Win Your Morning, Win Your Day…My 6 MUSTS That Set The Day.

I. LOVE. A. ROUTINE. In fact I don't think I could have survived nearly 15 years in morning TV without a routine.

Feels like forever ago.

I definitely thrive with some order but have, over the last few years, relaxed a bit so I could really FEEL life and have some spontaneity and presence too. Learning to live at a different pace is a little uncomfortable at times but I am here and trying to lean into where God has me right now.

THAT was one thing missing. No margin. I had an iron clad routine with NO wiggle room. It left me empty many days. I realized I crow barred so much that I never left any time for the things that really matter.

So, I am forever going to be a constant student in the game of life. Much of my work over the last few years has been undoing some restrictive habits, borderline obsessive, that made me feel more robot like than human like.

With that said, I know me, and I still know that a basic routine with some order and structure serves me well and I know makes me show up each day better as a Mom, Wife and Friend and whatever other hat I choose to wear that day.

I value a solid morning system, routine, ritual, habit, rock your life morning, or whatever other fancy word you want to call it. Basically, it is a few key moments or practices or additions to your day that make you feel centered, grounded and unshakable.

Life can feel uncertain at times. Seasons can be hard. Circumstances can be challenging. Starting my day with God and a basic routine helps me begin the day in a healthy way. Consistency in the morning helps me move through the day. 6 SUPER SIMPLE ways to win your morning so you win your day. Take one or all and LET'S GOOOOOO!

WAKE UP BEFORE YOUR KIDS

Before you make that face and click away from this hear me out...if you want time for YOU then you have to make the time. We all get 24 hours in a day, an even playing field if you will. I don't have more time than you nor does your sister or the girl you went to high school with.

We all get the choice as to how we will use those hours. I am not saying wake at 3 am or even 5 am but wake with enough time spaced out so you don't play out the panic scene from a movie where the Mom is losing her $h*t and turning into an alien as she tries to feed the kids and get them and herself and the dog ready for the day. A simple 10 minutes earlier is a GREAT start. That might mean you stop scrolling IG 10 minutes earlier before bed. I promise it's worth it.

JOURNAL/PRAYER/TIME WITH GOD

This is why the 10 minutes of earlier rise time is essential. We are going to craft the time in your day so you can center your thoughts and spend the first part of your day with YOU and God. In the quiet of the morning and the stillness of a sleepy house is when I find the most peace. I know the day may go haywire, I can plan all day but there may be a wrench thrown into those plans BUT if I ground myself first in the morning with gratitude, with intentions set and with God's Word.

When I spend the first part of my day with God, everything goes better. I know when my relationship with Him feels distant, it's because I haven't invested time with Him. The only way I change from the core is when I give Him my heart and let Him lead. These mornings with Him have changed EVERYTHING in my life.

I use my journal alongside my Bible to write prayers too or intentions I have for my day. I list what I am grateful for and point my praise to Him over and over again.

You do not have to have an extra hour to do this but as you begin to create some consistency you will develop a strong habit and likely extend this time because of how impactful it is. When we focus on the good in front of us, pray, talk to God, before stepping into the world that day or turning on the news and are tempted to change our minds, the good grows, your heart changes and the light of God pours out brighter than ever.

The You Do You Journal
The journal I use EVERY SINGLE MORNING. Simple and powerful.

THE "ELIXIR OF THE LORD" aka COFFEE but Done the RIGHT Way

YEP, I give all the glory to our Lord for sending us coffee. I love coffee and I love that it soothes my soul and makes my journal/prayer time that much more amazing.

Can a girl just be excited about the little things?! YES SHE CAN! I love coffee at home. I rarely buy fancy coffee at a coffee shop. A) because I am a budget girl, I am married to a personal finance coach and we once were $52k in debt, so my frugal ways just don't die (You can read more about that story here.) I love my Kirkland coffee and my inexpensive coffee pot. That strong cup is what waking up is about however, this little gadget changed my life.

Frothy goodness at home. Friends, it's Jesus sent. One of my dearest gave this to me and I will never quit it. It's 30 seconds and your basic coffee with cream turns to pillows of joy sent from angels above. YOU. NEED. THIS. My fellow coffee lovers, this will rock your world and elevate your at home coffee game. Again, THESE little things help us chase joy every darn day. I use regular milk...it froths beautifully!

