We’re always excited to get a glimpse at other ladies’ morning routines when we interview women we admire in our Mom Crush and Talk Shop articles, so we thought we’d share ours with you! We’re firm believers that how we spend our mornings affects the rest of our day — from our mood and productivity to our eating habits and overall wellness. So many inspiring women stick to a consistent morning routine and attribute their success to it. While our mornings seem to constantly evolve and shift based on the day ahead, we do have a few habits that help us start out on the right foot. We thought it would be interesting to share both Caroline’s routine as a mom and business owner, and Kathryn’s routine as a freelance consultant without kids. Read ahead for details and hopefully take away a few ideas for yourself!
Caroline’s Morning Routine
6:45 – 7:00am – Andrew is typically the first to rise at our house and he also serves as my alarm clock. He wants breakfast as soon as he opens his eyes so it’s off to the kitchen! We keep breakfast pretty easy (and egg-free due to Andrew’s allergies) so our go-to typically involves a few of the following: yogurt, a waffle and fruit, Honey Nut Cheerios and / or a nutritious smoothie. I just need coffee at this point. For the quickest options, I use our cold brew or Keurig depending on my mood and the weather. Andrew helps me take Rosie out and feed her breakfast, too.
7:30 – Knox usually strolls out of his bed about 30 minutes later to join us. I will already have his breakfast ready from being up with Andrew and then we are all off to the master bedroom for some morning cartoons in bed for the boys while I jump in the shower. (But, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a few more minutes in bed for some quality morning snuggles first!) It’s funny how my different partent friends all have varying views of when is the best time for screen time, but mornings have always been our designated ‘tv time’. It allows for them to wake up a little more gradually and lazily and gives me time for coffee and a shower. (Win, win!) Plus, we’ve all read how screen time is best to be avoided before bedtime since it stimulates your brain and makes it harder to fall asleep – another excuse to validate our morning cartoons. 😉
(FMK often has to set an actual alarm for breakfast meetings and/or his weekly men’s group, but some mornings he gets to hang around for morning snuggles and cartoons before he’s off to work! The boys school is on his way to work so some mornings he even handles the school drop off. These are our favorite mornings for obvious reasons.)
7:45 My morning beauty routine while the kids are entertained with a show varies with what I have scheduled that day. On days I am shooting new content for HoH or have a meeting, I typically wash my hair and apply make-up. On other days where it is just me and the team at WeWork, I take a quick shower to wake up, apply my morning skincare routine (coming soon!) and go sans makeup.
8:15 – At this time I will sneak into the kitchen (Andrew likes to think I am by his side at all times so I literally sneak and hope he doesn’t notice, ha!) to make the boys’ school lunches and do a quick sweep of the kitchen to clean up our breakfast mess. If I am really on top of my mom game, I will even start dinner in the slow cooker!
8:30 – Now that I am ready, it’s time to get the boys’ teeth brushed, hair brushed and dressed for their day, as well. Knox is in Pre-K so he is in school five days a week, but Andrew only goes two days a week so each day brings a different schedule. On days they are both in school, I get them dressed, make their lunches and then it’s off to school (they are both at the same school now and it is in our neighborhood so it’s super quick and easy, yay)! On days that Andrew doesn’t have school, our sweet nanny comes over to play with Andrew until Knox and I get home after 2pm pick up.
9:00 – Take the boy(s) to school then head to the office. I listen to a Podcast anytime I’m in the car. Just between kids pick up and a quick errand I can easily fit in one a day. I love that I am learning and finding inspiration on what otherwise would be considered ‘wasted time’ in the car.
9:15 – Arrive at WeWork to grab coffee #2 and get to work! I keep a stash of Kind bars at the office for mornings that we didn’t make a smoothie or I already need a morning snack. The rest of the team doesn’t get in the office until 9:30- 10:00 so this the only few moments of quiet time I have throughout the day to tackle anything urgent or personal before diving into the day’s task at hand. Once the team arrives, it’s a mad dash to knock out anything and everything before it’s time for me to leave to pick up the boys at 1:45!
Kathryn’s Morning Routine
I think one of the most challenging parts about being a freelance consultant is finding a schedule that is the most productive for you. I’ve realized that my most productive hours are earlier in the day, so I’ve made it a goal to wake up earlier (not always easy!). My alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. and then I snooze until 6:45 a.m., make myself roll out of bed, brush my teeth and wash my face — I’m currently using this exfoliating face wash by Ursa Major.
A couple of mornings a week I like to start the day with a 7:15 a.m. flow class at Black Swan Yoga. If I’m not going to yoga, I wander into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, either using the Keurig if I’m heading out for morning meetings, or I’ll make a full pot using our French press if I’m working from home that day. With a cup of coffee, I take 30 minutes (around 7 – 7:30 a.m.) to pray and journal in my Write the Word journal. This window of time helps me start the day with a positive intention and to remember all that I have to be grateful for — this mindset is especially helpful when the work day throws unexpected twists at me! I also try to take 10 minutes to meditate using the Headspace app.
After this quiet time (which I realize is not as easy to find when you have kids, and I try not to take it for granted!), I spend around 30 minutes getting dressed and then I make myself a nutritious smoothie. I don’t use exact measurements, but basically, I start with about a cup of unsweetened almond milk and mix in a scoop or two of collagen peptides (I’m new to collagen but it’s supposed to be amazing for you!). Then I add 1 frozen banana, a handful of frozen berries (usually blueberries), a spoonful of almond butter, 1 teaspoon of maca powder, 1 teaspoon of raw cacao, a sprinkling of cinnamon and turmeric, and a handful of baby spinach. I blend it all up in my NutriBullet and then I’m at my computer sipping this delicious morning treat by 8:30 a.m. After checking my inbox, I’m either heading out the door to join Caroline at WeWork or settling in to work from home.
While every day as a freelancer is different, setting aside time in the morning before jumping into work is so important for me to be the best version of myself. It reminds me to take deep breaths throughout the day, and it starts my day on a healthy note that I feel motivated to continue!
We would love to hear your favorite morning routine or habit! Please share with us in the comments below!
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