Morning Routine as a Mompreneur

After the hustle and bustle of getting the kiddos ready and dropped off at school (Gary takes Solomon, I take Olivia), I try to slow down a bit before starting work. Having a morning routine has helped me stay mentally stable, and consistent with my goals as a mom and entrepreneur.

Every morning isn’t the same. Some mornings, I’m driving into the studio for a shoot or meeting a client on location. The kids get dropped off at school by 8:30am, so my work day doesn’t really start until around 9am. But most days when I’m working from home are like this:

9am: Breakfast (love a bagel, omelet or toast with fruit)

I also meet with my trainer twice per week at 9am, so I’ll eat breakfast on the go or before I do school drop-off.

9:30am-11:30am: Sit down at my desk to reply to and send e-mails, shoot prep and client calls on Mondays and sometimes Tuesdays. Wednesday through Friday is open for client shoots.

I’ve been working on taking frequent and intentional screen breaks, and moving my body for better health. I’ll get up to stretch, walk around the house, chat with Gary for a bit (he also works from home) or take a walk outside.

How to Create a Morning Routine as a Mompreneur

If you don’t currently have a consistent morning routine, and often feel frazzled, here are a few steps to get started:

• Wake up earlier. I noticed my mornings improve when I started waking up an hour or two before my kids wake up. It gives me time to calm my mind, and even get a headstart on the day. If you wake up just before it’s time to get the kids ready (or maybe they’re waking you up), you may want to start there.
• Make a list. If you don’t remember what needs to get done each day, either write it down in your agenda, in your Notes app on your phone or create reminders in Google Calendar. I have reminders for everything, including when I’m supposed to pick the kids up from school! If it doesn’t get added to the calendar, I’ll likely forget.
• Don’t skip breakfast. I’m preaching to the choir here. I’m not usually hungry in the morning, so I often have to force myself to eat something. Even if it’s a cup of fruit or half a bagel, make a habit of eating breakfast. I’ve noticed my mind is more clear, and I feel more productive.

Here’s a quick snapshot of a typical morning working from home.

What is your morning like after the kids go to school?