#45 Routines in the Morning, Routines Part 2

If you listened to the last episode then you should have done your homework, evaluating your current or past routines, writing down what is or has been happening. For example, I’m looking at the upcoming school year. I sat down and looked out routines we have used this summer and routines we had last year. My goal is to develop something that works for myself and my family during this upcoming year. 

Our morning routines are essentially broken up into the areas: Wake Up, Before You Leave, and Land at Work. I want to break this down for you and give you some important questions for each area that you need to answer. I will also show you what this looks like for me. 

Wake up:
How much time do you have to devote to coffee, devotional, journaling, planning, & getting dressed? 
Do you want to include some movement or exercise? 
What needs to happen to make sure you actually complete this routine? 
How do you want to feel after you do your wake up routine?

My routine is simple. During the school year I grab coffee and get dressed, doing my hair and make up. Then I sit down, do my Bible Study, plan my day, and dig into some social media work and posts. I wake up at 4:30am in the morning to do this so that I have time alone before the girls wake up at 6:00am. That might seem extreme, but it is incredibly important and works very well in my life. 

Before You Leave:
What does your family need from you to set them up for success?
What can and should they do for themselves that you simply need to check in on? 
What do you need to make sure you take with you when you leave the home?
What do you need to check on before you leave?
How much time do you need to get this done?
What do you need to do to make sure you follow through with this routine? 

My routine for this area leans heavily on that wipeable list. I have to make sure that Micaela is dressed with her leg braces and glasses. I have to give her a bolus of water through her G-tube and make sure she gets her meds. My dad usually gets them on the bus so he will make sure the girls eat and brush their teeth. Adela is ten, so this year I’m actually going to post her own checklist that I will check on before I leave. I have to make sure I have my water, coffee, and lunch before I exit the home. If there is anything special happening on that day, I actually leave space on the checklist to write it in for that day. You’ll see that in the example on the checklist, of the routine toolkit. 

Lastly, there is the “Land at Work” Routine: (home or work)
What transition do you need to make in your brain as you switch from home to work? What would help you do this? 
What communications do you need to check?
Are there people you need to check in with?
What planning system or calendar should you look at to know what your day entails?

My routine begins with prayer for myself, my coworkers, my children, and my students. Then I check emails and update my planner with any tasks or dates that need my attention. I go over my planner and my plan for the day then I get to work. Work might mean morning duty or it might simply be doing some lesson planning before the first bell. 

Okay, my love, be real with yourself as you plan out these routines. If you are a beginner who has never had routines or have gone through a serious life transition, give yourself very short routines with plenty of time. What you want to cultivate is follow through. Not some sort of grand and expansive routine. 

The three routine areas we looked at are Wake Up, Before You Leave, and Land at Work. Go ahead and get the free toolkit resource. It will lead you through the routine building process. I’ll see you here next week for the last part of this routine series. 

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