How to have better, calmer summer mornings (with littles at home)

Say goodbye to rushed, chaotic mornings.

Goodness mornings lately have just felt chaotic! Partially due to the baby waking up super early and partially due to we just still haven’t found our routine since moving!

After a rough morning, I said enough of doing the same thing that isn’t working, paused and re-evaluated. This simple, quick exercise is so life giving to figure out a plan forward.

What is not working:

• feeling rushed

• cluttered kitchen countertops

• lots of questions and needs from my 3 little people all at the same time

• extra messes to clean up

• getting ready for work days when I do have childcare (which is super limited this summer) and feeling guilty as a mom for rushing

I went back to basics and rhythms I know work, and the ones I share with my clients all the time…so here’s me taking my own advice and taking you along for the process!

Catch my full morning routine >

I’ll add…a few truths that have helped me have a mindset shift.

…#1

*There’s actually a REAL reason we feel overwhelmed, hint: it’s a beautiful, defense mechanism.

…and #2

*Choosing which “shoes” I’m stepping into today, or in this moment, or for the next few hours has shifted my mental state so positively, and released so much guilt. Guilt drains energy that could be directed at healing and rational thought. Multi-tasking and guilt have no place here! [I’ve been saying that on repeat lately to myself.]

Ready for a mini nutrition consultation with me?👇🏽

Here’s what’s helped me have better, calmer Summer mornings (with 3 littles in tow)

*These are all ways to make your brain and body feel safe, secure and nourished so that it can do what it needs to do—heal, function, thrive and think rationally!

Start the night before

*If you only do one step, make it this!

• Clear off countertops: clutter instantly shifts our body into fear mode or “fight or flight”. Think about how different you’d feel in the morning if you walked into your bathroom or kitchen and had a clean slate, quite literally.

• Prep vitamins the night before: simple, but life changing, one less thing to do with your hands or think about with your brain.

• Prep coffee the night before.

• Have an idea of what you are eating for breakfast, even set out plates and forks.

• Pre-make electrolytes for the day: ok this is a game changer, especially on days I work. I whisk together my Lemon Lime Collagen, put it in a yeti in the fridge, then in the morning on the way out the door, just add ice!

• Start one load of laundry.

How this builds up your health: These tasks only take a few minutes and of course you’ll think “Oh that’s easy to do in the morning.” But then morning comes and there’s already so much to do. Taking a load off clears your brain and shifts your body out of “fear” or stress mode. You’ll feel calmer and more present!

When you walk into your kitchen in the morning and see clear countertops, your body and brain feel safe—you’ll have MORE energy to do what you need and want to do.

Read: Mental Benefits of an Organized Home

Create a morning basket (if you have littles)

The morning basket is secretly for me, because I want (and need) to read my Bible and pray in the morning. But it’s been so hard to find a moment with the kids waking up so early. My usual 5:30 am quiet time hasn’t been happening lately since we moved.

I realized we were all feeling chaotic because everyone has different wants in the morning, but we all need a little bit of quiet and calm.

Cue the morning basket. 🧺

Keep the littles entertained with activities that build them up, so that I can have a moment to center my brain in truth and start the day with more grace!

Here’s what I add:

• Coloring books

• activity pages (I’ll just print off a few)

• handwriting book for me almost 1st grader

• markers

• sticker books + stickers

• a few other books I rotate to keep them interested

• dot art

*Takes deep breath, sips that hot coffee and has a moment.

Micro-dose Hemp Flower Extract

I started doing this in the mornings a few weeks ago and noticed such a shift. I always take my daily nano jelly (which lasts 24 hours) but I usually do that with the kids during breakfast.

I added in a micro-dose of full spectrum hemp flower extract—you drop it under your tongue and hold for 60-90. This goes instantly into your system so it works instantly!

CBD gives your nervous system a hug—it doesn’t “alter” you like coffee, alcohol or melatonin, it just helps your body navigate through the stressors, curveballs and demands of the day.

I do this as soon as I get downstairs, right before I open my Bible and devotions. SO much more joy, focus, presence and patience, all because my body and brain are balanced.

Grab a jar of jellies and get the hemp flower extract for FREE.

Enjoy my prepped-the-night-before-decaf-coffee

I have an auto-brew set up so it’s hot and smelling fabulous by the time I come downstairs. I drink only decaf. I had been drinking about 1/4-1/2 cup of caffeinated coffee during our move and I noticed a huge increase in anxious thoughts. I have felt SO much calmer by fully eliminating caffeine in the morning especially when I am around my children. I’ll occasionally make a matcha when I need a perk up.

Read my Bible + do devotions

Ok I so got out of the habit of this when we moved and truly I suffered. Grounding myself in God’s word first thing is a game changer, the difference in our entire family just by my daily commitment is noticeable. I feel SO much more at peace and able to approach the day with joy and calm. My routine is simple, because I don’t have that much time.

• Read a few passages of scripture, or go back over what we studied in church. Our church’s current series “The Good Life” has been just WOW. Truly so many nuggets of gold I take with me and can actually apply in day to day life.

• Write in my

  Valerie Woerner
  prayer journal.

• Read a devotion: current favs are Breath as Prayer and Gracelaced.

• Offer up my calendar to God. Approach the day adventurously expectant rather than stuck in my plans and desires.

Then I pray and release my day. “I don’t know what the day may bring, but I know who brings the day.” - We the Kingdom

Nourish

Breakfast is a top priority in our house! We don’t skip or skimp. A nourished mama is an essential puzzle piece to the entire home. You can’t thrive and flourish off granola bars and coffee. FACT.

I have simple tasks that my kids love to do to help! These few tasks buy me a few minutes of time to get breakfast ready for ever hungry little mouths.

✔️Set the table.

✔️Get vitamins.

✔️Fill up water cups.

✔️Feel the dog.

To keep things minimal, and free up brain space, we usually have the same breakfast on repeat during the week days.

*Something is always better than nothing, don’t stress about perfection, just get into the habit of nourishing your body.

• Sourdough with butter and Manuka honey (added immune boost)

• Scrambled eggs with parmesan

• Breakfast sausage.

• Fruit (they nibble on this as I get breakfast ready)

• Green Protein Drink—I usually make a green protein drink for my boys too. They ADORE this and ask for it every morning. It’s so deeply nourishing and tastes amazing!

What helps you have better, calmer mornings? Do share!