Morning Moments

This post is sponsored by VitaTops, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve been working towards slower mornings. And yes, working is the key word. I think we all know how easy it is to find ourselves caught up in a hectic morning. It rises our stress levels, plays with our emotions, overwhelms us with the “to-do list,” and more often than not, sets the pattern for the food we eat that day. Not only do I care about and value my health (and the health of my family) but we also find ourselves needing to be budget minded when it comes to food. When I’m on the run & in hectic mode, I eat out all the time. I my brain cannot fathom making my own cup of coffee when I could go through the drive-thru and save 5 minutes (or not because their is a line 😉 ) See, the thing is when we start our mornings on crazy mode, we set ourselves up for failure.

I am not a morning person. I am 100% a night owl so that makes slow mornings even harder sometimes. But it is important and I value it, so I make it work. You may be in the same boat as me – a night owl or you may have little babies who wake you with the sun. No matter what your morning looks like, you can create slower mornings too. Here are some tips:

Give yourself 2 hours before “work”

I know, this is crazy. If you have to leave for work at 8, that means waking up at 6. If your kids wake up at 7 (and it is go time) that means wake up at 5. Here is the fun thing, you can include your kids in these 2 hours if you want. The idea of a slow morning means that the chaos of the day doesn’t start right away. So if you love having breakfast with your kids then make that part of your routine! I wake up at 8 to work at 10 (seriously I know the gift of working from home sans kiddos) I know life won’t always be like this but it is important to make mornings a priority. That means NO work meetings start before 10 and I can’t stay up until 3 am planning on sleeping past 8 am in the morning. If I have to schedule something early, I need to wake up early to compenate for that time.

Have Breakfast Planned

I don’t love to cook so making breakfast in the morning is not relaxing for me – it’s a chore! haha. So I don’t make it. I intentionally stock my home with healthy, easy food options so that I can make my coffee & eat my breakfast all at part of my “no work zone.” VitaTops™ MuffinTops are a breakfast that I recently discovered at King Soopers that make you feel like your favorite coffee shop made you breakfast, but it was you 😉 They are delicious, quick treats that you (and your family) can feel good about eating. They are 100-150 calories, low-fat, high in fiber, and only made with clean and simple ingredients. I also have yogurt & fruit always on hand.

Be intentional about your mind

Both your computer and your phone beckon you every morning. The sooner you give in, the sooner you get caught up in all that needs to be done for the day. Instead of instantly reaching for your phone in the morning, reach for a book. I find that my day turns out so much better when I take the time to have a quiet time. I journal, read the Bible, and pray. These moments help me look at the rest of the day with a fresh perspective. Don’t instantly give into social media and email. It only highlights what you are missing, instead, focus on what is in front of you. The people, the sunrise, a journal. Being intentional about what you feed your mind in the morning sets the course for your day!

What are some ways you enjoy your morning? What are habits that you endorse and work at keeping with your morning routine? Have you tried VitaTops™ MuffinTops?