Do you all have an easy morning routine for jump starting your day in your home? I do. There are just some things I do every day, instinctively, after all these years of homemaking! They are little things, but they help set the tone for my day. If I skip any of these steps, I feel like I am behind before I even begin. Of course, I do other things like take a shower, have quiet time, eat breakfast and all that, but these are my specific morning rituals relating to my house:
MINUTE ONE:
Make the bed.
MINUTE TWO:
Open the shades.
MINUTE THREE:
Shut off the porch lights.
MINUTE FOUR AND FIVE:
Unload the dishwasher.
Every morning. Nearly 365 days a year.
How about you?
- What are your morning homemaking rituals and do you follow them every day or do you vary your mornings? What impact do your morning routines (or lack of) have on YOUR day?
Photos:
House Beautiful
HGTV
This Old House
Architectural Digest
I wipe the bath (sink, counter, toilet) with a damp cloth, pick up all the laundry and throw it towards the hall, make the bed, take laundry down and start a load, take hang to dry or dryer clothes to couch to fold, make sure kid unloaded dishwasher, eat breakfast, fold clothes while kids do their jobs in the kitchen, have kids take folded clothes to the rooms. In between, I yell for kids to get back in here because they have disappeared trying to avoid work.
Hollys inspiring blog post..Free Three Year subscription
My 5 minute routine takes me about 25 minutes to be honest:
1. Stretch & do a strength workout. 2. Make the bed. 3. Feed/water the cats. 4. Make breakfast (then lunch) for my daughter. 5. Do up the few dishes so the day starts clean.
That way the day starts neat & organized, & I have managed to take care of not only others, but myself as well. It sets up a nice, relaxed tone with a sense of accomlishment.
Jinxs inspiring blog post..Reconnecting
Hit the button on the coffee~
Let the pups out~
Dress for the gym before I have time to talk myself out of it!
(I get up super early! I pretty much don’t wake up until my second set of weights at the gym)
Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Homes inspiring blog post..Treasure Hunting!
Like Holly, I wipe down the fixtures in the bathroom and then I do a little exercise routine with seven-pound dumbbells. Then, like you, I empty the dishwasher. To me, that’s the most important part of the morning routine. Having that dishwasher empty first thing to fill up throughout the day helps keep the kitchen under control.
WOW!! Until you said ‘unload the dishwasher’, I thought you were talking about me. Same start to the morning, but I am the dishwasher. lol
I follow the same routine every morning and if I don’t, it just seems to mess up my whole day.
debi@life in my studios inspiring blog post..Scrapbooking Day
1. turn off the wake up radio
2. turn off the wake up radio
3. turn off the wake up radio
(joke)
4. wake up my husband/daughter/son
5. (private)
6. to give food to my cat
7. put water in the coffie machine
8. prepare the breakfasts for the children and “the” husband
9. give the clothes to my children
10. I go to the bathroom
11. re and re ask my kids to put their clothes
12. take collations for school
13. put the jackets
14. put the cat outside
15. HURRY HURRY it is time to go to school !
Valerie (Belgium)s inspiring blog post..AMERICAN WEEK (part 3) : Le repas de l’inaugural day et une sauce BBQ à la mode texane !
Routine – yes.
Balance – …ahhemm…no.
1. Roll over and reach for Blackberry and see what happened on the west coast since i’m on the east coast.
2. Get up and stumble to coffee pot.
3. Check laptop
4. Fall over and then remember to feed the cats
5. Check blackberry again.
6. Yell for – i mean ask – the children to get up
Morning quiet time of which i strive for at least 30 minutes, usually ends up to be about 5 min due to kids, man, pets and things forgotten (we are NOT an organized household – and i’m way to realistic to even put ‘get organized’ on my resolution list).
sheris inspiring blog post..Cars in the Foyer, a truck on the front porch and one ticked off Vance.
We have a 5 year old, 3 year old and 12 week old in our household. There is no routine right now. They only thing that stays the same is the coffee pot is always involved!
Heathers inspiring blog post..Thank You
I used to do all those things…….now I
1. Go to the bathroom
2. Get my coffee
3. Read my email and blogs until I am incredibly late getting into the shower for work!
Love your site! You make me late!
xoxo, Julia (mizjuneytalks.blogspot.com)
Julias inspiring blog post..today in kindergarten….1/20/09
I call them my “dailies”. The world isn’t right until they are all completed.
