Let The Morning Chaos Begin!
It’s 7:47 AM. The baby’s crying and searching for a nipple to latch to or bottle to suck on. Your toddler just crawled into your bed, asking for cereal or is crying for you to pick them up. Your hair is a complete mess, your phone is pinging or is totally dead, and you haven’t even had a sip of coffee or prayed or recited any affirmations yet. You feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end of the day before you even had a chance to take a breath.
Does this sound familiar?
This used to be me every morning. Rushing, reacting, and feeling like I was already behind before the day even started and feeling guilty that I hadn’t made it up before the kids. I would tell myself, “This is just Mom life.” But the truth was that I actually didn’t have to feel that way.
When I started creating a simple, realistic morning routine that worked for my season of motherhood, everything shifted. I didn’t become a supermom, but I did feel calmer, more in control, and finally able to start my day instead of just jumping in and surviving it.
Mornings as a Mom can feel chaotic. But what if they didn’t have to? A consistent morning routine can help you feel more grounded, less overwhelmed, and more present with your family. Whether you’re a stay-at-home Mom, a working Mom, a work-from-home Mom, or doing it all on your own as a single Mom, this routine is totally customizable to your life.
Why Morning Routines Matter for Moms
Mornings set the tone for the rest of your day. How you start can influence your mood, energy, and mental clarity. Even a short, 10-minute intentional routine can make a difference in how you show up for yourself and your family. It’s not about doing more. It’s about beginning with purpose.
Let go of the idea that your routine has to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be rigid and perfect. It just has to serve you. Make it simple and easy for you to do. Learn more about why having a routine is better than having a schedule here.
Common Mistakes Moms Make with Morning Routines
Many moms feel like they’re “failing” at morning routines because they fall into these common traps:
- Trying to do too much too early
- Comparing themselves to influencers with nannies or older kids
- Skipping their own needs to jump straight into chaos
- Not planning for flexibility when things go off course
You don’t need a perfect schedule. You need a rhythm that works for you. That should be your only goal in the morning.
The 5 Essential Elements of a Realistic Mom Morning Routine
Here are the five building blocks of a grounded, flexible morning routine:
1. Wake Before the Kids (If You Can)
Even 10–15 minutes of quiet before the house wakes up can give you a huge head start. But if you’re in a tough season (teething baby, night wakings, etc.), give yourself grace. It’s okay if this doesn’t always happen. Many days this does not happen for me but I find time for 10 minutes of quiet later on in the day.
2. Hydrate and Nourish
Start your day with water and something nourishing. Even if it’s just coffee and a banana. Or one of the fruits you cut up for your kid’s breakfast. Fueling your body helps your energy and mindset.
3. Move Your Body (Even Just a Stretch)
You don’t need a full workout. A few stretches, a quick walk, or dancing in the kitchen with your toddler counts. Movement helps boost energy and calm your nervous system. A gratitude dance, or celebrating the morning happens every morning in the kitchen for us!
4. Mindset Reset
Take a moment to center yourself: journaling, a quick prayer, meditation, or one encouraging affirmation. This helps you shift from survival mode to intentional living. I do this in the morning on the days when waking up before them happens. Otherwise, I find time for it during the day or anytime after breakfast. During nursing windows has also been a good time for me too!
5. Prep the Day Lightly
Check your calendar, mentally review your top 1–3 priorities, and take a breath. Don’t overplan. Just orient yourself so the day feels manageable. I struggle with not adding too many priorities to the day. You should literally only pick 1 OR 2. 3 is only if there’s time and it makes sense and not stress
A Sample Morning Routine for Moms (Realistic Version)
| Time | Task | Backup Option |
| 6:30 AM | Wake & drink water | Baby woke early? Sit with them while sipping |
| 6:40 AM | Stretch/move | March in place while making your coffee or warming a bottle. |
| 6:50 AM | Read affirmation | Repeat it while nursing or changing diapers |
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast + prep | Keep breakfast simple + prep snacks |
4 Tips To Help You Stick With Your Routine
- Give yourself grace. Focus on consistency over perfection.
- Keep it short and sweet (15–30 minutes max)
- Stack it onto something you already do (like brushing your teeth or starting coffee)
- Don’t aim for every day, aim for most days.
3 Tools That Can Help You With Your Morning Routine
Make your routine easier with some supportive tools:
- A Daily Routine Chart or Printable Morning Routine Planer
- A set of Printable Affirmation Cards to put up around your bathroom, kitchen, and play areas so you can say them to yourself as you move through your routine
- The Empowered Mom Guide for mindset tools to help kick start your day in a positive and empowered way
Your Mornings Don’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Powerful
Your morning routine doesn’t have to be fancy, long, or picture-perfect to be powerful. Your version of a routine is valid. You deserve to start your day with intention, not overwhelm. Whether it’s five minutes or fifty, your mornings are yours. You can still have calm mornings even in this very chaotically hectic season of life.
Please remember: You really do got this, Mama!
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