One of Flyladys habits is to have a morning routine making the chores that you have to do first up, every morning, a habit.
Over the years I have tried to find a morning routine that works for me but other stuff always gets in the way. Recently I have come to realise that if this other stuff happens regularly then maybe it should be a part of my morning routine. So I have set about to write a routine that works one that really happens in my day. The challenge is always to reach your goals, not to copy someone elses routine. So what do I want to achieve in the mornings? What is needed for our day to go well? How do I function the best? What is already happening that is working? These are the questions that I had to ask before I wrote up my morning routine.
Why write a routine to be honest because it isnt routine yet! It is yet to be a firmly placed habit. That is my goal to get up and do the things that I know I should do. But I dont I get distracted. I want to change this. I know that my morning my whole day actually, works so much better if I get going on the things that I need to in the morning.
Even though this routine is written in my Control Journal/Diary I have found that if I write myself a list every day I stick with it. The action of writing a list keeps me focused. It is written in my Control Journal/Diary so I dont have to think about it but I make my list every morning and it works for me.
I now get up and get dressed in tracks, do my teeth and head for the kitchen. I don't make my bed. This is no longer a stumbling block full of guilt. I start a load of laundry, I grab a cuppa, my diary/control journal and refresh myself of my routines and to-do list. I then sit down and have my Devotional time with God. Another load of laundry. I then make fresh juice for the family and review the menu. Then I head out for my walk leaving the kitchen free for the kids to get their own breakfast. (I know this part of my new routine has been able to happen because the kids are older.) I come back and hang out all the laundry and start another load. I then head back to my bedroom for shower, swish/wipe and make my bed! When I leave I am dressed and my bedroom/ensuite is clean. I am ready now to face my day.
Previously I would try and be “ready to face the world” as soon as I woke up…. For me this was very unrealistic.
So my routine in list form is…
Dressed in Tracks
Laundry
Diary
Devotions
Laundry
Juice / Menu
Walk
Shower get dressed
Swish/Wipe – toilet, handbasin, dusting, floor I do one of these a day
Make Bed
Check on Kids
Devotions with Daniel
Breakfast (often read my emails while I eat)
Hotspots
Office – Those important tasks only
Belinda, I’ve been reading what you’ve written here and to our group on schedules and routines, and really appreciate your insight! I have one question – what time do you get up in the morning? Oh, I guess two – how long a walk do you take? Of course everyone is different – I’m just wanting to get a feel for how this all fits together. 🙂
I can’t BELIEVE you’re into flylady!!! I thought you were perfect. Flylady is so…work oriented!!! My illusions have been shattered!! I think I can still go on though! 🙂
Hope you all are good. Sorry I’ve been such a stranger. I’m still here…barely! Have a great day!
Melissa
5.00am is my preferred getting up time but I can be 1/2 hour either way. I walk for 30min and am working towards 45min. Having my children older means it doesn’t matter if I am not in the house when they wake up, they know I’m not far away, and they can move onto getting their own breakfast and starting their chores so I have a lot more flexibility now in the morning.
Belinda
You are funny! LOL…. to me Flylady isn’t about work – I don’t do any more work than before – to me she is about me breaking some slack habits and forming some new ones.
I have always been into systems in order to get the things done that I want to get done – be that a housecleaning system, a diary, a Christmas planner, a menu, etc. I have had to discipline myself (and study and train myself) to get organised in all these areas as left to my natural self I wouldn’t achieve the things I know God has put on my heart to do.
Belinda,
Thanks for your practical posts! I really enjoy them. I too have a morning routine in my control journal, but daily I write out a to-do list. I work better when I can follow a list also.
Gretchen H.