Staceys inspiring blog post..On Line Shopping is Too Easy
you are so disciplined… some day when I don’t have kids crying from their cribs, jumping on my bed and begging for cereal all before I open my eyes… I will be able to do this! Now I am lucky if I can even brush my teeth before going downstairs!
Jills inspiring blog post..a reminder…
Coffee, coffee, coffee then bring my kids to school. Come back home, check out all of my favorite blogs. Some days stay on the computer until 1:30 which gives me an hour to straighten the house before I get the kids. When I’m being good, I will go to the gym or go walking after I bring the kids to school, come home, start laundry, unload dishwasher, take something out of the freezer for dinner.
Debs inspiring blog post..DOORS CONTINUED
I MUST make my bed before leaving the house, period. My day just does not go well with unmade beds.
Jills inspiring blog post..A Day to Celebrate Us
This is a fun post!
I snuggle with my cat and dog, turn off the alarm, make the bed, shower and fix up, and eat breakfast. This gets me out the door by 6 a.m. and off to school!
Terri Steffess inspiring blog post..Thank you, Kim!
I really should unload the dishwasher every morning. Maybe I’ll set that as a goal. And I would open the shades first thing, but it’s still dark!!
I cuddle with the babe. First thing. Nearly 365 days a year.
heather janes inspiring blog post..The good stuff
I’m not bragging, but dh gets the house clean for us before he leaves for work. So my job is to “wake up” the house by opening up the curtains and putting on some water for tea. What a blessing he is!
Debs inspiring blog post..A la Arte Carnival
Make the bed, straighten the hearth room, coffee, watch the sunrise, whether cloudy or bright. These few things help me get a good start on the day. I see lots of sunrises, here at the lake and home. I rise and shine before daylight, almost every morning.
Pats inspiring blog post..~A Blue Bath & Other Stories~
I try so very hard. really I do. Somedays things get done and I sit back with pride. Other days… well lets just say Im glad the kids and hubby get dinner. Maybe I should try and be more on a routine. I will work on it, smile~
Susie Harriss inspiring blog post..Corbels in the kitchen and a winner
Maybe that’s what I need in the morning! I tend to be sluggish until the kids get up and motive ME!
Jennifers inspiring blog post..Homemade Birthday
You know, I don’t have a “Morning routine”, but I think Ineed one. Thanks for the inspiration!
I leave for work at 7:25am and get my 3 girls off to school before I leave…so, not much time for cleaning. But I like to at least get one load of laundry started, unload dishwasher (if ready) and kitchen cleaned up before work. I also do a clean routine before bed, so things can be more organized in the morning when I leave. There is nothing worse than coming home after work to a big messy house/kitchen. Luckily my husband leaves after me and he takes care of the beds!!! Love your site, I’m new to blogging this month and I’m glad I found you!
Chrissys inspiring blog post..Award Time!!!!
My morning routine usually consists of waking up, brushing teeth, making a large cup of coffee and briefly(HA) checking Google Reader. If I have some time I love to crawl back into bed to do my bible study and/or read my book. I always try to make my bed and straighten up the kitchen before taking our daughter to school.
Hollys inspiring blog post..In Which I Learn I Am Nothing But a Girly-Mon
5 things I do every morning (or almost every morning):
1. pray
2. dishes
3. laundry
4. make lunches
5. eat breakfast/watch news
I do other things as well, but these are necessitites.
jennykates inspiring blog post..Saturday (in Denver!)…Sushi, Saki, and SURPISE
I do almost the EXACT same ritual as you except, instead of turning off the porch lights I make a cup of coffee!
Tamaras inspiring blog post..WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TAMARA?
Making the bed is huge or it beckons me to return to it every time I pass! I wake the children and go downstairs to start breakfast. I open the blinds and after breakfast we all kneel around our circular coffee table for family prayer. Those may not be homemaking steps but in matters of making my home a better place, the last one is essential!
Pretty Organizers inspiring blog post..Don’t Fear the Wallpaper (Projects part 2)
I have pretty much the same routine- plus I go around picking up things left out by my husband- got to love the guy.
