Today’s blog post was another reader request!
I feel like I’m going old school on us, but many of you have asked if I’d share how my mornings are so cozy/relaxing/delightful, so today, I have 25 Keys to a Peaceful Morning 🙂 .
(Disclaimer: I try to have a peaceful morning every single day…some days, I absolutely do…other days, I’m screaming at my four kids, three dogs and one husband…you can’t win them all…)
Last Saturday morning, I got up to open my office door leading into the house and when I turned around, I saw my space. This pretty much sums up my ideal morning. Coffee cup, Bible, slippers, pillows, throws and the door open to the outside. Not all of my mornings are this “on point”, but occasionally, I manage to get it right.
If you’re looking for a few pointers to bring coziness and calm to your mornings, here are my top suggestions for creating a peaceful morning routine.
Incorporate one, incorporate a dozen, either way, these are just simple ideas that I have been doing for years and years to *hopefully* help me (and therefore my family) have a peaceful start to our day.
These are in no particular order (and some have more elaboration while others need none):
#1: Wake up earlier than everyone else. I don’t care if it’s 10 minutes earlier (or my much preferred two hours), but wake up before everyone else. Your house is quiet. No one is up to need/want something from you. It gives me time to handle tasks more quickly and efficiently. It gives me time for myself. It helps me not to be rushed.
#2: Drink coffee (or tea) with a favorite creamer or mug. This is often all the motivation I need to get out of bed.
#3: Don’t look at your phone. I use my phone as my alarm and after I turn it off, I try really hard not to look at it until after my kids are at school. Nothing sucks my time and energy away from more important things early in the morning than my phone.
#4: Limit your news. This is one I started a few years ago, and it’s been so nice for my mental space. I used to wake up and immediately turn on the news. Now, I only listen to the local sports radio station in the mornings. I have their app on my phone and while I lift weights or run, I’ll turn them on. Here’s why: They’re really funny and make me laugh. They’re nonpartisan. They share the local, state, national and global news at least twice an hour. If there are more relevant events happening that morning, they’ll spend time on them, but for the most part, it’s a quick news bite for me about things that matter near my home or abroad. I can read or watch more news should I feel the need later on in the day, but for my morning, I hear the highlights of what I need to know right then.
#5: Set ‘do not disturb’ on your phone. Andrew makes fun of me because he says my phone barely works. I have my apps turned off and my phone on do not disturb the majority of the day to avoid mindless phone scrolling or distractions. My phone does not “come alive” until 9:00 AM.
#6: Go outside. Grab the paper, have coffee on the patio, walk the dog, just stand there. Go outside.
#7: Make your bed.
#8: Empty your dishwasher. Do it early. Start the day off right.
#9: Have breakfast items on hand. Keep whatever you need to feed yourself and your family on hand and ready to eat so that you’re not scrambling in the morning.
#10: Have clothes layed out the night before. My kids all know what they’re wearing the next day before they go to bed, and it’s out in their room. I also select what I’m going to wear the night before too.
#11: Drink water.
#12: Exercise. From yoga to running, taking a walk, lifting weights…I never regret working out in the morning. I often regret not working out in the morning.
#13: Read something. I keep a book next to my chair where I sit each morning. They’re typically those cute little Francophile books I love so much, and I read a page or two before I go workout. It’s just a nice way to read a little more each day.
#14: Do Sudoku or another mental puzzle each morning with breakfast.
#15: Turn on lamps. We hardly ever use overhead lighting, but in the morning especially, we turn on lamps to keep the house cozy and not harsh.
#16: Wear a robe and slippers.
#17: Take a shower and get dressed. I absolutely love showering in the morning to wake me up and “reset” me after sleeping and/or working out. I shower and get dressed (even if that’s just putting on fresh workout clothes because I’m staying home all day) almost every single day. I rarely regret getting ready every day, but often regret not showering and getting ready.
#18: Open your blinds/curtains/shutters to let the morning light in.
#19: Do not turn on the TV. We do not turn our TV on in the morning. This might be my #1 tip 😉 .
#20: Light a candle. I love it when my house smells nice in the morning. Sometimes, the scent of dinner still lingers the next day, so it’s nice to have a fresh/light/pleasant candle to start your day.
#21: Turn on your fireplace. If you have a gas fireplace that can easily switch on and off, switch it on in the mornings.
#22: Play relaxing music. Nothing loud, nothing with lyrics. Relaxing and softly playing.
