My morning has to include a few small habits that help me stay sane as a stay-at-home mom and homeschool mom. I’ve learned what helps me feel grounded and ready to take on the day—especially because our home is also our school, our workspace, and our “everything.”
I’m very routine-oriented. I love having a rhythm I can depend on—something I don’t have to overthink, just do. And when I want to add a new habit, I try to make it as easy as possible by habit stacking (a term from Atomic Habits by James Clear). I was doing this without realizing it for years, but now I do it more intentionally: I attach a new habit to something I already do every day.
Here’s what a typical morning looks like in our house.
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Drink water (before anything else)
No, I’m not chugging a massive jug of water the second I open my eyes. But I do make sure water is the first thing I drink. It’s such a simple habit, but it helps me wake up and immediately do one small thing that supports my body.
Make my bed
I never used to care much about having a made bed. I’d do it once in a while, but it wasn’t a regular habit. Then I read that making your bed can create momentum—because you’ve already accomplished one small thing early in the day.
And honestly? It’s true. Even if the rest of the day feels chaotic, I still did one simple, productive thing… and it makes my room feel calmer.
Make a latte
Sometimes I swear I think about my coffee the night before. I make a latte as soon as I get downstairs, and it genuinely feels like a little ritual that makes mornings feel cozy instead of rushed.
My Breville espresso machine has been one of my favorite purchases. A double shot of espresso, a drizzle of maple syrup, and frothed oat milk is my go-to.
Here’s the link to my espresso machine: Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
10-minute morning yoga
I used to think working out in the morning meant you couldn’t have coffee first… and then I realized I’m an adult and I can do whatever I want.
Now I make my latte, roll out my mat, turn on my battery candles, and put on a quick 10-minute yoga video. It’s become one of the best ways to start my day—stretching my body, calming my mind, and doing something for me before I start serving everyone else.
I also try to do it right away, because if too much time passes, it becomes way less likely to happen. Even a simple 10 minutes makes a difference.
Here’s the link to the yoga series I’ve been using: Yoga with Kassandra
Here’s the yoga tools I use:
Quick Journaling
Years ago I told my husband I thought journaling would be good for me… but I didn’t want anything long or intimidating. I’ve been using the 5 Minute Journal consistently since around 2022.
It’s simple:
- Morning: 3 things I’m grateful for, 3 things that would make today great, and affirmations
- Evening: 3 highlights of the day and something I learned
Recently I’ve also been trying the 6 Minute Journal, which includes the same general structure but adds deeper questions weekly and a monthly check-in to reflect on different areas of life.
Here’s the links to the journals I use: The Five Minute Journal and The 6 Minute Diary
Make breakfast (slow homeschool mornings)
One of the things I love about homeschooling is that our mornings are usually pretty slow. We’re productive, but we’re not rushed out the door. Because of that, I usually make a real breakfast.
There’s not much cereal for breakfast over here (even though that’s what I ate every day growing up). Our breakfasts can range from quiche and homemade cinnamon rolls to oatmeal, eggs, or grits—whatever fits the day.
Take my vitamins and supplements
I take a lot of vitamins and supplements daily, mostly because I deal with chronic pain and inflammation. Consistency matters for me.
My pill organizer has morning/afternoon/evening compartments, which helps because I hate taking too many pills at once. I split them up, and anything that needs to be taken with food or at night has its own spot.
Here’s the link to my pill organizer: 3-Times a Day 7-Day Pill Organizer
Here’s the supplements I typically take in the morning:
Kids’ 5-minute journal
This is a habit we started with the kids a few years ago, and I’m so glad we did. It’s similar to the adult journal, just simpler—one thing they’re grateful for, a daily intention, affirmations, and kid-friendly quotes.
It’s a sweet way to practice gratitude, set the tone for the day, and have small intentional conversations together.
Here’s my kids’ journal link: The Five Minute Journal for Kids
Get the kids started with independent work
At their ages, independent work is still pretty limited, but there are a few things they can do on their own—handwriting, independent math workbooks, and typing for my two oldest.
If they don’t have something set up yet, they’ll usually read, draw, or play with LEGO while I get myself ready. We try to keep weekdays mostly screen-free, especially during our homeschool block.
Get ready for the day (even if I’m staying home)
This is one of the biggest things that helps me feel like myself. When I first became a stay-at-home mom, I noticed that getting ready early—even if I was staying home—helped me feel more productive and less “blah.”
So I make it a point to get out of pajamas in the morning. Nothing crazy: get dressed, brush my teeth, brush my hair and throw it up, and do my skincare. I’m not a makeup-everyday girl, and I’m definitely not styling my hair daily. It’s just a quick 10-minute reset so I feel ready for the day.
Morning skincare routine
This is the step I basically never skip. Taking care of my skin has become an automated habit, and I’ve seen such good results from staying consistent.
Here’s my morning skincare lineup:
Start a load of laundry
This is another morning habit that keeps my life from spiraling. Our laundry is in the basement and our bedrooms are upstairs. Our old house had a laundry chute and I miss it so much.
Now, while I’m upstairs getting ready, I grab laundry, take it down, sort it, and start a load. I’ve found that doing this most days prevents the overflowing baskets and “why are there 12 loads to do?” problem.
Continue with the rest of our homeschool day
After all that, we move into the rest of our homeschool morning until lunchtime. Sometimes we have to do school in the afternoon too—mostly because I’m teaching three different math levels and three different reading/spelling levels right now.
Our other subjects are more family-style, which makes things feel simpler. And yes… some days that means I have a second latte. 🙂
This routine isn’t about perfection, and it’s definitely not the same every single day. But having a dependable rhythm helps me feel grounded—and when I feel grounded, our whole homeschool day tends to go better.
Even if you only take one or two ideas from this list (water + get dressed, or yoga + journaling), small habits really can change the tone of the day.
💬 Comment What’s one habit that makes your mornings feel calmer—and what’s the one part of your morning that always feels the most chaotic?