Have a wonderful day-
teresa
teresas inspiring blog post..Scare Eye
I read somewhere that young adults do not make up their beds. I’m amazed that my adult, married children usually do not have their beds made up. When my son was in high school, he called my office when he came home from school, because my bed was unmade, so he thought I must be hospitalized or something! (It was a morning when I had overslept-oversleeping and unmade beds are not the norm for me). laurie
Wow, I am feeling bad now! I’m not much of a morning person so my day starts SLOWLY!
1.) Stumble out of bed only because I have to make daugter’s lunch for school
2.) Drink my coffee while watching some news
3.) Start the laptop, check & answer business emails, check to see if we have any new rug orders, check blog & post new entry
4.) eat something for breakfast (sometimes this doesn’t happen untill noon
5.) Go take a bath & get dressed
6.) Make bed
7.) Go work on marketing our business, designing, more emails, order supplies, etc…
8.) Straigten up house & start dinner.
Darlenes inspiring blog post..Has the Economy Changed Your Plans?
I get up between 6 and 6:15 every morning. I spend 15 minutes on the computer looking at emails etc. Then at 6:30 I wake my 5 year old for school. From 6:30 to 7:00 is breakfast time. While she is eating breakfast I’m dressing, fixing lunch if she doesn’t like what is being served that day. At 7:00 I start getting her ready for school. Then I dress her little sister.
Usually I get up,turn on laptop in kitchen, make kids sandwiches for school, call for kids to get up, read my emails/drink orange juice.
Start kids breakfast, have shower and by the time I am out of the shower my dh has made the bed and emptied the dishwasher.
That’s what happens in my world
JanMary, N Irelands inspiring blog post..First Snowdrops
VERY similar to yours.
Make Bed
Put on Slippers
Open Shades
Karas inspiring blog post..More important than any home deocorating post, ever
Mornings are the best! I feel so lucky that I am a morning person. My routine is quite similar to yours…
1. My husband’s alarm goes off, I get up when he’s finished in the bathroom and he heads upstairs to work out.
2. Make bed.
3. Morning “toilette” tidying as I go.
4. Put kettle on, get paper, empty dishwasher while tea brews. Set up breakfast, coffee pot.
5. Read paper, do crossword while husband fixes breakfast (yes I am lucky in that regard as well).
6. Tidy up after breakfast, go round my home and open shutters and curtains to let in the light.
7. Pour myself some coffee, head into studio, turn on computer, open the shutters, face the day!
I still have a 16 year old at home. Part of my routine has always been to send my kids out the door with a hot breakfast. So this would be my first five: 1) Make coffee! 2)Listen for the shower upstairs (which means my son is up) 3) Start breakfast 4)unload dishwasher while waiting for coffee 5) make bed
It was fun sharing… Laurie
laurie millers inspiring blog post..Fun Stuff
Yep. The first thing I do every single day is make my bed. ;]
Jaimes inspiring blog post..Just Some Updates
1. Check email and blog
2. Wake up kids
3. Make breakfast and pack lunches
4. Do the school delivery “500″
5. Come home and start on beds, laundry, kitchen clean up
Janets inspiring blog post..Custom Lamp Shades
My morning routine for the past week and a half has been to pour a big cup of coffee and read my Bible. I read and pray for about 45 minutes, then I open the blinds and have breakfast with my family. I am NOT a morning person, but I’m really enjoying this routine.
Tracies inspiring blog post..Indoor Bonfire
Funny how similar many of our mornings are! Gives me a little sense of community, knowing that many of us are doing the same thing to start every day.
I don’t make the bed right away, thanks to Home Comforts saying that you should let them air out for an hour first. I begin with opening the curtains, finding my slippers, waking my daughter, letting the dog out, and then the dishwasher. I feel like life can’t begin until the dishwasher is emptied while my daughter eats breakfast and while the coffee brews; somehow life always brings dirty dishes — I need somewhere to put them!
1) Shut off alarm.
Start a load of laundry, if there is one
2) Open curtains & blinds
3) Wake up oldest daughter for school
4) Turn off porch light if hubby hasn’t
5) Get daughter’s pill, & breakfast ready
6) Switch on laptop
7) Straighten living room, kitchen, dishes, etc
I usually go back and make my bed after daughter is off to school, other daughter is fed, and I’m about to get in the shower. I also feed the kitties, check email, read some of the blogs on my reader, the rest later, listen to Caillou on TV, etc.
