My Sacred Morning Routine
Good morning friend. I hope you had a great weekend. We celebrated Jordan’s 1st communion and Elliott’s daughter’s 17th birthday this weekend. Our family came over and we had a pool party, which was so wonderful. All my dreaming about family gatherings in the backyard are a reality and we’re so enjoying the new pool and outdoor space. I’m so grateful!
Let’s get into this simple living content, shall we?
It’s so important to carve out time for ourselves each day, even if it’s only a few minutes. Ideally, it would be longer, but you have to start somewhere. This time for you can be whatever it is that centers and grounds you, and it can be at any point in the day.
I’m sharing my own “me time” in hopes that it gives you permission to carve out some alone time for yourself.
My Sacred Morning Routine
For me, it’s my morning routine that’s sacred. I get up early in the morning to make sure it happens everyday. Today, I’m going to share my current morning routine in detail.
During the week, I’ve been waking up at 5:15 a.m. because my son gets up at 5:00 a.m. He showers, makes his bed, grabs his lunch and gear and is out the door at 5:30 to go to the gym with his dad before school.
I can’t believe he does that, and I don’t even wake him up!
I don’t want to still be asleep when he leaves hence my extra early wake up. Plus, I make his lunch in morning and like to send him off with an, “I love you, have a great day.”
Maybe on the weekends or when summer gets here, I’ll wake up around 6. For now, it’s 5:15. Don’t worry, I’m usually asleep by 9:30 p.m. so that I don’t wake up feeling exhausted. I aim for 8 hours of sleep.
Take Care of Dog & Son
Upon waking, I go to the bathroom (TMI), take my prescriptions, and head downstairs.
I let the dog out, give him food and water, make my son’s lunch and make my coffee. I’ll drink some water too.
Once my son is out the door at 5:30, I have a full hour to myself!
G L O R I O U S
SILENCE
Since the weather’s been nice, I’ve been taking my coffee, book and journal outside on the back patio. Of course, Luke follows me.
I sit in silence for as long as I want to, but I aim for at least 10 minutes.
This is a new practice for me and it really centers me. I’ll just observe the scene around me. Feel the weather, hear to the birds, watch the trees move, look at my plants and flowers.
I can also tune into my body. Do I feel tight, sore, relaxed?
Am I uncomfortable sitting still?
Do I instinctively want to reach for me phone. (I keep it away from me at this time).
I usually have my eyes open, but sometimes it’s cool to close them and find out what other sounds I hear or sensations I feel.
It doesn’t have to be a ‘serious’ thing, just letting myself be without any expectation.
Take some deep breaths.
I’ll sip my coffee, really tasting it.
Journal
When I’m ready, I’ll read or journal. If I have thoughts I want to get down on paper or a situation I want to record, I might write first. Sometimes I read first and then write about what I read.
My writing is just flow of consciousness, usually capturing the day before, how I felt about it, what stood out.
I also have a part of my journal where I calendar the month and write a few words about what happened that day. It might be date night, Jordan lost a tooth, high school decision made, mom got a job. I do this so I can easily look back at the year as a whole and see the highlights.
I’m also using this time writing to feel out new blog post ideas. When I wrote 7 Ways to Change Your Life, that content came largely from my personal journal entries.
Sometimes I decorate the pages of my journal with stickers that coordinate with the seasons. I’ll highlight things in different colors. This is a little creative act that makes me happy.
I credit my friend Trisa for getting me to start writing. When I was at the breaking point in my marriage back in 2018, she suggested it.
It was in those pages where I let out my angry, frustrated, and hopeless feelings. Even my handwriting looked mad.
But it helped me so much and continues to, to this day.
Thank you Trisa.
Read
I like to read in the morning too. I’m currently reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being (thank you for the book, Karen).
I’m also re-reading Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World. This is one to return to again and again.
An hour of sitting, reading, writing, planning, thinking, sipping coffee. It’s worth waking up early for.
I usually tell Alexa to put the alarm on for 6:30 a.m. so I don’t have to keep my phone near me during this part of the morning.
Wake Up My Daughter
My daughter needs to be up by 6:45 to get ready for school by 7:20. Thankfully, she still wants to cuddle in the morning, so I get into bed with her around 6:30 so we can have a good 15 minutes of slow wake up and cuddle time.
You can imagine I’m quite calm and peaceful by this time, and I’m sure that good energy rubs off on her.
In the past, when I was trying to get two kids ready for school and myself out the door, after sleeping ’til the last minute, it was easy to be rushed and frantic, abruptly bossing kids around. I was not always my best self during that time – in fact, it was probably my worst time of day.
Make the Bed
When she gets out of bed, I make the bed.
I wasn’t always a bed maker. But, once I started doing it consistently, it’s become a habit and I really like walking into my room seeing my bed all neat and tidy. Plus, if I’m ever taking pics or filming in my room, I want to have the bed made so I don’t have to stop to do it. It just interrupts my flow and irritates me.
When I decluttered 500 things, one of the things I let go of was the 3 big Euro pillows that went against my headboard. I also don’t the blankets at the foot of my bed on my bed.
It seems like a small thing, but it makes getting into bed at night and making the bed in the morning that much easier.
