8 Things To Do Before 8 AM: How to Create a Morning Routine That Lasts
Simplify your morning routine by skipping the time wasters. Try these 8 things to do before 8 am to make your day run smoothly and less stress-filled as you simplify your life.
Before having kids, I had an idea in my mind about what life would look like. I would fix breakfast every morning since it’s the most important meal of the day. We would take a quick walk in the morning or do morning workouts together. There would always be clean clothes. My kids would be polite and perfect. I thought if we set goals and were early risers, we’d start each day on the right foot and we’d become productive people.
Instead, I was drowning.
I couldn’t breathe. Life was overwhelming. I wasn’t creating good habits. My mental health was lacking and I was far from getting enough hours of sleep. My energy levels were waning. Morning time was anything but simple. There was no such thing as a productive day. Cereal was the go-to breakfast food, and I rarely sat down to eat.
I knew that I couldn’t keep up with what I was doing, but at the same time, I didn’t know how to put an end to the vicious cycle.
How do you stop the cycle of overwhelm and pivot to a positive outlook and better life?
I told myself that this was my life now. This is just what life looks like with four kids under eight.
Hindsight is 20/20. It didn’t have to be that way. We could have a simple morning routine that set the tone for the rest of the day. I didn’t have to be frazzled all the time and put our fires 24-7 until I collapsed in bed.
That is the lie I believed.
But how do you create a simple morning routine and makeover your mornings when you aren’t morning people?
It was going to take a HUGE shift in my way of thinking as a night owl who enjoyed those late nights. I was going to have to train myself to go to bed earlier and adopt those early hours as my own. This night owl was going to have to make over her mornings and get a healthy amount of sleep.
A plan was needed for the best way to start my morning. I needed a morning makeover. Our morning routine needed to begin with simple morning lists that were followed.
It took a couple of weeks but I realized that there were several things that I needed to get done every morning before the kids got up for a less chaotic day.
The best morning routine starts at the end of the day. These ten things before 10 PM have made a huge difference in how my week goes.
I won’t say every day is perfect, but there was a lot less crazy. Even with four kids and working from home. Healthy habits aren’t always easy to start but they show me that there are better ways to create the perfect morning routine. Here is my 8 am morning routine.
8 Things to Do Before 8 am | Things To Do In The Morning
Here is a simple morning routine of 8 things you can do before 8 am to start your morning off right. With this morning schedule routine, you can establish a successful early morning routine and get these 8 things to do before 8 am done in no time. You don’t even have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to get them done!
Important things first. This will be the key to starting daily routines for you and your family even if you aren’t a morning person. This is for all you night owls too.
What Should I Do Before 8 am? | Morning Routine Ideas
1. Start the Laundry
Every simple morning routine should start with laundry. A lot of people struggle with laundry. It’s a hated chore that gets pushed aside on a busy day. There are laundry chairs, laundry treadmills, and laundry that gets left in the washer for days.
It doesn’t end there, though. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to rewash loads of clothes multiple times right now though I’m washing a load of laundry but forgot to add the clothes. Oops!
Have a plan on when you will put it in the dryer.
For me, it’s washing a load after the kids are dressed for the day and putting it in the dryer when the littlest goes down for her nap or when she wakes up since the laundry room is on the second floor.
2. Drink WATER
On my list of first things first, in the morning, water is a must. A glass of water should be the first thing you drink in the morning, then you can drink your much-needed cup of coffee.
Don’t like plain water? That’s okay. Infused water tastes great and helps you get in your daily water needs.
3. Empty the Dishwasher
It’s like a clean slate. When the dishwasher is empty, as dishes get dirty you can bypass the sink and put them straight in the dishwasher. That leaves you with a clean sink.
I don’t know about you, but a clean sink helps my sanity in hard times. This is a huge one if a sink full of dishes makes your anxiety level go up.
Definitely add it to your list of 8 things to do before 8 am simple morning routine.
4. Read your Bible
In some seasons this can seem daunting. So impossible that we make excuse after excuse on why we can’t sit down long enough to read and meditate on God’s Word. Let us not give up.
Write down Scripture verses and post them throughout your house. Read one Proverb a day until it becomes a habit and you crave that time to delve into the Word. It’s not impossible.
5. Plan Your Meals
Do you like to meal plan? I don’t. That’s how I knew I needed to add this to my simple morning routine.
Know what you are having for dinner.
Make a simple list of meals your family loves to eat. Meal planning is so important in sticking to your budget and maintaining a lower stress level at home.
When you know what you’re having for dinner in the morning, you can prep the ingredients early in the day and won’t be standing in front of the pantry and fridge while your children are tugging on your pants and legs begging for food.
Don’t forget to have a healthy breakfast! But even if it’s just coffee, add this to your 8 things to do before 8 am.
6. Get Dressed
Did you know that getting dressed is an important part of a simple morning routine?
This sounds silly, I know. The difference between the flow of the day when I am dressed and ready to tackle the day when the kids wake up and the days when the opposite is true is amazing.
Is your closet overwhelming? There is a solution. First things first, streamline your wardrobe.