HYDRATE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT

Dramatic, yes. That is me and you love me by now...all of the annoying nuances about me, right? But really...water is my jam. If I see it, I drink it.

That is the only way. I feel best when I get a gallon in a day. Small cups or water bottles don't help my water game. Why? Because once I drink one I never go back to refill. So, THIS babe changed my life. Yes, there I go again, dramatic as ever but really....she's cute.

She's got substance and she stands out and she motivates you with cute sayings as you chug-a-lug AND she comes in a million different colors.

Warning: you will get made fun of because she's gigantic but eventually your friends will start sending you pictures of theirs and you'll convert them all to the HYDRATION HALL OF FAME and you'll give them hugs and high fives and you'll send them a pack of diapers because our bladders don't love it but our skin and bods do sooooo drink up, Sis.

MAKE YOUR BED

I sound like such a Mom and or like such a bossy sister but really, make your bed...every single day...even if you don't get around to it until 3 pm.

Mom is smiling.

My Nana taught us this. She never missed it. She wasn't trying to be perfect but looking back it created some order in the day right off the bat and there is not one person I know that doesn't appreciate a little order and a little simple win. When we win one small victory it sets the tone for the whole entire day.

MOVE YOUR BODY

Okay, I get it, I can hear it now "BUT, I don't have time to do that before they wake up." And you are right, maybe you don't but back to that 24 hour thing...we all get the same level playing field. I understand that we all have a different plate we carry with a different pile BUT think of the time wasters we all get sucked into...social media and Netflix to name two. What if instead of scrolling the Gram for 20 minutes, we walked around the block a few times? Or while you are at soccer practice with your kids you gather a few Moms and chat and power walk or jog instead of sit and chat?

Always feels good when we move

There are LOTS of ways to get that movement in. It will never be perfect and we won't always have the time or the means to get to an actual gym but we are really only after the dopamine rush we get after we move our bodies. When we move them, we change our moods and our minds. And THAT will win over any bad mood and change the day.

Okay, so are you still with me? Does this feel overwhelming already? If so, you are not alone. Trust me, I did not wake up one day and set out to do all of this and magically change. This took time. It took small steps and repeated effort.

My husband always says "rinse and repeat." That is the part that gets a little boring but it's the not so secret to lasting success. We are what we do every single day. If we want to feel good, we have to make a concerted effort to work on the things that make us feel ALIVE. That make us feel like this day is for purpose.

We will have days of defeat but over time, as we create a morning or start of the day habit like this, we will move better through those days of defeat. The victory days are ours for the taking but we have to give it some effort if we want to feel the way God designed us to feel.

It is available for each of us. I am gonna keep working on it not because I want it to be perfect but because I feel best when I do these simple things each day...and remember, I am walking with you too as you work on it as well.

8 Comments

  1. Kristy Andrade on August 13, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    I adore you! I can’t wait to get my journal in and join you in the morning! All the others I do! I need journal , Jesus and gratitude time!



    • Andrea Robinson on August 14, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      I love and appreciate you!! May we walk together and remind each other of truth and love!! Can’t wait for you to get your journal! xoxo



  2. Gail Blais on August 13, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    You are 100% right. Mornings are the best!



    • Andrea Robinson on August 14, 2020 at 12:19 pm

      YES YES!! XO



  3. Lisa Forman on August 13, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Love your motivational stories. ❤



    • Andrea Robinson on August 14, 2020 at 12:19 pm

      I love and appreciate you!!



  4. Amanda on August 15, 2020 at 8:45 am

    I’m not a morning person anymore. I happily retired after working 36 years. So I gave myself permission not to wake up so early. My children are grown but still live with me. No complaints from me! I’m grateful for the good and bad…and not too many bad days!! I talk to GOD throughot the day. I’ve been through what your going through now. It only gets better! Keep doing what your doing…you are SO GOOD AT IT and you really do help others…more than you know. Blessings…



    • Andrea Robinson on September 1, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      Good for you!! You have earned that! I love your encouragement and thank you dearly for it!!