20 Ways to Energize Mornings for Homemakers [Morning Routine]

Not so long ago, my mornings were crazy until I drafted a morning routine to help carb my to-dos in the morning. This seemed to ease how I flow into my day and since then I have not looked back. Not all days are calm, of course, but what I do in the morning as part of my routine counts as a win!

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

What follows?

A morning routine is a phrase we have, by now, heard of several times, but depending on how you look at it, it is not as ‘misused’. Rather, setting a morning routine and following it through may be necessary to start your day right as a homemaker.

Now, there is a healthy approach to having a routine, and there is a not-so-healthy way. Let’s see just a few examples of both scenarios.

The not healthy way

The belief all must proceed according to plan in your morning routine.

The urge to mimic someone else’s actions is strong, regardless of the differences in your circumstances and preferences.

Beating yourself up when you miss an item or get the timing conflicted.

The healthy way to approach a morning routine

A morning routine checklist is a GUIDELINE, not a fixated way of going through your day.

FLEXIBILITY is key!

Know why you want to establish a morning routine and the end game. Is it to have some time for yourself before the rest wake up? Do you want a head start on some to-dos before others? (Some things you can only do well in the morning). There are many good reasons!

A big question you need to ask yourself is ‘What do I want to do before the day gets away with household chores and other tasks or before I leave the house for my daytime job (if working outside the home)?’ The answer to this question is your guide to creating a good morning routine.

Let’s see why you need a morning routine and the activities and tasks you can add. One thing to keep in mind though; people, likes, and needs vary, and this simply means you don’t have to ‘copy and do’ as your fellow homemaker. Make it personal to fit your needs and schedule.

What is a morning routine and how significant is it to have one?

I know there are tasks and activities that we must do in a day; people have to eat so meals must be prepared, there is office work to attend to if working, if running a business, there’s what needs to be done, and if running and managing a household, the everyday chores are calling out for you!

A morning routine helps you conquer the day’s activities with energy and mindfulness. I am more productive when I start my day with a few things that help me set the right mood and pace.

8 Reasons to have a morning routine

A structured morning routine sets a positive vibe for the rest of the day and makes you feel in control. We can agree that being overrun by the day’s activities is unpleasant.

A morning routine helps you start the day calmly. It keeps most stress at bay- the stress emanating from rushing through your day’s tasks.

You enhance your mental clarity depending on what activities you engage in your routine. Going through your day rationally helps you in decision-making and problem-solving.

A good morning routine may help promote healthy habits that enhance your overall health and well-being. I have noticed that I can only successfully form certain habits if I do them in the morning. These habits are; light exercises, a 30-minute sun exposure, and Bible reading. I love doing these three things in the morning, and it is hard any other time.

How about managing your time effectively? Yes! A consistent routine will help you manage your time well by creating a predictable structure. The day’s activities may not go as planned, but you manage just fine within the schedule.

There are certain consistent habits when incorporated into your routine help you foster personal growth and development. Habits like reading and working on a few inches of that set goal promote growth.

One major benefit of a morning routine is boosting your motivation. Completing a few tasks in the morning gives you the right motivation and attitude to conquer the rest of the day’s tasks.

Lastly, no matter what happens throughout the day, your morning routine is a noteworthy accomplishment. It may be as simple as making beds, reading a few chapters, doing a routine exercise, washing one load, etc.

20 Examples of activities that can be part of your morning routine.

Disclaimer! This is NOT an exclusive but a guide of some things you can add to the list to make up your routine.

A big question you need to ask yourself is ‘What do I want to do before the day gets away with household chores and other tasks or before I leave the house for my daytime job (if working outside the home)?’ The answer to this question is your guide to creating a good morning routine.

1. Wake up time. Choosing a consistent wake-up time allows for a calm start to your day. But this is also greatly affected by what time you go to bed. Also, if you have school-going kids, or you have an office job, or any other activity that prompts you to an early start, maybe you can try to wake up a few minutes before the usual time to work on those things you would love to do before all else starts.
2. Exercise. Doing physical activity like stretching, yoga, HIIT, light exercises, etc.
3. Meditation/ prayers. You can schedule a few minutes each day in the morning to feed your soul and spirit before the hustle and bustle begins.
4. Goal setting. Spend a little time to set your day’s priorities and intentions by doing a quick reflection and/or journaling.
5. Nature walks and getting some natural vitamin D. Sometimes this is all I need to do to start my day right. I find it incredibly special to begin my day like this, with walks and the beautiful morning sunlight adding to the experience. 20-30 minutes is enough for a short walk as your body receives some sunlight.
6. Daily to-do list. Take around five to ten minutes to think through the day’s tasks and activities or mostly what is pending and needs to be done. From this, you can create a manageable list of tasks for the day.
7. Attend to quick chores. This is how it looks for me: I give myself at least 30 minutes to do quick chores like start a load of laundry, declutter a drawer, give the toilets a quick scrub and rinse, etc. Look for small household chores that you can take care of within a few minutes. Put a timer if need be.
8. Spending time with your family. Having breakfast together or holding brief conversations before the usual day’s work begins can be a good habit to set as part of your morning routine.
9. Self-care. We always say self-care is not selfish, and it is necessary to keep your cup running. Set a few minutes or an hour or two to read, attend to your hobbies, or any other activity that counts as self-care to you.
10. Dress and grooming. Yes, even if your work as a homemaker revolves around the house, consciously invest some time to dress and groom for the day. Something as simple as this can elevate your mood, thus maximizing your productivity.
11. Creative time. Dedicate a portion of your morning to enhance one of your creative activities such as drawing faces (apparently, it’s pretty fun, lol), writing, painting, playing an instrument, etc.
12. Catch up on some news. You can spend a few minutes each morning to catch up on news and current events just to let you stay informed. This could be good for you as long as it doesn’t stress you out, so check in with yourself.
13. Catching up with loved ones. Although these individuals are close to you and a part of your life, your busy schedule leaves little time for checking up on them. What if one of your to-dos is to call them or send a text?
14. Decluttering. A long time has passed before you discard any unwanted items in your home, but you also don’t have the time to declutter all areas in one sitting. So, what about a room or a portion of an area each morning for a few minutes till it’s done? Yes, you can schedule decluttering as part of your morning routine.
15. Daily challenge. What is your challenge for the day, if any? Tackling one of the small personal challenges is better ticked off in the morning. It gives you some sense of accomplishment and sets you in the right mood.
16. Mindful tea/coffee/soup taking. You can dedicate a few minutes each day to do nothing else, but just sit and drink your tea or coffee mindfully, savoring each sip.
17. Brain exercises. You can solve puzzles, crosswords, or engage in mental exercises to stimulate your brain.
18. Work on your other hustles. You are a homemaker and family and house chores are your main to-dos each day. But then again, you may have a side gig like blogging, product selling, a VA job, etc. You can dedicate a few hours of your morning to this before you take part in chores as a homemaker.
19. Gardening. Most plants need tending and watering in the early morning hours. Tending to your plants can be a good thing to add to your morning routine, as it is calming too.
20. Mind mapping. Take a few minutes to brainstorm your ideas and organize your thoughts. Your mind is fresh in the morning and your body is yet to be tired from the day’s activities. So, mornings may be the right time to do some mind mapping.

Bottom line

Embrace the idea and process of setting a morning routine and make your morning work for you. If committing to a set of morning activities before your regular schedule starts is new, just start small and keep it simple. You do not have to do all the above, not even a quarter (no one can really), identify what works for you, and flow with that. To help, here is a list of things to note before setting a morning routine.