Fall mornings are often busy and stressful as we readjust to the demands of the season. The morning routine we had in the summer when there was far more flexibility in the schedule may not fit our fall lifestyle. That’s why it’s so important to create an autumn morning routine that will set you up for success.
Fall Morning Chaos
Being a business owner with 5 kids makes my life a little hectic but fall has always been full on chaos. As a natural night owl, the early morning hours and activities just don’t match up with my natural rhythm. In the summer, since I work from home, I can enjoy quiet, slower paced mornings and work later in the evening but getting 5 kids out the door for school makes that absolutely impossible. I worked for years to create the perfect autumn morning routine and now I’m sharing my 9 best tips with you.
1. Set Yourself Up for Success
Because fall mornings are so busy, I always find it helpful to start my morning activities the night before. That means packing lunches or prepping breakfast while making dinner or after bedtime. And I also make sure clothes are laid out and winter gear is waiting by the door. Because I tend to struggle with executive function, especially in the mornings, I implemented a mailbox system in my home that makes it easy to keep track of all the school papers and communication. I never put off checking our family mailbox until the morning which means backpacks can even be packed the night before as well.
2. Give Yourself More Time to Rest
Even if you don’t set your alarm for a single second earlier you may find yourself struggling to get out of bed in the fall and winter months. The cooler weather and lack of light cause a natural increase in melatonin production which means we often need more sleep during this time of year. Be sure to give yourself more time to rest by heading to bed a little earlier. This will ensure that you feel your best.
3. Light Exposure
If you’re wondering what to do in the morning to help you feel more alert and awake, this is the tip for you! Light exposure is one of the best ways to fully wake up. In addition, it helps to stave off and reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Simply changing a bulb to a full spectrum bulb or getting a sun lamp and sitting under it with a cup of coffee is a complete game changer. In addition, I highly recommend opening your drapes or blinds to enjoy the natural morning light.
4. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Take the time to nourish your body well. Skip the sweets and refined carbs and opt for something more nutrient dense to keep your energy level up. I’m much more sensitive to energy crashes when I can’t get outside in the warm weather so fueling my body well is a big priority on fall mornings. Including breakfast in your fall morning routine can be as simple as overnight oats or egg muffins (I nix the cheese in these… ugh… allergies). There’s nothing wrong with grabbing something as you head out the door, just make sure it’s something that will keep you going.
5. Enjoy a Warm Beverage… ALONE
Waking up even 5 minutes earlier can give you the time to grab a cup of coffee (or your warm beverage of choice) and enjoy it alone. This makes all the difference in the world on busy fall mornings. Especially if you’re a night owl and have an early bird chatter box kid (or 2) like me.
6. Practice Affirmations
This simple practice takes less than a minute but changes your mood and mindset for the entire day. To get started simply write a mantra on your mirror or pick 3 – 5 morning affirmations. If you want to learn more about why you need an affirmation practice and how to create one, check this out.
7. Move Your Body
There’s no better way to get yourself moving than to actually move. Find a physical activity you enjoy and add it to your autumn morning routine. It doesn’t have to be a traditional work out or something that gets your heart rate up. Consider starting small with some morning stretches, 1 downward dog, or a single song dance party.
8. Schedule Something You Love
What can you do in the morning that you look forward to so much that it gets you out of your warm cozy bed? Whatever it is… add it to your morning routine this fall. Mornings aren’t all about being productive, they are also about starting the day well. There’s no better way to do that than to kick off the day with something you really enjoy.
9. Abbreviate Your Routine
I started working in earnest to create a solid morning routine many years back. I’ll never forget how much I struggled early on. I had so many morning activities I wanted to add in there and so many things I’d heard were “essential” that my routine took over 2 hours to complete. As soon as I came into the fall it was impossible to keep up with and I quickly became disheartened. For a while I gave up on having a morning routine all together. Then I realized that rather than going in all or nothing I could just shorten my routine to reflect what I needed in that season.
Don’t be afraid to shorten up your routine if it isn’t working for you during this busy time. Not being able to fit it all in doesn’t mean you’re failing, or you might as well give up. There is no right or wrong here. Morning routines are all about setting yourself up for success in the day ahead and starting off on the right foot. You get to decide what works best for you in your life, but you’ll never know until you try. Get started creating your own fall morning routine today.
