Hey Friends! It has been a while since I’ve sat down to write. Currently still sitting on the couch with my pjs on and coffee in hand… Love slower Saturday Mornings! I’ve been back to school for a month in a half now and the transition is definitely getting easier. Transitions are always challenging, but I know that growth happens in the uncomfortable, weak times, so I believe that I will see tremendous growth in my life this year. One thing that has already made a HUGE impact in my life this school year is setting up a morning routine. I’ve never been one to have a morning routine, so starting from scratch was a little challenging, but I’ve been going full blast for the last 2 months and I think I’ve established a pretty AWESOME morning routine. So I thought I’d share my morning routine and some awesome books I’ve added to my ” MUST READ” list.
Tip #1 to creating your Morning Routine
First things First: What do you want to accomplish in the Morning?! What have envisioned your mornings looking like??! This will be different for every person I’m sure. I would write out a list of everything you can think of and then go down that list and adjust it as needed. For me, I knew that I wanted to get my workouts in, have time for some personal development ( podcasts), devotional time, scheduling, working on my Instagram/ fb posts, and get ready for the day. Once you figure out what you want to accomplish, you can then figure out how much time each activity will require to get an idea of when you’ll need to wake up.
My Morning Routine
Like I said above, I knew what I wanted to work on in the morning and I figured out how much time I needed for each activity.
Workout 20-30 minutes 5:50-6:30
( Morning Meltdown 100 is the newest workout program I’ve been doing)
Devotional time / personal development 30 minutes 5-5:30ish while drinking energize
Instagram/ fb post and scheduling 20 min 5:30-5:50ish
Shower and get ready 30-40 minutes 6:30-7
Leave the house 7-7:10
Tip #2 for creating you Morning Routine
Set out items you’ll need in the morning ahead of time!
This is SUCH A BIG DEAL! This is something that saves me time in the morning so I can get all my to-do list in my morning routine accomplished! Think about the items you will need in the morning… What can you set out ahead of time? Can you get the coffee pot ready so you can just hit the button in the morning? Can you fill up your water bottle and energize cup so you’re ready to go for your workout? Can you lay out your work out clothes and clothing for that day?
Every evening before I go to bed I make sure to set up the coffee maker, my pre -workout drink, my workout clothes, and my clothing for school so I can be prepared right when I wake up! This has been such a big help in the morning and getting me out the door in time! I usually keep my computer set up for my workouts and have my devotional books set out so they are easily accessible.
Tip #3 for creating a Morning Routine
Go to sleep earlier! If you can get to bed at a better time, waking up earlier won’t be as challenging. But it’s all about consistency. If you are consistent with waking up and consistent with your schedule, your morning routine will begin to happen and it will become one of your favorite things! Even if you don’t go to bed at an earlier time, staying consistent to the time that you wake will help you as you create your morning routine.
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Morning Routine: Must reads for a better morning.
100 days to Brave- Annie F. Downs
With my workout program, I’ve been reading 100 days to Brave by Annie F. Downs and I’ve been loving it so far! One thing I really enjoy about the devotional is that the author always gives a little challenge at the end for the day or week, something to go along with the devotion that day.
Here’s a little quote from Amazon about the book:
“You were always meant to be brave.
Whether you’re making a major decision, dealing with a difficult transition, or facing a fear, 100 Days to Brave will give you courage and confidence to move forward.
Annie F. Downs felt her challenges were too difficult, too scary, too much. Then she decided to stop allowing fear to hold her back. It wasn’t easy or simple. But it was good.”
Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding
I have loved reading through this devotional book. Lysa Terkerust is a great writer who uses her story and heartbreak and her devotional, while simple, has depth and meaning. Here’s a little more about it from Amazon:
“Embraced is the beautiful new devotional from Lysa TerKeurst, the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited, The Best Yes, Unglued, and Made to Crave. Embraced features 100 devotions that will resonate with women in all stages of life by giving them a godly perspective on the issues they face each day.
A real embrace indicates an intimate level of closeness. It’s not a high five or a casual handshake. The best kind of embrace is when someone we know deeply loves us flings their arms wide open and pulls us in close.
Our hearts were made for this kind of love and security but for many of us, we know more about the pain of heartbreak and fear than the unconditional love for which we were created.In Embraced, Lysa shares her own struggles, doubts, and heartbreaks while pointing to the Ultimate Embrace: God opening His arms wide on Calvary through Jesus so that He could pull us close for all of eternity. Welcoming us into the safety and hope of His grace and His love.
And because we have been fully embraced by Him, we can spend our lives held securely by Him and trust all of His ways.
Through these 100 devotions, daily scriptures, and prayer prompts, readers will be equipped to:
- Begin to find freedom from the struggles that have held them hostage by learning new ways to experience God’s love and more authentic ways to trust Him.
- Surrender their deepest hurts by processing them in a godly way with Lysa, a friend who understands their pain.
- Hear the Lord speak intimately to their heart by learning how to seek His direction.
- Release the tension of wondering, If God is near why does He sometimes feel far away? by spending intentional, guided time with Him each day.”
Books on my Wish List
Have you read any of these books? I’m super excited to start reading ” The Miracle Morning”- I’ve heard such amazing things about it! What about a Morning Routine?! Have you been working on your Morning Routine?! I hope I’ve given you some ideas as you’re working on your mornings.
