Morning routines are a hot topic these days. Every seems to be talking about them and for good reason. Routines help us to stay on track, maintain order in our homes, and keep us from feeling overwhelmed by our homes. But I’ve found that sometimes routines actually cause more harm than good. When we try to do too much we are setting ourselves up for failure and frustration. That’s why simplicity is key when you are creating a successful morning routine.
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Keeping things simple is basically my love language. When I feel overwhelmed it’s like my body just shuts down. I’d rather crawl in a hole than try to actually tackle my long and growing to-do list. But when things are simple, I feel like I can accomplish anything!
So my morning routine consists of 5 easy tasks I can complete in a total of 20-30 minutes each morning. I try to prioritize these tasks so that if I can only get the first 2-3 of them accomplished in the morning, then my house isn’t going to be a complete disaster at the end of the day! This step is also very important. We are humans and we aren’t going to get all 5 tasks done every single day. That’s just life. But if we are prioritizing our tasks, then it’s okay if we miss some from time to time.
The 5 tasks I try to accomplish during my morning routine are:
1. Make the Bed
I make my bed every single morning. It’s usually one of the very first things I do. It’s amazing the difference it makes in a room. And it also seems to set the tone for my day. It only takes me about 2 minutes, but by the time I’m done my room feels instantly clean!
I think sometimes we feel like these little tasks will take forever. But in reality they only take a couple minutes at most. I even have 10 pillows on my bed and can get it done in less than 2 minutes. I also open up any curtains or blinds and let the light shine in!
As an added bonus, get your kids in on the fun! Have them make their beds each morning too. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. They are learning! If I can get my 7 year old to pull up the covers and get the pillows on the bed, I count it as a success!
2. Start 1 Load of Laundry
Every morning I start one load of laundry. You know that dreaded laundry monster that can seem to creep in? This one little step helps to keep him away!
Some days I end up completing 2-3 loads and other days my morning load is all I get done. But accomplishing one load EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. makes a huge difference.
I try to get a load in before I even eat breakfast. Usually sometime before lunch I will switch it over to the dryer and it all gets folded and put away before bedtime.
Does the laundry in your home get out of control quickly? Try accomplishing one load a day and get it started during your morning routine to set yourself up for success!
3. Wipe Down the Bathrooms
Maybe it’s just me, but by the time I’m done getting ready for the day my bathroom counters are covered! Between makeup and hair products plus all the grime from the day before, it really needs a good wipe down.
This task literally takes me less than 60 seconds. I grab an eCloth, get it wet, and wipe everything down including around the faucets and the soap dispensers. Once or twice a week, I will also wipe down the bathroom mirror. I’ve just recently started keeping about 3-4 of my eCloth rags under my bathroom counter which makes this task that much more simple (no walking across the house to grab one!)
You will notice that I don’t keep a lot on my bathroom counters. This is what makes wiping down the countertops so quick! When you have less to clean around, you spend less time cleaning.
4. Empty the Dishwasher
If I’m being honest, this is a task I really don’t like doing. Oftentimes when my husband is off work he does this and I’m always so thankful! But during the week it’s on me and I try to get it done as early as I can.
I always feel like emptying the dishwasher will take me FOREVER. But in reality I can complete this task in about 5 minutes. What DOES take forever is when you don’t get it done and the dishes start piling up in the sink and on the counters!
I like to get this done before breakfast, but sometimes it’s right after. Emptying the dishwasher first thing in the morning is one of the best things you can do to help you keep your kitchen clutter-free throughout the day. Think about it…what tends to clutter up a countertop? For us, it’s dirty dishes.
But when the dishwasher is empty first thing in the morning, there is a place to put all those dirty dishes during the day.
If this is a task you dread as much as I do, get it done early! Then you won’t have to dread it anymore the rest of the day.
5. Quick Pick-up of Main Living Space
Before we leave the house for the day, I always try to do a quick pick up. It’s amazing how messy a house can get in just an hour with kids! Can I get an Amen?!
My kids are always responsible for putting their toys away. I put any blankets back in the ottoman, make sure all of the dirty laundry is put in the hamper, put away any miscellaneous items that made their way to the kitchen island, and put all the pillows back on the couch. (Do your kids throw them all over the place too?!)
With my boys and I working together, we can usually get stuff back in order in just a couple of minutes. Leaving the house clean is a great feeling. But it also means that we get to come home to a clean house at the end of the day.
I can complete these tasks in about 20 minutes or less each morning. This might not be the case if you are behind in these tasks or have a bunch of clutter to work around. This is just another reason why I advocate for living a simpler life. Less stuff = less time maintaining your home.
It’s simple and to the point. I don’t add a lot of fluff to it. But these 5 tasks each day really do help me to keep my home from being overrun with clutter!
If mornings just aren’t your think or you’ve struggled to be successful in the past, then I highly recommend checking out Crystal Paine’s online course Make Over Your Mornings. I took it for the first time over 2 years ago. It took me a few months, but I’ve been much more consistent with my morning routine ever since. Crystal is so gracious and offers a 100% money back guarantee so you really have nothing to lose!
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Hannah says
Oh my goodness! I love your blog. It’s beautiful. I came across it while looking for other mom bloggers that are in a similar niche. <3
I love this morning routine. Similar to mine. Thanks so much for sharing and for the inspiration.
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