Making Over my Morning & Evening

Earlier this month, I completed the Makeover Your Mornings by Money Saving Mom.

In this 14 day course, she walks you through how to make your morning work for you. I really enjoyed the short videos and lessons that followed. Here are some things that I got out of this course.

In order to make my mornings work for me I needed to wake up before my kids. I chose to wake up at 5:15 because realistically I need 2 hours to myself before my kids wake up. When I tell people I wake up that early and they know I don’t work, they look at me like I’m crazy. I enjoy the time to myself.  Previous to this course, I already got up early, but this course helped me to prioritize the things I do.

Here is my routine:

1) Get my self dressed to shoes like Flylady taught me.

2) I bring down my laundry

3) Drink hot water lemon water (here is an article with 12 benefits)

4) Make coffee and empty dishwasher while that brews.

5) Go through my to dos, calendar, and tickler file.

6) Off to do my Bible study and prayer time.

7) Reading-sometimes I forget, but most times I spend 10 minutes on a book. Usually a character building type book. I read Quick to Listen Slow to Speak. Now I am reading Who You Are When No One’s Looking.
8) I get about 45 minutes to blog, work on finances, or do a course (like the Makeover your morning)

9) Walk the dogs.

I told my friend that I feed myself spiritually, mentally and physically everyday by 7:15. It truly does help to do this every morning.

Right after that, I started a Go to Bed Early Challenge! Money Saving Mom does address the importance of a great bedtime routine, but this challenge is specifically to get in bed at a certain time. So my bedtime is 9:45pm. I need at least 8 hours of sleep but realistically I can’t go to bed at 9:15. This seems to be enough. So my bed time routine is:

1. I drink tea with my daughter at 9pm.
2. I allow myself 20 minutes on the computer to do emails/facebook. I am questioning this though because I can get carried away.
3. I go up to the spare room and read for 20 minutes.
4. Go to my bedroom and get ready for bed.

Most nights my head is hitting the pillow by 9:50 so I think its close enough.

Both these routines have helped me to feel more productive. The hardest to keep is the bedtime routine. I’m setting alarms on my phone to remind me to do it. AND I am seriously considering not including screen time so I don’t get sidetracked especially on Facebook or Pinterest.

I am excited that Crystal has come up with a new online course, which I plan to take. It will be available soon. Here is the affiliate link: