Morning Routine For Mom – Tips For Staying Productive At Home

If there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the years, it’s that I thrive when I follow a routine. Seriously, without one, I’m not sure how I would get anything done. When I first became a stay at home mom, I found myself struggling to get into a good routine. Becoming a mom proved to be a bigger change than I had ever anticipated.

After the chaos of newborn life, and once Hayvn started to get a little older, I decided it was time to start forming a schedule that would help me stay productive during the day.

It’s been proven that people are more often successful and happier when they follow some sort of routine throughout their day. However, as a mom with a toddler, we have to expect curve balls and we need to be able to adapt. Basically, our routines need to come with some flexibility now.

For that reason, I have come up with a fluid morning routine that can be modified based on when Hayvn wakes up and takes her naps since it can vary day-to-day.

I also have one goal in mind each day, since her schedule can be unpredictable, I call it my daily mantra:

Get at least one or two important things done in the morning, so that even if nothing else gets done the rest of the day, it’s still a good day.

So with that in mind, let’s get into it, here is my personal morning routine for mom, to help you stay productive and feel accomplished throughout your day.

Morning Routine For Mom

The first piece of advice I like to offer my fellow mommas is to wake up before your children. Set your alarm to wake you up at least a half-hour before your babies wake up, so you can begin your day with a clear mind and sort out your thoughts before the busy rush of the day starts.

This is the routine I often strive for, but let’s be honest, when my toddler sleeps in, I typically take advantage of the opportunity for more sleep.

But I will say, on the days when I am feeling most productive and motivated, it’s because I woke up and had an extra hour to myself in the morning kid-free, to plan and map out my day.

6-7 a.m. Wake Up & Make The Bed

This is a must-have part of my routine no matter the circumstances. I am a freak when it comes to making my bed, just ask my husband. If my bed is not made first thing in the morning, my whole day is thrown off. Yes, you can call me neurotic, but hey, it works for me.

And it can work for you since it’s been proven that waking up and making your bed right away, kick-starts other good decisions throughout your day, therefore causing you to be more productive.

Moral of the story, make your bed.

So I make my bed and then head downstairs, to start some coffee, take my probiotic, and a Genius Joy nootropic (click here to learn more about these). These three things help get my day started by waking up my mind and my digestive system.

7-8 a.m. Make Breakfast

Once I have made the bed, taken my probiotic and my Genius Joy nootropic, and taken that first sip of my morning coffee, I am just about ready to start making breakfast for me and Hayvn.

Darin usually leaves for work around 7:45, so we sip our coffee, sit and talk before he has to leave. This is the best because moments together like this are far and few between once you have a baby.

Once he’s off to work, I start breakfast and let me just say, our breakfast isn’t glamorous by any means. It usually consists of some gluten-free pancakes (Pamela’s is my favorite) a banana and maybe some eggs, if we are extra hungry.

Hayvn usually wakes up any time between 7 and 8, it’s usually closer to 8, so once breakfast is started, I will go up to her room and bring her downstairs if she’s awake.

I always make it a point to try to avoid television or screen time during breakfast, because I have found that I am significantly less productive when I turn the T.V. on first thing in the morning. I also find myself, watching it for longer than expected, and my day begins to slip away from me.

8-9 a.m. Get Ready

Once breakfast is over, I make it a point to tidy up the kitchen. Now, this isn’t a full-blown cleaning spree, but it’s more or less rinsing off our dishes and pans that were used and putting them in the dishwasher so that when I come back downstairs from getting ready, I am not coming down to a dish disaster.

Once I get all the dishes taken care of, I head upstairs with Hayvn and we get ready for the day, so we shower, brush our teeth, get dressed, and I do my hair and makeup while Hayvn plays with some toys.

There is something so crucial to getting Hayvn and myself ready and put together, that really helps keep my day moving forward.

After all, if you look good, then you feel good. If you feel good then you play good. Am I right?

9-10 a.m. Play Time & Chores

Once we are all showered and ready for the day, it’s time for playtime and chores. Since Hayvn is still way too little to help with chores she usually plays while I clean or do something around the house. Although she does love to help unload the dishwasher and she loves to carry a broom around and help “sweep.”

This is a good time to teach your toddler the importance of helping and working hard and cleaning up after yourself. Although it may not seem like they can understand it yet, they will begin to pick up on it the more they see it.

This is where my daily mantra comes into play for my morning routine for mom, remember:

Get at least one or two important things done in the morning, so that even if nothing else gets done the rest of the day, it’s still a good day.

So during this hour, I try to pick a “big” chore to get done, like cleaning the kitchen and sweeping the floors, cleaning the bathrooms, or tackling the pile of laundry that’s been growing throughout the week.

Once I have finished my “chores” I like to spend some uninterrupted time with Hayvn where she has my complete undivided attention, no phone or television, just Hayvn, me, and her toys.

I find that if I consciously dedicate some time to Hayvn where she knows she has my attention, she typically does better throughout the day and allows me to accomplish other tasks while she plays by herself. I notice she nags and whines more throughout the day when I don’t give her this time in the morning.

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Nap Time (A.K.A. ‘Me’ Time)

Most days, I live for nap time, who’s with me mommas? But for real, it’s the only time where I can actually get things done efficiently and effectively, and I get some much-needed me-time.

During Hayvn’s nap, is when I work on my blog and write. I typically write 2-3 times a week, so on the days when I don’t have to write or work on my blog, I use nap time as a time to do something else on my list.

I try to get in at least one day a week when I practice some sort of self-care during nap time. This week I used my Kiara Sky dip powder and gave myself a manicure.

Click here to read more about Kiara Sky Dip Powder, and see how my nails turned out! 

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Get Out Of The House

So technically by the time nap time is over, it’s not morning anymore, and I know this post is all about my morning routine for mom, but I just wanted to touch on something that I find super important and I actually stress this point in some of my other posts.

Anyways, once nap time is over, I try to make a point of getting outside. Whether it’s to run to the grocery store, or a walk to the neighborhood park, or even just hanging out on the driveway watching Hayvn stare in awe at the airplanes that fly over our house.

As you can see my morning routine is pretty full, so it’s hard to get outside before 1 in the afternoon (unless I have an appointment or other pressing matter that gets me out of the house earlier). So I always aim for getting outside between 1 and 2 in the afternoon.

Not only is it good for a productive day, but getting outside at least once during the day has been proven time after time to improve your mood and overall happiness.

Make It A Great Day

It’s been proven over and over that most successful people follow some sort of routine each and every day. Successful people also have formed habits as part of their routine which helps them stay productive.

Mommas, you are no exception to this. If you want to feel productive and accomplished throughout your day and even throughout your week, then the answer is to create a routine and stick to it.

Ever since I started following this morning routine for mom, I have noticed that I am much more productive, ambitious, motivated, and I even notice that I’m happier.

As a stay at home mom with a very active and opinionated toddler, some days, it can feel impossible to get anything done. But when I repeat my daily mantra to myself, I focus on getting one thing done and making it a great day.

I hope you found this helpful, and I would love to hear from you! Do you have any specific tasks that you implement in your routine, to ensure you have a productive day? Let me know in the comments below!

XOXO