideas for Busy Christian Moms
These morning routine ideas aren’t a must-do list. Rather, they are some tools that can help you create the rhythm in your home and your life that is most in step with God.
Choose a few that you’d like to implement, depending on your needs and your season of life. Try them out in your schedule and see how it goes!
- Read your Bible (even for a few minutes!)
- Listen to the Bible on audio.
- Listen to a Christian podcast.
- Listen to worship music or sing along.
- Read from a devotional or Christian book.
- Cuddle with your kids or your husband (or both).
- Spend a few minutes praying aloud, journaling, or meditating on Scripture.
- Go for a quick prayer walk (with a stroller or a dog if you must).
- Read aloud or memorize Scripture at the breakfast table, or have a quick devotional together as a family.
- Pray over your day in the shower.
- Pray over your day in the car.
- Drink a glass of water.
- Take your vitamins.
- Measure out the water you want to drink for the day.
- Have some quiet time while the kids watch cartoons, play independently or get ready.
- Pray when you’re doing other mindless tasks like brewing coffee or feeding a baby.
- Say what you’re thankful for, individually or as a family.
- Do some quick stretches or a workout video.
- Give kisses goodbye to anyone who is leaving.
- Tell your family you love them.
- Light a candle or diffuse essential oils.
- Start a load of laundry.
- Do one kitchen cleanup task like loading or unloading the dishwasher.
- Wipe down the countertops.
- Have everyone make their beds.
- Write out your to-do list for the day and/or check your schedule.
- Finish something quick on your to-do list and cross it off.
- Wear clothes that make you feel good.
- Wash your face and brush your teeth.
- Style your hair and makeup if you like to.
- Take some deep breaths of fresh air (watering flowers or letting a dog out are good opportunities).
- Create a list of easy, go-to breakfasts.
- Enjoy a warm beverage.
- Go over your family budget.
- Prep dinner.
This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully, these morning routine ideas give you a sense of what you can use in your own life. If you want similar tips, be sure to check out this Christian self-care toolkit.
What do you want to change most in your morning routine? What other morning routine ideas would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let us know!