7. Brain Dump
Doing a brain dump will help in your morning makeover. Make two columns on a piece of paper, or purchase these brain dump sheets on Etsy. On one side write down what you are thankful for. On the other write down all the things weighing on you.
Your to-do list, everything that you know you need to get done, future events, things that you want to do, and every thought that comes to mind, write it down.
You don’t have to write it in any kind of order, just write down everything. It’s amazing how much brain capacity we take up just trying to remember everything. Once it’s written down, you can visualize what needs to happen and make your to-do list.
Maybe you want to add this to your 8 things to do before 8 am but want a different approach. That’s okay!
Amiyrah Martin has a great way to organize your to-do lists with her Long List Short List that will help you organize your week!
8. Simple Morning Lists
Make a simple morning list of things you need to get done. After you write it down, prioritize those items.
What has to happen?
What could be done tomorrow if life happens and disrupts your list?
Pick three things. If you get to more, awesome! If not, no worries. There is always tomorrow.
Notice What Is NOT On The List of 8 Things To Do Before 8 AM
Did you notice what wasn’t part of this simple morning routine?
Checking social media. Checking email. Catching up on the daily gossip. While tempting, those are total time wasters.
If you want to streamline your day and get more accomplished, skip those and start with the non-negotiables.
Don’t worry if you hit the snooze button too many times and wake up feeling behind. Commit to not wait until the next day. Start when you can and complete your important tasks. The perfect time to start is now.
Your Simple Morning Routine Makeover
Do you need a morning makeover? What is your morning routine to start the day out right?
Do you follow my list of 8 things to do before 8 am during your morning routine, or do you have a different plan each morning?
Do you try to do these 10 things before 10 PM to improve your productivity?
Consider making your simple morning lists the night before so you know exactly what you need to tackle when you wake up in the morning.
8 Things To Do Before 8 AM
Try simplifying your life by starting your day off on the right foot. These eight actions, while simple, make a huge difference in how we organize the rest of our day.
Start the Laundry
Every simple morning routine should start with laundry.
Drink Water
Water should be the first thing you drink in the morning, then you can drink your much-needed cup of coffee.
Empty the Dishwasher
When the dishwasher is empty, as dishes get dirty you can bypass the sink and put them straight in the dishwasher.
Plan Your Meals
Make a simple list of meals your family loves to eat. Meal planning is so important in sticking to your budget and maintaining a lower stress level at home.
Get Dressed
It’s amazing the difference in the flow of the day when I am dressed and ready to tackle the day when the kids wake up and the days when the opposite is true.
Brain Dump
Once it’s written down, you can visualize what needs to happen and make your to-do list.
Simple Morning Lists
Make a simple morning list of things you need to get done. After you write it down, prioritize those items.
Need more morning routine examples? Here is an early morning routine for students for summer example.
So what time do you wake up? ☺️ These are wonderful ideas and id love to know how long they generally take you to complete them.
I never thought about planning dinner in the morning- but wow- that is a great idea!
Great tips, I too always feel like I’m drowning but can’t seem to make headway with my daily schedule.
Thank you so much for the tips! That helps awful lot 🙂
I love your 8 Things list and have forwarded it to my 2 daughters who are young mums and love it too. Thank you Whitney. Good idea to Brain Dump and then give the list to Jesus and trust Him with the things that might be overwhelming us.
Haha!! So I’m reading this post at 10 till 8:00! Great reminders! Thanks! Hope ya’ll are doing well!!
These are great tips! I often feel like I’m drowning too, but it is nice to be reminded that all moms feel this way at times. I also love to start the day with an empty dishwasher. On the days that I do this I am so much more productive!
Love these tips!! I will have to start the ones that I don’t already do:) thanks for sharing!!
I love all of these, but how you do convince yourself that waking up and doing all of this is more important than sleep? That’s the problem I’ve been running into… I’m pretty productive during the day, though. Just wondering 🙂
Ha! Well, some days it’s not, and that’s okay. I have found if I go to sleep around 10, it’s much easier to wake up and start the day. It’s the midnight and 2 am nights that make me want to snuggle under the covers longer in the morning. Part of the motivation in getting these things done is also the flow of my day. If I’ve already planned dinner and have a clean Kitchen, I’m less likely to get aggravated when my kids are asking me at 3:30 what we’re having for dinner and standing under my feet.
Really helpful tips! I really think I can accomplish a lot of things if I start my morning right! And checking social media and emails even before my eyes are fully open ? Oh im so guilty! I seriously need to change the habit. Thanks for this!
So often, it is the common sense tips that are over looked. I love what you have written for the simpleness of it. That morning time really can set you up for the whole day (and I need to make more use of it). As a busy business owner and mum of 5 kids – i need this type of simplicity in my life. I’m going to write these tip on my bathroom mirror 🙂
Thanks xo
Amazing list. Iam a mom of 21/2 year old kid and my day is completely occupied. I always try to be organised and did managed it for my morning routine but for dinner time I will be running to keep it on time for my hubby and other family members. Planning dinner in the morning is a good idea . I want to try this and others I do it except writing to do list. I cannot leisurely sit and write it in the morning. So I do write it at night or evenings for the next day.
