In my seven years of parenting three kids, I tried all the hacks and tricks.
I tried waking up an hour before my kids to get a good workout in, drink lemon water, and meditate. I tried sleeping in with my baby and not waking until my toddlers came bounding into my room. Some days I'm full of energy, and other days I feel like a failure from the start.
The one piece of advice most inspirational coaches completely leave out is to identify the season of life you are in.
Start by naming your season
A mom with a toddler and a newborn has a very different day than a mom with three kids in full-time school. A mom who chooses to go screen-free in the mornings has different challenges than a mom who hands her child the iPad first thing.
To be successful with a morning routine, you first need to identify the season of life you are in, and then commit to a routine that works with that season. The goals and values you set today may look different six months from now, and that is okay.
"It's just a phase, so don't miss it!"
Reggie Joiner
What is holding you back from the goal you want?
You may be in a season of life where you spend all of your waking hours with your child. If so, the idea of waking up an hour before them seems impossible, and so does the idea of feeling recharged.
I'm here to tell you that you can still have a peaceful morning and feel recharged with your kids around. This may be a harder season of life, but your child is not holding you back from peace. Your daily rhythm is.
Peace is not the absence of conflict,
but the ability to cope with it.
Do it with them, not around them
If it feels like your child is the reason you can't reach your goal, look at the season or age they are in and ask yourself, "How can I achieve this goal with them?"
Want to exercise in the morning, but have a clingy toddler who wakes up as soon as you do? Turn on some music or a free exercise video on YouTube and invite them to join you. If they start climbing on top of you mid-yoga pose, hey, you just got yourself extra gains.
Want space in the morning to make breakfast and slowly drink your coffee? Prepare an activity or a morning basket the night before, and have it ready for your child when they start their day.
Create rhythms in your day that support the kind of morning person you want to be, and stick with them. Give a new rhythm at least ten days before you decide whether it works.
Ready to try a morning basket?
If you're ready to create a rhythm of peace with your child in the morning, I've got you. I created an all-in-one kit with ready-to-go activities. No endless Pinterest searches or iPads needed. Just print and play!
Visit the shopP.S. You're not alone. Join over 7,000 families who started with my guide.
With Joy,
Lauren
Mom of three and creator of Joy of Creative Play
