How Do You Start Your Day off on the Right Foot?

Honestly? Coffee.

My husband thinks it's pathetic, but it's the best part of my day. Every single morning, without fail, I have this amazing revelation: "Oh THERE'S my brain! It was in my coffeeeeeee....."

Kissing each of my three sleeping babies (6, 7, and 9) before I leave. Normally my 9 year old likes to be up before I leave for work at 615, but as long as I can kiss them and tell them I love them I'm good.

About a half hour, completely alone, with coffee and the news. I am not a good sleeper anyway so that's not that important. But I deliberately get up at least a half hour before everyone else in the house. I need that time to talk myself into being a nice mom, wife, etc. It works. We all get up pretty early, rushing puts everyone in a bad mood, you know?

We leave the house for school at 6:55. Bleck.

:)

I try to pray before I get out of bed. I almost always wake up before the alarm goes off so I snuggle in, stretch and line up my spine (I have neck / spine problems) and I thank God for His abundance to us, I pray for my kids & husbad, I pray for family members & those living under persecution all over the world.

When I get up I'm in a better frame of mind and am so appreciative of the stuff we have. I get my hair & make-up done and then wake the kids for school, make breakfast and get us all out the door for school & work.

And BTW - the planning at night is essential. I learned that the hard way. Bags are packed, lunches made, clothes are layed out, etc.

I know there will be people to ridicule me for this, but on days that I have to drive further to get to work (various schools), I have my girls pick out their clothes for the next day and go ahead and put them on.
I figure: the clothes are clean, their bodies are clean, the sheets are clean, there will be no fighting the "cold" jeans or other clothes that arent warm from the bed, no children dragging around fighting getting ready.
They put on shoes and jackets, brush their hair, pick up their lunchboxes and get in the car. I pack lunches the night before and have the things they will eat already packaged in single servings. I throw in plasticware, drinks, etc.
We can get out the door with minimal fuss, maximum sleep and little stress. THAT is a good morning.

I get up way early...like 4 or 5 am, depending on what I have to do that day. Its my way of easing into the day. I can get coffee, do some housework, do devotions, read the news, check messages, check my son's school things, like sign papers or send money if something is due, pay bills, and most importantly workout.

That way, when people wake up in this house, I'm not frazzled but instead, ready to go.

I sleep on the right side of the bed so my right foot hits the ground first.

Oh wait... that wasn't it...

I have something hot to drink. I love chrysanthemum tea with honey but will also drink coffee. If I have the time to boil a pot and drink that cup, I know it's not going to be a stressful day so I try to wake early enough to do it, gather my thoughts and be glad for my life and family.

I get up about 30 to 40 min before everyone else I always like to start the morning out with a cup of gratitude.. and then on to coffee, my serenity prayer... check email/on-line newspaper.. read morning12 step literature..
then the best part.. I awaken my son with lots of hugs and kisses.... and we have breakfast and chat about how he slept and what dreams he may have had.... ahhhh.. seeing his little smiling face is definitely the highlight of my morning... PURE SUNSHINE..........

I get up at 5:15 and let the dog out. I get my workout clothes, water and my tablet and go use my elliptical while I watch something on Netflix. Then I get ready for work and by that time everyone else is up.

I get kids' clothes ready the night before and usually know what they want for breakfast so I can have it ready when they get up.

I take my meds before I get out of bed.

I set my coffee maker to brew at 7:00am and get up when the timer tells me coffee is ready. I have about 45 minutes to read the paper in peace before my boys have to wake up and the before and after school kids arrive, and I have to shower.

Ritual with how I get ready, having clothes picked out the night before for myself and daughter. Letting daughter know she has 'five more minutes' to sleep then getting her dressed and breakfast before I leave. Then hubby takes over! I usually eat my breakfast at work but sometimes it's a diet soda or water on my way to work (now that I'm pregnant it's often milk or juice!) Good sleep definitely helps!!!

I am a zombie when I get up in the am. My ritual is ice water and straight to my office to check emails and see what's in store for the day.

I would LOVE a great night's sleep but arouns here between snoring hubby and hubby is up working at all hours of the night, I just get naps. Oh well... sometimes I do take a little siesta in the afternoon.. that's my perk of working from home.

I try to go to bed as early as possible, otherwise I start my day off on the left foot.

First I have a brief argument with God.

Then I wait until the endorphins have kicked in enough to allow me to creak & hobble towards the necessary.

Then I add equal parts caffeine & fresh air (I WILL schlep my sleeping bag outside if its cold & icky out)... While I contemplate whether this whole "life" thing is really worth it, anyway.

And then Im fine.

Really.

Its like a light switch goes off and Im my artsy/goofy/overly cheerful/obnoxious self. I can move fluidly (ISH), think clearly, and life is good.

Music on
Shower
Go tickle my son out of bed
(Unlike me, he's MrCheerful first thing)

I looooooooooove life.

But first thing, every morning, I lay in bed and argue with God.

SERIOUSLY? Whose brilliant idea was THIS?

________

I've had it remarked that I even smile in my sleep / first thing in the morning

- I believe Im WINNING the argument each morning. Every morning.
-

I straighten up my downstairs and thoroughly clean my kitchen the night before. If I come downstairs to a mess I feel it throws my day off. I also give myself enough time to make school lunches so. Don't have to rush.

get up at 5:30. put in my keurig. drink about 2 cups capuchin, then get breakfast ready and wake up the kids. it's not foolproof, i am still cranky in the morning til about 9 am.