The Best 5-Step Morning Routine For Stay-At-Home Moms

This is The BEST 5-Step Morning Routine for the Stay-At-Home Mom Looking to have more structure and less overwhelm in her day by making the most of her mornings.

*updated June 2022*

Creating a morning routine was one of the best things I ever did for myself as a mom. Before I had a solid routine, I’d just get up whenever my kids got up and start the day tired and groggy.

Needless to say, I wasn’t very productive at all! 

Each day had a slow start, and I started to feel like I was failing as a wife and mother.

Once reality set in that I was about to become a Mommy x3, I knew something had to give.

After many years as a self-proclaimed night-owl, I started by making the conscious effort to start waking up earlier and it changed EVERYTHING.

I’m 10x more productive, my house is cleaner, and I’m able to be more present (read patient) with my children.

In addition to waking up earlier, I decided that I should create a morning routine to get even more out of my day. My morning routine isn’t anything too fancy, but doing these five things before the kids wake up has drastically improved my outlook on my day.

So if you’re looking for a simple routine that you can incorporate into your mornings, keep reading!

Prayer

I always like to start my days with prayer.

Before I started getting intentional about my mornings, the first thing I’d do when I woke up was check my phone. From emails to Instagram and TikTok posts, checking my phone would almost always turn into 20 to 30 minutes of unproductive social media time. I wasted so much time laying and scrolling that by the time the kids woke up, I hadn’t done anything productive – like get out of bed and use the bathroom.

So now, before I do anything – I say a quick prayer thanking God for a new day and for all of my many blessings.

Quick 20-30min Workout

Okay, before you roll your eyes, hear me out!

When I created my morning routine, I wanted to be intentional about filling it with tasks that would not only make me feel more productive, but I wanted to fill it with things that would be good for me mentally, spiritually, and physically. I also wanted to prioritize things that I struggle to get done during the day.

That said, adding in a quick workout in the morning completely changed the game for me! During quarantine, I finally bit the bullet (annnnd convinced hubby) and got a Peloton! I personally believe it’s worth all the hype, but I digress. At any rate, starting my day with a workout 1. really wakes me up & 2. makes me start my day feeling so accomplished!

Besides feeling on top of the world because I actually got my workout in for the day, it also did wonders for me mentally as well!

Blame it on the Endorphins!

A quick YouTube or Pinterest workout can also do the trick! I typically do a barre workout or something slower-paced like pilates when I want something more low-impact (or when it’s that time of the month).

It’s totally up to you, but I promise that whatever you choose, you’ll be so proud of yourself for having done it.

Devotional

Once my workout is done, I like to grab my bible, gratitude journal, and prayer journal to do a quick devotional or read a couple of chapters of scripture.

For my devotionals, there are tons of online options and apps. We’re also always running Monthly Prayer Challenges here on the blog if you need any ideas. You can also grab a scripture card bundle from the Scripture Card Library. These are great to print out and meditate on during your devotional time.

Making sure that I start my day with a devotional or scripture really helps me stay spiritually connected and start my day with the right perspective.

Set Goals For The Day

Once I’ve prayed, done my workout, and completed my devotional, I take a minute to set a few goals for the day. 

Initially, when I became a SAHM, I’d set a ridiculous amount of goals for the day, and each time I’d end up disappointed when the majority of them didn’t get accomplished. 

So now, I’ve learned to only set three to five major goals for the day, with a ‘bonus‘ goal just in case I have a super productive day. If you’re struggling to be productive as a SAHM, you definitely want to check out my Thriving with Systems series to learn how I created systems to completely transformed my productivity as a SAHM.

By taking a moment to set a few goals and prioritize what I need to get done for the day, I get the most important tasks done first, and if for some reason I don’t finish, I feel good knowing that the most pressing tasks are done. 

Shower & Get Dressed

Last but definitely not least, to conclude my morning routine, I enjoy a hot shower and get dressed. If I’m lucky I can shower before the kids wake up, but most days, I find myself doing this part of my morning routine while they’re sitting and eating breakfast (mama’s gotta do what mamas gotta do).

I found that if I make an effort to actually put on ‘real’ clothes instead of sitting in my pjs all day, I feel a lot more put together. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good lazy day in my PJs, but it’s just something about changing into something that I could actually leave the house in that makes me feel like I’m winning at this whole motherhood thing. 

Never underestimate what a good pair of leggings can do for you!

Some days I’ll throw on make-up and do something nice with my hair, but most days (especially if I’m not going anywhere), I’m fresh-faced and my hair is in a super simple style.

There you have it! 

My super easy, 5-step morning routine!

Typically by the time I finish doing each of these things, it’s time to fully transition into mommy mode. But thankfully, my cup is full from making myself a priority and I’m ready to tackle the day.

This routine, coupled with my night routine have helped my days go so much smoother.

That said, I’m always looking for new ways to tweak my routine so if you have a morning routine, share some of your favorite tips below!

If you don’t, give this routine a try and let me know if it works for you!