My ‘making the bed’ is just pulling the sheets and comforter taut, putting two pillows on top of each other, throwing on the two decorative pillows and then the long lumbar pillow. Still quite a few pillows, but it probably takes 5 minutes total.
Bed • Art • Lamps • Striped Duvet • Lumbar Pillow • Sheet Set • Similar Bench • Rug
Get Ready
Then, I get myself dressed, usually in workout clothes if I’m working out that morning and put on my watch.
Wash my face, brush my teeth and hair.
Sometimes, I put on mascara, but I’ve also been going mascara free during my exercise classes. Honestly, I sweat so much, it’s nice to be able to just wipe my face and not worry about mascara getting in my eyes.
Make Lunch
Back downstairs by 7 am, I make my daughter’s lunch and fill both of our water bottles.
Breakfast
What I eat in the morning depends on my hunger level and what time I’m working out.
If I’m really hungry or working out late morning, I may have oatmeal. To keep it clean lately, it’s just oats, cinnamon and unsweetened almond milk.
If I’m not that hungry, but want to get something in my stomach, I might eat a banana, toast with peanut butter, or drink a cup of Muscle Egg.
My daughter is 50/50 on whether she wants breakfast, but if she does, it’s usually a pancake or toast, so I’ll make that.
Then, it’s time to let Luke out one more time and pack up the car.
We’re usually out the door by 7:25 a.m.
Protecting My Morning Time
If my daughter happens to wake up early, she’ll come downstairs and sit with me on the couch. I’ll set aside what I’m doing and give her morning snuggles for a few minutes.
But, then she knows that this is my morning time and I’m not going to interrupt it. I simply say, “I’m having my morning time right now, I’ll do X with you in 20 minutes.”
I will be true to my word though, and stop when I tell her I would. I might even put on the timer.
Sometimes, she’ll read with me or get out her own notebook and color or write. Other times, she’ll get on her ipad and play a game or listen to it quietly. Sometimes, she might be particularly pesky and continue bugging me. I’ll have to say, “if you can’t be down here with me quietly, you may go to your room and do what you want there.”
As moms, sometimes we just give and give because we have big hearts or because we feel guilty or because our kids are so demanding. But, what does that do to our soul? In the end, it’s probably not the best thing for us.
So, if you need permission to tell your kids/friend/partner that you need a few minutes to yourself, you have it!
Life Isn’t Perfect & That’s Ok
Of course, there are days I need extra sleep and/or for whatever reason only have 10 minutes to myself in the morning. That’s life. I’ll fit in what I can, what feels most important to me that day.
Maybe it’s a quick read or jotting down some thoughts. Maybe it’s just sitting quietly with my coffee. Sometimes you gotta just take what you can get. But there’s something to be said for actually planning this time for yourself.
I will mention that we never turn the tv on in the morning. If my daughter is ready and has extra time before school, I will let her turn on her ipad if she wants to, but usually she’ll prefer getting in a few hoops.
I have a tv and watch occasionally, but I don’t like to put it on for ‘background noise’. I find it really distracting and disruptive to a calm morning.
Your Turn
I’d love to hear how your mornings are. Do you have a morning routine? Is your sacred time in the afternoon or evening?
Let me know in the comments!
Megan, I just loved this so much. You articulate everything so well. Our morning routines are so alike! I like to pray a rosary as part of my morning walk too. It calms my mind and brings me peace. My trouble is during the weekend when my husband is home. I feel guilty taking that time to myself but you reminded me that I need to nurture my soul first. And Jordan looked beautiful at her First Communion.
Thank you Debora. I need to read my bible more. You just encouraged me when you said you pray the rosary. I bet your hubby would be happy to give you some morning time alone. 🙂
Good morning-
I start each day taking my senior dog for a walk. I don’t listen to music.. I just watch her exploring the world and sniffing the ONE MILLION things LOL.
I love her so much and she has been a true help to me so I give her this time each day and it brings me so much joy. It is good for both of us!
Have a blessed day.
Dogs can really ground us, right?! I’m so happy you have each other Kelly!
Love this post! I want to check out that “Slow” book.
I have 8 kids including toddlers and teens so my morning is sacred because I’m too tapped out at the end of the day and usually that’s when my oldest ones need me.
4:45am wake up…I pack lunches while the kettle boils. 20 minutes of quiet on the couch with a cup of tea (usually with my phone…this has to change!!) then I pop out to a hot yoga or weight class for an hour. I get home at 7:10 when my husband has our oldest up and starting breakfast, so I join in the breakfast routine and from there, we hit the ground running for the rest of the day! I cherish that time to myself in the morning and can’t wait till I can spend more of it outdoors. Still too cold where I live!
Keep up these posts…they’re so inspiring. xo
Oh Carrie! I often think about large families and how much fun and also work it is. You’re up early, I hope you’re to bed early too. I know I’m so grumpy when I don’t get enough sleep.
I absolutely love this new content. I always loved your organizing posts and this goes even deeper. Thank you for sharing and encouraging this simple, intentional living! It’s the little things that can make the biggest impact!
Thank you so much Andrea! I appreciate the encouragment!
