Building a Morning Routine that Honors Your Faith
Need some fresh inspiration for your daily morning routine? It can be easy to feel trapped by bad habits, or drained from the constant rush of life. Whether you are a morning person or more of a night owl, the beginning of our day often determines the course of how we are able to show up the rest of the day! When we start our mornings tired, rushed, and overwhelmed, it is hard to love well, serve joyfully, and be present. A morning routine is not the solution for life’s problems, but it can help to create new thoughtful rhythms and space to pursue your relationship with Jesus. We have put together a small step-by-step guide to help you on your journey. Let’s jump right in!
Step One. Prep beforehand. Plan out your morning routine, (like you are doing currently) and plan out your following days/week! This step will enable you to determine what time you should wake up, what goals you hope to accomplish with your morning routine, and what your to-do-list looks like specifically for the day ahead. This step could include things like: choosing out your outfit the night before, packing lunches, laying out what you need for your morning coffee or tea, or whatever else will help you accomplish your morning routine goals.
Step Two. Set a time to wake-up. This is essential to starting your morning off well! If you are accustomed to waking up early or waking up to an alarm clock you may need to give yourself some grace as you adjust! Once you have set a time, try to stick to it. There is differing research on whether snoozing your alarm clock is beneficial or harmful. Choose a method that works for you and leaves you feeling refreshed, and not guilty! If your goal is to wake up at 6am and you prefer to slowly wake up, try setting your alarm for 5:45am to give yourself some time to hit the snooze button. For some it works better to simply jump out of bed right at 6am!
Step Three. Spend time with Jesus. Dedicate the first time of your morning to the Creator who is in love with you. It can be so easy to get distracted as the morning goes on and not give Him the time He deserves. Choosing to set aside time right as you wake up ensures that this time is not used on something else. Implement this in a way that works for you! If you need a stimulant to help wake you up, grab some coffee or tea. If you need to walk around or stand so that you do not fall asleep again, do that! Or choose a favorite chair or a quiet room. Try to leave your phone behind during this part of your morning. It can be all too easy to get distracted by a notification, or a text you missed the night before. Try to put your phone on silent, and set it aside. Remember this is about your personal relationship with Jesus! Do what will draw you close to Him. That might mean spending time in worship, time just talking to Him, interceding for others or studying the Bible. As you ponder what you want this part of your morning to look like, invite Jesus into the conversation. This could look like asking Jesus questions like: “How can I love you Jesus?”, “How can I get to know you better with my morning?”, or “Help me to have the strength to wake up and seek your face.”
Step Four. Move your body. Choosing some form of activity in the mornings helps you feel your absolute best during the rest of the day! Adapt this part of your morning to what season of life you are in, and what goals you want to achieve. Maybe you simply need to stretch and go on a small walk, or do a quick bodyweight workout in your living room. Maybe you want to train for a 5K and choose to go on a run, or want to strength train so you hit the gym. The options are endless here! No matter what path you choose, you will never regret moving your body right away in the morning.
Step Five. Nourish your body. When we rush our mornings and do not plan for our day it can be easy to skip this step! Stopping to fuel your body with food in the morning helps to start up your metabolism, and curb hunger cravings during the rest of your day. Try to choose foods that are packed with protein and nutrients that your body needs! Skipping meals and eating purely carbs and sugar in the morning can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mental health.
Step Six. Dress for the day. Choosing an outfit, doing your hair, these are small steps that will help you feel prepared and ready for your day! Even if your day consists of staying home with little ones, choose an outfit that makes you feel beautiful and confident. Staying home is a job too, even if it’s not in an office setting!
These are small simple steps that will help you ensemble a morning routine that is practical, enabling, and honors your faith. Feel free to reorder any of the steps we listed above, or add additional ones! This is about you, Jesus, and your day following Him.
XOXO - MSE team.
