Simplified Morning Routines

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalms 90:17

Morning Routines and Trains

This past year I have realized the value of a well-planned daily, specifically morning, routine. How they create a cadence to my day that is otherwise not there.

Let’s think about transportation for a bit. There are many types of transportation.There are many ways to get from Point A to Point B. You just have to choose one form of transportation and go for it. You could choose a train, a car, a bike, or even roller blades!

Trains for instance are a pretty simple form of transportation. Buy a ticket and board the train. That’s it. No fuss, no crazy, just a couple simple steps to get from Point A to Point B. They have already mapped out the most efficient route. They may even have refreshments for you! And if you ride on the Orient Express, your whole world will change.

Now think about roller blading. You put on your roller skates, but now YOU’RE responsible to make sure you get from Point A to Point B safely. You choose the route. You may not be aware of construction or how road conditions have changed in the past 24 hours. There could be rain or snow. There are no refreshments.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good exercise session and this is not tell you that you shouldn’t get outside and be active today. This is just a crude analogy to hopefully bring my point around so hang with me for a second.

Like a train ticket, the morning routine can be your ticket to a smoother, more productive day. One where, like the smooth rhythm of the train going down the track is similar to how one task follows another. Each one building on the other and before you know it you are already at the end of the day, ready to wind down.

If you chose Door B, rollerblading you may reach the end of the day breathless and worn out. This exhaustion is simply from creating more work for yourself by living in a disorderly manner. After each task is accomplished you have to think, “Now what?”. There is a disjointed feeling attached to the day.

Now if you know me, you know that I love doing things spontaneously and am constantly revamping my daily routine. And if you ask my husband he’ll tell you that I don’t do as good at sticking to my morning routine as I would like. However, the morning and weeks that I stick to my morning routine are always the best. I find my mood lifted and my mind more clear because I am not constantly thinking of what to do next. There is a calm in knowing whats to come.

A Rose Called by Any Other Name. . .

Some people would rather call a routine a rhythm, because it feels more like a flow rather than hard and fast rules. The definition of rhythm is “movement or variation characterized by the regular recurrence or alternation of different quantities or conditions”. A routine is synonymous with a method. Routine means “a set of customary or unchanging and often mechanically performed activities or procedures.”

Call it what you want, but begin thinking out what a morning routine or rhythm could look like for you.

Four Reasons Morning Routines are My Jam.

Here are several ways that a morning routine has brought “new life” to my days. 

1. Routines are Motivating

A morning routine is motivating. No matter what is going on I know that I can do just a few simple things to begin my day.

• Wake up
• Make my bed
• Brush my teeth
• Do a simple 15 minute workout

None of these things are monumental in themselves, but I find myself almost being propelled forward by the next simple task. 

2. Routines Boost Productivity

A morning routine boosts my productivity. Obviously every day is different, but after completing a few simple tasks I find myself awake and motivated to  begin that day’s to-do list.

We often believe the lie that somehow our lives and mornings need to look the same or have the same level of productivity as others. Or we get bogged down with words like productivity and success. However, the Bible does have quite a bit of instruction on doing our work and doing it well. Honor the Lord with your work and everything else will fall into place. 

3. Routines are a Merry-Go-Round 

Let me explain. My morning and evening routines are synergistic (comment below if you want a peak into my evening routines.) My morning routine helps me to begin my day well. It then cascades into a productive day that I can feel proud to live. One with which I can honor the Lord. This leads to a readiness to wind down at the end of the day. A decent bedtime (no later than 10 pm) gives me the hours I need to wake up the next day and get on the morning routine train. You see how they work together? 

4. Routines are Different

A morning routine doesn’t have to look the same as everyone else’s. 

My morning routine is different from yours, and that’s okay. Some people are not morning people, some people, like me, are not evening people. Even if you wake up at 8 or 9 instead of 4 or 5, you can still maintain a routine that gives you motivation and boosts your productivity. 

Bonus Content:

Some components of my morning routine include: 

• Wake up close to the same time every morning (within an hour). 
• A morning workout and walk. 
• A specific Bible reading and prayer time. 
• A good breakfast. 
• Start one load of laundry
• Clean out the dishwasher from the night before. 

Find your simple morning routine and watch your motivation slowly increase. We cannot always maintain a perfect morning routine, but we can honor the Lord by spending our time well. Don’t become dogmatic about your morning and evening routines. Allow for life to happen. Give yourself grace and space to do the things you need to do.

Y’all have a blessed week!