I recently have been in a funk. I haven't been able to locate the origin it but I'm defiantly there. I've been cranky, short-tempered, and all together spacey. It's been getting worse too. I kept thinking it will pass and i will soon begin to feel like myself again, but after a couple months I realized it was not going to pass. Then I had life-stresses in addition pulling me down even further. I realized that the only way this was going to change was if I made a point to change myself.
One day I sat down and made a list of things I wanted better about myself, being a more attentive wife and mother were at the top. Other things included bettering my diet and exercise regime. During this time of self-reflection I had realized that my relationships were suffering. I knew that change had to happen I just wasn't sure how. I mean, my day was full. Wake up be mom, be wife, be house keeper, be cook, be organizer, be employee, be job-hunter, be runner... I was exhausted! So I started reading other mom blogs and quickly became a tuned to the idea that this "funk" happens, and getting yourself out takes a plan. The re-occurring recommendation in these blogs, was to create some time of your own, everyday.
I decided at that point that I would begin a morning routine. I've always loved the quote solitude of the morning. It brings to me a place that I usually only find while hiking or an intense yoga practice. I began getting up at 530. This was hard. I was already tired throughout the day but I made myself get up when that alarm went off. I started the pot of coffee and I'll admit some mornings I just stared into the dark. But after about a week I started doing better. I was able to get up and read Scripture until it was time to make breakfast and wake the girls. The mornings became so much smoother when I had already woken up (mentally that is) before the kids woke. I am in a much better mood and able to get the dressed and fed without rushing around. Many mornings we even have time for them to draw, play, or watch their favorite show, Wild Kratts on PBS, before we have to leave. Everyone is happier.
Though this helped immensely, I still wasn't all the way there. Getting up at 530 I was rushed to get my mental wake-up, scriptures read, and breakfast started before it was time to wake the girls. I talked with my neighbor who said she gets up at 5 to start her morning routine. Ek! I thought that was impossible until I gave it a shot this week!
Waking up at 5 not only has increased my energy, elevated my mood, and gives me the time to complete my "me" time before the day starts! I found myself yesterday just thinking how great I felt. My mind is much clearer and I just feel good. This feeling is reflected through-out my day and I love it. This morning I added a short yoga practice, it felt great!
Here is where I am with my morning routine: wake up at 5 and start the coffee Maker that I prepared the night before. I then drink a glass of water with a single drop of lemon essential oil (a practice that has really assisted with my mental clarity). While drinking my water and enjoying coffee I read scriptures. Then this morning I did a 7 minute yoga practice. I plan on continuing to incorporate that into my mornings. Depending on what I'm serving for breakfast I start preparing between 545-6 then wake the girls at 615.
What's your morning routine?
One day I sat down and made a list of things I wanted better about myself, being a more attentive wife and mother were at the top. Other things included bettering my diet and exercise regime. During this time of self-reflection I had realized that my relationships were suffering. I knew that change had to happen I just wasn't sure how. I mean, my day was full. Wake up be mom, be wife, be house keeper, be cook, be organizer, be employee, be job-hunter, be runner... I was exhausted! So I started reading other mom blogs and quickly became a tuned to the idea that this "funk" happens, and getting yourself out takes a plan. The re-occurring recommendation in these blogs, was to create some time of your own, everyday.
I decided at that point that I would begin a morning routine. I've always loved the quote solitude of the morning. It brings to me a place that I usually only find while hiking or an intense yoga practice. I began getting up at 530. This was hard. I was already tired throughout the day but I made myself get up when that alarm went off. I started the pot of coffee and I'll admit some mornings I just stared into the dark. But after about a week I started doing better. I was able to get up and read Scripture until it was time to make breakfast and wake the girls. The mornings became so much smoother when I had already woken up (mentally that is) before the kids woke. I am in a much better mood and able to get the dressed and fed without rushing around. Many mornings we even have time for them to draw, play, or watch their favorite show, Wild Kratts on PBS, before we have to leave. Everyone is happier.
Though this helped immensely, I still wasn't all the way there. Getting up at 530 I was rushed to get my mental wake-up, scriptures read, and breakfast started before it was time to wake the girls. I talked with my neighbor who said she gets up at 5 to start her morning routine. Ek! I thought that was impossible until I gave it a shot this week!
Waking up at 5 not only has increased my energy, elevated my mood, and gives me the time to complete my "me" time before the day starts! I found myself yesterday just thinking how great I felt. My mind is much clearer and I just feel good. This feeling is reflected through-out my day and I love it. This morning I added a short yoga practice, it felt great!
Here is where I am with my morning routine: wake up at 5 and start the coffee Maker that I prepared the night before. I then drink a glass of water with a single drop of lemon essential oil (a practice that has really assisted with my mental clarity). While drinking my water and enjoying coffee I read scriptures. Then this morning I did a 7 minute yoga practice. I plan on continuing to incorporate that into my mornings. Depending on what I'm serving for breakfast I start preparing between 545-6 then wake the girls at 615.
What's your morning routine?