Love this, Megan! I’ve read the Miracle Morning book twice and have yet to put it in practice, so seeing your routine helps motivate me 😉 I love savoring my morning coffee and taking my dog for a short walk- we don’t have a fenced in yard so I have to walk him but it’s become my favorite part of the morning to see the sun come up and get some fresh air, even in the freezing winter. I also notice that my morning goes WAY better the longer I can put off looking at my phone!
I read that book too and even wrote a post about it! I agree on putting away the phone, makes things so much better!
I love this post – it’s a great reminder to me to re-engage with my morning routine. My ideal is to sit quietly looking out into the yard, a page or two of journaling, and reading non-fiction. If you like silence, one book to check out is :Holy Silence: A Gift of Quaker Spirituality “ by J. Brent Bill. It was one of the recommended readings for a silent retreat I did a few years ago, and even reading it left me with a peaceful feeling.
Thank you for that book recommendation Lisa! I’d love to hear about the silent retreat too!
You’re welcome! It was a Chopra silent retreat in Yosemite, CA – it was an amazing experience. My birthday gift to myself that year! I’m sure you can find similar experiences near you – maybe Austin Hill Country? And I’ve seen similar offerings in the Santa Fe area, too. It was definitely worth the effort to take a break for a few days and reconnect with nature and myself.
Oh yes, maybe in Austin. That’s not too far from me, I’ll be looking into this for sure. Thanks so much Lisa!
I used to have a great morning routine, but lately (and by that I mean like the last two years) it’s been terrible. Either I jump out of bed like the house is on fire or I laze away with too much time on my phone. Having a kid who manages her own schedule and drives herself to school (she’s my last one at home) means I don’t typically have to be up early, but I do better with routine and intention. Time to get that back! I’m a huge fan of bed making – it truly makes a difference in my day.
I used to have those rushed mornings and hated how it felt! I know you do too. I think you’ll be making some changes and will feel so much better!
I no longer have dogs or children, but do have a husband. The first thing I do is get coffee and go outside. We are fortunate to have a place in Arkansas, Galveston & a Dallas suburb, so if we are in Rockwall it’s on the patio, Arkansas is on the deck and Galveston is on the balcony. It has to be really really cold for me to be inside. While my Nespresso is making, my husband and I have “lap time” and take turns praying. Then outside with my Nespresso. I sit for a few minutes just contemplating with my Nespresso then I have a bible app on my iPad (You Version) and have prayer time, then I have a one page devotional in a book called “Meeting God’s People” then read a two or three chapters in an amazing Bible translation, “Narrated Chronological Bible”. After that, I share Wordle with my daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Sometimes I check emails after that, but usually not until after breakfast. My husband and I have breakfast together (outside if possible) from a smoothie to full scale biscuits, sausage, gravy & eggs (that is not often!!!!!). It’s great being retired!!! I am truly blessed!!!
This sounds so lovely! The outside morning time is so lovely, even better that you get to spend quality time with your husband.
LK again —
One thing I forgot — After devotional time, but before Wordle time, I do journal. I love the journal books that have a bible verse each day.
I enjoyed reading about your morning routine, I protect mine as much as possible! I get up at 5:30 , grab my coffee and read for about 30 minutes all while my husband is doing the same beside me playing computer games (but in silence, ha!). In the winter sometimes I’ll put a YouTube fireplace scene with relaxing sounds on the TV, I especially do this on the weekends. After that my husband leaves for work and I either unload the dishwasher or fold a load of clothes before I have to start getting ready for work. I work out of the home M-F so doing a small chore really helps my evening routine go smoothly. I should mention I have a college freshman away right now and a senior in high school so I have very little interaction with them in the A.M. 🙂
Please do a night routine
Great idea Jas, will do!
One of your best posts as yet, Megan! Thank you for sharing in so much detail your morning ritual, truly inspiring me to take that daily me-time seriously, and be guilt-free. After all, it results in the best version of ourselves for the rest of the day!!
I love that Kavya! Thank you for letting me know this post was helpful!
Thank you for sharing, Megan! The secret to success is hidden in your morning routine (credit Terri Savelle-Foy).
This is so true! I’ve always been a morning person and an early riser to get that quiet morning run (bliss). I would struggle to get up around 5:30am and spend ten minutes reading my bible, then head out for my run; however, I could not figure out why I was so grumpy throughout the day. After I started listening to Terri’s podcasts I realized that I wasn’t starting my day with what was most important to me. I wasn’t spending quality time with God or my husband. Often, I would be finishing my workout and stretching while my husband ate breakfast alone (with his phone). It took me a few tweaks, but I found my sweet spot to wake up (4:20am – yep, it’s my natural inclination) and I spend a good 30 minutes reading my Bible, praying, and just listening to God. Afterwards, I spend a good hour or two having coffee with my husband. Then, after my husband leaves, I run/workout. It’s still blissful and I’m no longer running in the dark. The first 30 minutes of the day are more essential than anything else – I cherish this time.
It’s so good you reflected on that and then took action to change it. You are up early, but that’s what works for you. I bet your relationship is doing even better with this intentional morning time with your hubby.