5 Tips to Have a Productive Morning

Hey friends! Today I wanted to share 5 tips for having productive mornings and how to find motivation to work out. It took me a while to get back in the swing of things after having Owen. I started running about 6 months after he was born but still didn’t feel amazing. Then I joined pilates and that really has helped with toning. But the final component has been slowing down in the mornings and carving out some quiet time before the day begins.

Today’s post is sponsored by eBay. I recently found some bluetooth headphones that I wear both on runs and when cleaning up the house while the kids nap. They have been a game changer and I will share a bit more in this post.

Tip #1 Wake up before your kids. (and if you don’t have kids, set your alarm to wake up a little earlier than you are used to)

Don’t knock it until you try it! I would say to give yourself 2 weeks of trying this out before you say it isn’t for you or you aren’t a morning person. I never considered myself a morning person, but once the twins came along I felt like I never had any time to myself anymore. I would wake up to crying babies and start my day in a panic. It really set the tone for the rest of the day.

I started setting my alarm for just 30 minutes before they’d wake. It was so hard in the beginning, but your body slowly adjusts and you start to expect it.

I would walk out to the living room and do yoga, read in my devotional, make my coffee and my to-do list. I started to crave those quiet and peaceful mornings.

The fast-forward to Owen coming along and I stopped my morning rituals. But I’m happy to report that for the last 2 months I’ve started waking up early again and it’s been the BEST. Here’s an example of what my mornings look like.

Alarm 5:15

Meditation for 5 minutes downstairs using the Aura App

Read from devotional (I usually do ½ a chapter at a time)

Write my to-do list 

Either get a few things done on the computer or head back upstairs to wash my face.

The kids are all up by 6:00 so I know I have those minutes before to set the pace for my day.

Tip #2 Create a routine and don’t question it.

Last year I used to run in the mornings, and now my schedule has changed a bit and I run later on, but for a while I was running at the crack of dawn. My biggest advice to running in the morning is just get up and get out the door. Don’t wash your face or brush your teeth. Don’t allow yourself anytime to second guess what you are doing because then you won’t go! Once you have your clothes on and are out the door you’ve made it!

Also don’t feel like you need to run lightning speed. You just woke up so let your body wake up. Do a walk/run. If you feel your body needs to slow down, listen to it. I guarantee the crisp fresh air will invigorate you and you’ll feel so accomplished when you are done.

Tip #3 Create a good playlist.

If you are working out in the morning it’s all about the soundtrack. Pick songs that encourage and motivate you to keep going. I love house music for running or remixes. Another reason why I used to love to run back when the girls were little is because it gave me 30 min-an hour to not have to answer a million questions. I could put in my headphones and zone out for some time. And all us mamas NEED that.

Speaking of headphones. These ones from Samsung are crazy good. They actually fit perfectly in my ears (I have a hard time with that usually). They nestle in and stay in so well. The quality of sound is great and they are easy to use. I also love wearing around the house while getting stuff done. I got the refurbished ones and saved myself $100. They are Samsung Certified Refurbished so you know they are legit, like new, and you get brand new accessories in the box. If you are in need of some new electronics make sure to check out all the Samsung certified refurbished products on eBay!

Tip #4 Go to sleep earlier!

A lot of moms say oh I can’t wake up early, I wouldn’t get enough sleep. Do you know the quality of your sleep is drastically better before 11:00 pm? I try to wind down at 9:00 and get in bed by 9:30. Anything after 9:30 to me now feels pretty late. But if I’m going to sleep by 9:30 and up at 5:15 I’m really getting great sleep and always feel rested. Andrew and I have stopped watching so much tv and it’s helped a lot. We will talk, spend time on our patio outside or watch a quick home improvement show. But I’ve been loving reading before bed. I feel like I’m learning more and using my time in a better way.

Tip #5 Take a break midday

Usually when the kids go down for their nap I tackle whatever else is on my to-do list. But I’ve been feeling burnt out these days and have been listening to a lot of podcasts on the benefits of slowing down. I usually will head outside without my phone and just sit in my thoughts for a few minutes. It allows my body to calm down and reset. 

Us moms can be so go go go all day long that our bodies are always in a fight and flight state. We really need to take some time to slow down so we can allow our bodies and minds to recover and heal. After I have spent last month on my gut reset I’ve really seen how much my mental state also affects my physical state. When I’m overly stressed or anxious I can feel it in my stomach and it can show itself in the form of bloat sometimes. When I actively try to be more at peace I can feel every part of me relax.

I hope these tips helped you out in learning what I do to help set the tone for my days and find balance mentally and physically. Let me know what rituals you practice every day!

And make sure to check out eBay’s certified refurbished products HERE.