Lately, on Instagram, I have been sharing snapshots of what I’m reading in the morning before the children wake up. I don’t often capture and share what I’m doing right when I rise, but I get plenty of questions about how I start my mornings more intentionally, and so I hope this article will shed light on ways I try to start my day with thoughtfulness.
I might sound like a broken record by now if you’ve read my blog before, but I think it’s crucial to tell you that not everything I share or do is meant to work best for you and your family. My rhythms, homeschooling or homemaking that I share are merely to inspire you and encourage you with these ideas. I hope that when you are done reading this blog article, you come away eager to create your own morning rhythm that brings peace and meaning to each new day.
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Low Light + Time In Prayer
It may not always happen, but recently I’ve delighted in waking up before the sun and keeping low lights on where I sit to read. There is something serene about waiting for and seeing the sun’s first light peeking through the window. Without all the artificial lights on, I remove the stimulation to start working, cleaning, or even waking others in the house and really take in my time with the Lord in prayer and stillness. A few of these LED candles placed throughout my home, and a dimmed reading lamp is all I need.
Remove Phone From Your ‘Wake-Up Path”
It sounds simple, but honestly, this was one of the hardest parts of my morning rhythm to remain consistent in. Instead of having my phone by my bedside, or even on my path to my morning reading spot, I like to place it out of sight so it’s not the first thing I put my attention on when I wake up. If this is your only form of an alarm clock (like it is for me right now), still try and put your phone far enough from your side that you can still hear the alarm, but not close enough to grab, hit snooze, or start scrolling right away. There is something to the physical act of putting my feet on the ground and taking a few steps that really help my body say “I’m up!”
Prepare The Night Before
When 5 AM rolls around, I am really grateful that I had laid out my Bible, books, journal, pencils, highlighters, blanket, and made it easier to brew my coffee the night before. These little preparation systems may seem quite small, maybe even insignificant, but it definitely gives me fewer excuses to make for not having an intentional morning. Usually, the night before I will grind my coffee, fill the water for our coffee pot, and layout my mug. For my readings, I make sure I can wake up and find all my things right where I like to sit.
I also like to run the dishwasher in the evening so that everything is ready to be used again the next day. There are so many little things throughout the house that can be done the night before to make waking up less of a chore. Taking out the trash, wiping down main surfaces, even meal prepping for the next day are all ideas to implement. It’s all up to you to decide which will help make your mornings more intentional and successful.
Conclusion
Mornings have always looked differently from season to season. There is no one right way to make mornings more intentional, it’s simply trying a few small things at a time, and being consistent with whichever you choose. You don’t have to wake up before the sun to have an intentional morning. There will even be days of failing (I’ve done that PLENTY!). In complete honesty, your most intentional mornings could be the ones you merely prayed, gave yourself grace, and carried on the day. No matter what, I hope you find joy in your mornings.