My MR (morning routine) is:
Drink Water
Buush teeth
Shower or wash up
Make bed
Dress for the day
Hair and make up
Pick up dirty clithes
DONE in bedroom!
“Dress” house- pickbup clutter and straiten
Coffee, Sit down in prayer chair.
Brushing Teeth and Making Bed were items I felt were missing as well. Copied to my calendar so that I can begin working on a better morning routine. I am NOT a morning person either, never was. However, with hormonal issues disrupting my former lovely nights of sleep, I allow myself some grace.
Still, I’ve come to the point that I realize a need for some helpful structure… as I sit here still in my nightgown. In all fairness, I was up at 4:30 and I spent the time drinking my water, reading my scripture for the day, and then making progress on a book I’m reading before re-retiring for some healthy restorative sleep.
This has been one of the most helpful Pins I’ve put on my board For I Know the Plans I Have For You. Thank you!
Although some nice things on this list, some are impossible to those of us who have no dishwasher and have hydro use issues during the day. After 7am, hydro is too expensive to do laundry. For us it has to be done in the evening, which sucks for “winding down” at the end of the day. Dishes and laundry are the bane of my existence and stressful. Everything else on your list would be great if I could get out of bed that early when I have to be up so late doing laundry ?
Those are great ideas for empty nesters, too. Only it would take me till noon to get them done! Of course if I’d get into the habit of living like I had kids at home, I’d be less chaotic and probably late to yoga, etc. less often. Devising a to do list would be one way to be more productive. I seem to struggle to get my Bible Study Fellowship assignments done and clutter is eating my lunch!! My plans for how to balance elder care, a desire to get my doula business back up and running, and learning how to be helpful with my husband’s health issues are always voices in my brain.
Some great tips here for making busy days a little less stressful.
Doing laundry at night is awful. I used to do that until my husband just told me to do it during the day and hang the extra cost. It was worth it for the sanity and chaos it saved. If I missed an evening or two, the laundry would just pile up and it became impossible to catch up. Then I’d have to do it on the weekends when we should be doing things together as a family. Heaven forbid we had plans to go out. It really is worth the extra cost to do it during the day.
Great post and I will start doing these things. But after the water, I will have my cup of coffee. That’s my quiet time. Sometimes I’ll play a game on my phone or cross stitch. I really like my quiet time first thing in the morning.
Well, since it’s 12:30 a.m. perhaps tomorrow will not be the best time to start! Hoowever, I am really inspired by your tips and am going to try to put this plan in action. No matter what time i drag my old retired butt out of bed, i’m going to drink a glass of watsr before my coffee and get to it! Thanks for teaching this ol’ dog a new trick.
What I like the most about this post is that you have four kids. I read many articles on how to be productive, and they don’t have kids! So I can’t relate. Thanks for sharing.
I’m curious….what time do u get up? I have 4 kids under 6 – 6,5,4,7 months. My 5 yo is up at 6am every day. The 4 & 6 yo are usually up by 7 as is the 7 mo old. I’d have to b up at 4am to do all this before they wake. Plus they would prob wake up earlier since I’d be making noise. I love the idea of this but not sure how to implement it w/o getting up at 0 dark thirty.
It depends on how our night went. Does this happen every morning? I wish! But in the season of littles, it’s HARD. Instead of 8 things, maybe choose 3. Start the dishwasher the night before and empty it in the morning. Start one load of laundry in the morning. Then make sure you know what’s for dinner that night. Those will do wonders for your sanity. Get your five year old involved or teach them to have a quiet time first thing in the morning with a quiet basket. They can quietly work on those activities while you’re doing those three tasks. If the others wake up, they can have their own quiet basket. It won’t happen overnight, but they will get the hang of it, or not like it and sleep longer. If you have more time, then add in some of the other things. I hope that helps!
I really like that you included reading your Bible! It is such a crucial thing I should do everyday, but it definitely is easy for life to get going and you suddenly haven’t spent anytime in the word. I also really loved the brain dump tip. I don’t do this currently, but I think I will. My brain tends to start thinking about 8 billion things at once, and then I get overwhelmed! This was a great read! Thank you!
Love, love, love this! All good tips for a great day!
Bible reading, really?! Why not Harry Potter?:D
If you’d rather read Harry Potter then go for it!
This is a wonderful post! I was a single mom of two kids and worked a full time factory job, and when my kids were little and growing up, every night we would lay out their clothes, shoes, books, permission slips, and anything they needed for the morning. I called it grab and go! Then I took them too their grandmothers house so they could catch the bus, and in the evening after they went to bed around nine o’clock, I would tidy up the house load dishwasher pick up any thing misplaced. I would then relax, fix a cup of tea do devotions, read, and maybe watch a little TV. I also got up 1 hour before them and got ready for work, and when I was finished getting ready and while they were getting ready I would make my bed throw a load of laundry in and or fold a load of laundry. The house always looked tidy and neat. The stress just melts away when you plan ahead.