5 ways to have a more mindful morning

This was my morning routine:

A small child would crawl in next to me and wake me up. That's pretty much it.

One child needed breakfast, one needed a diaper change and one needed me to find that missing puzzle piece that's been hidden under the couch for the last month.

My mornings went on like this until I realized something: I can choose to have a better morning.

So, I began to set my alarm. Not incredibly early, just a few minutes before the silent, dark house began to awaken. And it’s made my days so much better. Here are a few things that I’ve started doing and wanted to share with you:

1. Plan my morning the night before

I create a small to-do list (three small tasks) before I go to bed. I love working at my kitchen table (my husband’s creation), so I’ll set my laptop, notes and books in place so they’re waiting for me when my alarm goes off in the morning.

2. Make our bed

I never used to make our bed. I was too tired! But, just the simple act of doing this task makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something — even though it’s miniscule. This one small task turns into another and another and another. By the end of the day, I can look back and see a successful patterns of small things done well.

3. Eat breakfast

I recently became obsessed with a super simple, super yummy breakfast: two-ingredient pancakes. One banana and two eggs. That’s it. Mash the banana and mix in the eggs and stick them on a greased griddle for a couple minutes…and voila! Breakfast is served.

4. Breathe

I’ve been trying to spend some time each morning and each night simply breathing. Well, consciously breathing. I use Dr. Andrew Weil’s 4-7-8 Breath. My breath becomes my anchor and I attempt to let all other thoughts fall away.

5. Pray

A simple prayer like, “Guide me today, Lord,” or “Provide for us,” or “Thank you, God,” can really shape my day. But so often, I forget to utter these few words! Taking a moment to pray in the morning sets the stage to a day focused on Christ. It helps me restore my relationship with Jesus. When I’m mindful of my surroundings and mindset, I’m also mindful of others. I can better keep my focus and priorities where they should be.

We'd love to hear about your morning routines!