There are many other things and variables, but this is pretty much standard.
Amber Filkinss inspiring blog post..Writers Workshop: A Prompt & Getting to know me
Oh ya, I meant to ask, are those pictures of your home?
Amber Filkinss inspiring blog post..Writers Workshop: A Prompt & Getting to know me
DH would LOVE it if I made the bed every day — I just don’t. Our room is in the back of the house and once I’ve left it I never go back until it’s time to go to bed. The unmade bed just doesn’t bother me because I never see it. But I know it has meaning to DH. I need to start doing it to honor him.
I’m so jazzed about Beautiful Life Fridays. It is keeping me on track with what I’m calling P and O (purge and organize). Thanks for doing this.
I’m going to make my bed right now!
Rita
Ritas inspiring blog post..I can’t figure it out … Can you?
Well, after the shower at 5:45 and getting the kids out the door, my first thing is to open all the blinds and drapes, then make the beds, pick up anything laying around, clean the kitchen, then on to do whatever projects are pending for the day. Have to have the light coming in to get me moving, windows are always first!
Misti @ Studio M Designss inspiring blog post..Recipe: Make your own Chalkboard Paint
Love the new blog design! The banner image is truly INSPIRED. My routine is similar but includes kitty care (scoop litter, give insulin, feed), and swiffering the bathroom floor (of kitty fur). BTW…If you retrofit your home with simple Z-wave light controllers, you can knock off Minute #3. Z-wave wireless home control is very cool. I’ve done most lights & lamps in my home. I need to do a blog post to demonstrate!
Mary Kays inspiring blog post..Time to embrace the Big TV, Ladies!
Make the bed ASAP and then the room looks presentable all day. Make coffee and watch the news and browse the paper sometimes. Other times I turn on the computer and read blogs with my java. Makes me realize how lucky I am to be an “empty nester” and no longer have to start the day annoyed that my boys would never get up easily.
Janet @ Housepeepers
janets inspiring blog post..RANDOM THOUGHT
I do a lot the night before, like make coffee and set the timer for 6AM. These dark winter mornings are hard for me to wake up. My DH gets up before me, he lets the dog out and brings me a cup of coffee up to the bedroom. Aren’t I spoiled? I make the bed, straighten up the bedroom, and open the blinds. I always keep the bathroom wiped up.
Now in the summer, it is completely different. I’ll have my coffee on the porch and read my devotions. I will go out in the yard and deadhead and water my flowers before I go to work.
Being an empty nester really does make things much, much simpler.
1. Hit the snooze button.
2. Open the curtains/blinds.
3. Let the dog out, administer cookie.
4. Turn on the computer and cell phone.
5. Breakfast while checking facebook, blogs and e-mail.
6. Empty dishwasher, reload of necessary.
7. Get ready for work or the day.
I really should do my quiet time BEFORE #5. Because otherwise, it doesn’t happen.
Karen Bs inspiring blog post..Great Hat Pattern
So fun to read everyone’s morning routines. Mine is pretty simple: Get up at 5:00 for quiet time, wake up DH at 6:00 who then does everything on everyone else’s lists, while I get ready and go to work.
It works for us, besides he’s a great cook, is better at grocery shopping, and he can do all the “Honey Do” things every day.
Love your blog, thanks for the inspiration.
I can’t stomach routines. They stress me out. My only daily plan is to have the house clean by 5 pm.
Jens inspiring blog post..Orange. Yay or Nay?
I let the cat out, make coffee, turn on the computer, get the newspapers, and sit down for quiet time with my coffee. All of this before heading off to school to some little first graders!
You just described my morning.. except I make coffee for my husband first. Everything else.. exactly. And I’m one of those that absolutely can NOT leave my bed unmade. I’ll feel unkept and behind all day if my bed is unmade. lol I think that might be psychotic.. what do you think?
I find that making my bed is so importanmt. I love getting into a properly made bed at night-I know a lot of people don’t make their beds. I think my routine is very much like yours. If I get my morning chores done then I feel like I can go and create without feeling like I still have work to do! Although my day also includes caring for my sweet little three year old granddaughter. Hope you are having a wonderful day!~Smiles~Tam!
Tams inspiring blog post..We had Easter in January and…~L@@K what I did!