How to Create a Morning Routine

By special request, today’s post and video are all about how to create a morning routine when you really don’t feel like a morning person. I’m also sharing an update on our July goals #trueconfessionstyle so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea and let’s dive in!

Oh, my word you guys, July stumped me and stretched me in ways I was not prepared for which is totally ironic given, Amber, a sweet reader and supporter of all things TCG asked if I could talk about morning routines in this month’s video.

I say ironic because July has probably been the most unproductive month I’ve had all year, at least on paper anyway.

I’m thankful I have you guys to help keep me accountable. Honestly, it means so much to me to have your support even when I have to write posts like this one where I feel like I’ve fallen a bit short.

I started out July with excitement and gusto, ready to tackle the midyear check-in and complete our summer to-do list #likeaboss. Then we spent the first part of the month at the cabin…

…and somewhere on I-75, I lost my mojo.

While I would love to say this was in response to a wildly rest filled vacation and learning to let go, that would be a total lie.

Because on the way home, I started ruminating over some things that had happened while we were at the cabin. And silently stressing over things I hadn’t addressed before we left knowing full well they would have to be a priority the minute we returned.

The next thing I knew, I was in the Land of Shoulds.

You know what I’m talking about…we’re already teetering on the edge of overwhelm so we figure we may as well, “go all in” and we enter the Land of Shoulds with a fast pass which causes us to add even more unnecessary things to our worry list. It’s like giving our inner critic a megaphone and fresh material…

• “I should have sent that email.”
• “I should have started painting earlier.”
• “I have eaten more veggies instead of indulging in so many sweets.”
• “I should have called her when I had time.”
• “I should have ordered that two weeks ago.”
• “I should have made my health a priority.”
• “I should have already had this conversation when I didn’t feel so angry and frustrated.”
• “I should have just handled it.”
• “I should have said no instead of giving my time away with a yes I didn’t really mean.”

Please tell me I’m not the only one with these thoughts because you know what usually happens next?

We find ourselves down Anxiety Alley or on Stressed Out Street or down Blowing Up Boulevard or on Losing it Lane or worse, Hold It All in No Matter What the Cost Highway.

And then we get stuck.

Which is exactly what happened to me. I had a vision, I had a plan, I had the materials, I had the time – and yet, I was so wrapped up in my own obsessive thoughts, I could not make a decision to save my life.

And I did the worse thing you could possibly do in that situation…

…I did nothing.

Even when I knew in my heart of hearts all I had to do was relax and do the next right thing. I stayed stuck. For weeks.

Thankfully, I have fabulous people in my life that are willing to speak truth in love, even when it’s hard.

“You know, CoCo,” my friend said in a soft but confident voice, “You cannot bring back May or June or even the weeks of July you feel like you’ve wasted. But you can get yourself unstuck today by accepting that time has already passed and is not coming back, that rarely is anything in our lives is ever wasted, and that you have the power to choose today how much longer you’re willing to put up with the excuses that are holding you back. I’ll support whatever you choose but it’s important for me to remind you, you have a choice.”

I mean, can I get an Amen up in here and a witness in the back! Preach to my heart, she was so right! I hung up the phone thankful for the support, ready to get unstuck and back on track.

Now, you might be wondering what the heck this has to do with creating a successful morning routine when you don’t feel like a morning person?

I’ll tell ya, it has everything to do with three simple questions you need to ask yourself before you ever start creating a morning routine. Why? Because our mornings without a doubt shape our days and our days make up our lives …

Successful morning routines are merely a set of actions you value so much you are willing to practice them over and over again until they become a non-negotiable, positive habit and part of your life.

After you figure out which key elements will best fit your morning routine, write them down! I know that might seem elementary, but the truth is you’re trying to create a new habit which is not easy. You’re also trying to create a system you can take with you even if you’re not at home. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started…

• Wake up – No Snoozing!
• Practice Gratitude
• Quiet Time (meditation, affirmations, scripture reading)
• Make Your Bed
• Exercise (listen to a podcast, uplifting music, or words of encouragement while you’re at the gym or on the treadmill – it makes the time go by faster)
• Shower/Make Up
• Breakfast
• 5-Minute Calendar & Family Check
• 15-Minute Tidy Up (making sure the sink is empty before you leave for work is a HUGE help so run the dishwasher before you go to bed and unload it in the mornings before you go to work)
• Listen to a Podcast or Uplifting Music on Your Ride to Work/School/Errands.

I know the mornings can be tough, believe me, you guys, I get it. Neither one of my dogs sleeps through the night anymore so we only get around 4 or 5 hours of sleep every day. Sometimes they wake up with a stomach ache at 2 am or they barely make it out the door before tinkling on the patio or they refuse to eat breakfast, or they are up wandering the room all night long and you hear the “click, click, click” of their paws for hours on end – it can be exhausting. If you’re going through a season of insomnia, my heart goes out to you.

While we *usually* cannot control any of those situations, we can control how we chose to get up, show up and set ourselves up for a successful day whether we feel like a morning person or not. You’re worth the time and effort it takes to create a solid morning routine. Now, stop hitting that snooze button – the day is full of promise and you are too!

Thanks so much for reaching out Amber! If you guys have any topics you want me to cover, I’m all ears. Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo