Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit

Some quick tips for better mornings from a certified night owl and perpetually tired person.

Good morning! Right…?

My name is Sarah and I am a lifelong night owl. Goodness gravy, I love to stay up late reading a book or scrolling funny videos or taking a bath while listening to a podcast (I have no idea when I became a 10pm bath person but here I am). 

As a busy self-employed mom of two boys, I used to struggle with mornings. Partially because of my late night hangs but also because it felt like the second my eyes peeled open I was already behind on the day. I’d check my phone and see messages, emails, and work things I needed to address and then I’d think about the mountain of dishes in the sink and endless laundry then there was the runaround to get my kiddos ready for school, myself ready for the day, feed the dog, and maybe just stick my entire head into a pot of coffee. After years of morning chaos I noticed it was having a mega impact on my mood for the day and my overall mental health. 

Seeing the TikTok girlies and 1,000,000 influencers detailing their morning routine that includes getting up at 4am, doing an hour of outdoor meditation no matter the weather, dipping into an $800 ice bath, and writing a 900 page thesis all before 8am I felt even more stuck. Kudos to them for doing it! But I needed something more sustainable if I was going to make real changes. I decided that over a few weeks I’d make small changes – including some things that I could do before sunrise –  that would ultimately add up to a more peaceful morning and set me up for a better day.

Prep Work is Good Work

I am fully convinced that a good morning starts with doing a few things the night before. I am notoriously a planner and I prepare things in advance and I have used that annoying superpower for good when it comes to my mornings. I have my kids pick out their school outfits the night before, make sure backpacks are packed, and lunches are made before I head to bed. Since starting my Better Mornings Mission a few months ago I’ve added in making sure my kitchen is clean. It takes about five extra minutes a day but I love waking up to a clean kitchen and not feeling like ugh, the day is starting with a mess. I clean up, prep whatever breakfast things I can (leaving out bread for avocado toast or pulling out bowls for oatmeal), and head upstairs to my room. In the morning, I feel like I have a headstart and there’s minimal “I NEED BREAKFAST. WHAT SOCKS SHOULD I WEAR? YOU DIDN’T SIGN MY HOMEWORK PACKET.” insanity.

Chug. Seriously. 

I love water. An icy glass of water? Sign me up. Do I have a GIANT water bottle that I still refill at least once a day? Absolutely. Though I don’t really struggle with wanting to hydrate, when I am stressed or super busy I will find myself at the end of the day with a slight headache and only a small dent of my water bottle gone. So now I wake up and chug water – before I check emails or sometimes even put on my glasses, I drink a full glass of water. I keep it on my nightstand and reach for it right after I turn my alarm off. I swear it helps wake me up and this little habit helps me make sure that I am hitting those hydration goals even on those pull-your-hair-out busy days.

Warm Up to a Cool Morning

Be it an ice bath, cool shower, or five minutes outside in the Arctic, there have been tons of news stories about the benefits of colder temperatures for your body and nervous system. Sometimes I do love to have a cool shower but during the Chicago winter freeze, I need that warm water. One thing I can stick to every single day however? Ice rolling on my face. I feel like it helps my mental state but also reduces inflammation, too. I use this ice roller every day but you can also use a good, ol’ ice cube! Sometimes when I feel fancy I’ll freeze rose water into small ice cubes trays and use that in the morning, too.  

Move a Little Bit

I know, I know. We all know exercise in the morning is fantastic but can we get a round of applause for stretching? Before I get out of bed I make a point to stretch out my limbs, stretch my feet and ankles, and once I stand up I do some quick back stretches. Getting close to being 40 years old means I need to take care of this ol’ back and stretching for even 30 seconds has helped a ton. I also get my feet moving and instead of scrolling on my phone in bed to check texts, DMs, emails, carrier pigeon notices I jump on my walking pad to check up on everything and check on work (or life!) things for the morning. Even just getting a few extra steps while reading emails is helpful and gets the blood flowing in the best way. 

Keep Calm

When all else fails and I don’t get to prep or sip or ice or walk, I know that I can at least try my best to stay emotionally regulated. I made a pact with myself a couple of years ago that I do not raise my voice with my kids (or in front of them) before school. I know how a blow up about a temporary irritation can set a whole day on a garbage path so I work to actively avoid that. Bonus? I have way more patience in the morning so being a zen little queen is less intimidating. 

I’m always looking for seemingly small habits that will create a better life so I’m dying to know, what are your little morning habits for better days?

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