Question: are you a morning lover or a morning loather? Maybe a hybrid of both depending on the day. Typically, I love the idea of the fresh start of a morning. But in all reality, it takes my brain and my body a little bit to get in sync.
Sometimes, I want to do what all the experts tell you NOT to do and hit snooze 11x. Sometimes, I want to linger longer in my PJ’s even though I know it will make getting dressed feel like I’m closing in on the last leg of a 10k. SOMETIMES, even though you’ve read all the things, and implemented all the best practices, SOMETIMES, unplanned things happen and it throws your morning into a tizzy.
It is for those reasons I write this post because:
- Unforeseen circumstances are the exceptions and you don’t create a life motto ie “those things don’t work for me…” because you get curveballs every once in a while
- Life is going to happen and I am here always and forever to help us get out of our own way. Because I need to get out of my own way. So, you’re really helping me here. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
The irony of me writing this blog post today, does not escape me. Because today, today friend, zero things have gone as planned. From work plans going sideways, tripods breaking, contractors coming in and out of the house, the furnace leaking, and a mysterious backache, (thanks 43) today has been one for the books.
But all was not lost today.
How? Because of a few tricks I’ve learned along the way that lessen the stress in the start of my day and give me the energy to keep dealing with the curveballs.
We each face pivotal points in our days, for many of us, it’s the mornings that set the tone. And while we cannot control everything; tried it, doesn’t work. We can “own” a few things to lessen our stress, simplify our mornings, and start them with a little more “ah”, and a little less “AHHHHH!”
You understand.
Are you ready to give yourself and your people the gift of a little bit of a less chaotic morning? Maybe a start to the day with more peace? Dare I say ease? “Sign me up,” you say?
You got it, friend. Here are 2 tips to get you there.
1. Ask yourself the “Magic Question.”
If you’ve read Kendra Adachi’s book, “The Lazy Genius,” then you already know the magic question. If not, allow me to introduce you to your new friend. The magic question is this,
“What can I do now, to make life easier later”
Kendra has all sorts of “genius” principles in her book you will love. But the “magic question” when asked at night in preparation for your morning, is a GAME CHANGER. Give it a shot. Tonight, ask yourself, “What can I do now to make life easier in the morning?”
Need examples?
- Set your coffee maker.
- Put your briefcase in the car.
- Want to exercise? (pssst see last week’s YouTube video for some big help in that area) Lay out your workout clothes.
- Prep your breakfast.
- Do you usually spend 5 min staring at your closet trying to get a little wardrobe inspiration? Put your entire outfit together the night before.
- Are you a morning lunch packer? Do it the night before.
Think through your current routine and ask yourself “What can I do now to make life easier in the morning?” The little things really do make a big difference in redeeming precious pockets of time that when added up, make you feel less rushed. Because you are. Brain Science 😉
2. Do a 10-minute re-set at night.
In the Rea house, it’s called, “Put the Day Away.” And we talked all about this in this video. Here’s the thing, I am a very visual person. And when I have too many things in my line of sight, especially in the morning (i.e. clutter) they all join together in a chorus singing,
“You need to give me attention, life feels too crazy, take care of me nowwwww.”
The good news is the “Put the Day Away” practice shuts that clutter choir down and allows me to start my day with more peace. Here’s how to implement it.
If you live alone, this is simple. If you live with family, recruit them. Set a timer for 10 min, play fun music, and go hard at straightening the house.
Put all the dishes away, wipe down the counters, put mail where it belongs, throw clothes in hampers, straighten the piles of books and magazines and generally put things back where they belong. Go nuts. Do as much as you can in 10 min. And then, be done.
What does this do?
- Gives you more visual peace so you can wind down at night AND wake up with less visual stress in the morning.
- for all my fellow recovering perfectionists out there, it keeps you moving and doesn’t allow you to hyperfocus on one thing for too long.
So friend, if you’re ready to have less stress, less chaos and more peace going into your day:
- Ask yourself the magic question
- Do a 10-minute re-set at night.
NOW, please tell, what is one thing you can do the at night to make your morning easier? I may need to steal your idea 🙂
Until next time,
Meg