#23: Go for a walk. Even if you already have exercised, there is nothing better than a little walk to start your day. I love walking my dogs each morning. I love hearing the birds, seeing my neighbors, watching the sun come up, feeling the weather. I love a walk.
#24: Do not make early morning appointments. The dentist, the hair stylist, the mechanic, that coffee date with a friend…keep those appointments later in the day.
#25: Spend Time in God’s Word.
A simple and easy post so many of you have requested this year.
I don’t have all the answers, but I do know what has worked for my family over the years and what has not. The mornings when I try to incorporate as many of these things as possible are always better than mornings when I do not.
If you need some simple little breakfast recipes to go with your peaceful mornings, I have these for you too:
PEANUT BUTTER HONEY OATMEAL BITES
PEPPER JELLY BREAKFAST SANDWICH
BLENDER BANANA MUFFINS
EASY EGG BITES
MAPLE SAUSAGE BALLS
Did you like this post? Would you like to see others that are similar? If so, please comment and share other “lists” I can make for you! Also, if you have a key to keeping your mornings peaceful, please share those too! I would love to read yours. xx
Susan Jeffries says
Great post! I love the morning. Its pretty quiet at our house with our daughter in college now. But my husband and I are both morning people – so are our labs(: We get up super early, read the word, brain tap, pray, drink herbal tea, and get ready to take care of patients all day. I would love some ideas for a peaceful evening!
Elspeth says
I always sue do not disturb or downtime in the mornings. My one tip is to try a breathing or meditation routine to start the day!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Colleen says
I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and you inspired me to finally start getting up earlier than everyone. After having four kids in 6 years, I thought I would crave the extra sleep now that they all sleep through the night (took years). But I started getting up at 5:40 every morning a year ago and I absolutely love that hour before anyone else gets up. Even my husband knows to leave me alone. And he can’t believe that I’m a “morning person “
now, which I still deny because I’m a morning person who doesn’t want to be spoken to ?. Now I’m debating waking up even earlier, and going to be better about reading in the am and avoiding phone and news. I can feel the freedom already. Thanks for the inspiration!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU, Colleen for being a regular around here. I appreciate it SO much!!
Heather Stanton says
Peaceful and,…cozy!
Kelly S says
more more more. love these posts.
Jennifer says
I do so many of the same things! I learned years ago my quiet time set the tone for my entire day. Thanks for sharing!
Sue Jones says
I love this post. Simple things but oh so important!!
Kate says
Love these tips!!
Dana P says
Aww…this sounds wonderful! These are among my favorite posts of yours. You’re so good at casting vision, even when it may not always work out perfectly. I’ve been getting up and going to the gym with my husband, but you’re making me want to get up a little earlier and incorporate some of these sweet ideas! I just love sleep as well and don’t do well without as much like you do. But definitely something to ponder! Maybe I can get up just a *little* earlier.
Alanna says
Love this post! Truer words have never been spoken. Hope you have a great day!!
Dana says
Love this! Thanks so much for sharing! Will be adding some of these to my morning routine as well! I have to agree, ever since you posted way back about not making appointments in the morning..I have done the same. What a game changer for me!! Thank you!
Michalina Peterson says
Oh, I love these ideas. Thank you for sharing. I am not a morning person, but I so desperately want to be. There is nothing worse than starting your day on the wrong foot and feeling like it has set you off to have a bad day. I am going to start incorporating some of these!
Lisa says
Please have you Mom do a post on her go to clothing items. As someone who is getting close to 60, it seems harder to find items that are age appropriate without looking to young or to old. You Mom always looks great. Maybe she could also give us her beauty and exercise secrets. You may need two posts for this!! Lol
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s a great idea!
Camryn says
I would also love a post from your mom on how she spends time with her grandkids! Both when K and S were little, all the way up to now with Sean’s kids! She seems so involved and an excellent grandmother! 🙂
Clare Butler says
This was so good, I’m going to start doing some of these! You just said yesterday that you love calm, and you’ve got great tips!
Marla says
Aaaahhh… retirement. After almost 40 yrs of teaching, I never get up early now! I get up when I want to, but I always get my coffee and drink it in bed. A little luxury I enjoy every morning! No news, no tv, just quiet time to reflect on days past, my grands, and what the future holds as you get older. ❤️
Lisa D says
I love this! I’m close to retirement as well. I have always woken up early to get a quiet start to the day and I do think I will continue this habit. I love to turn on the gas fireplace, make coffee, read a devotional and journal my thoughts of gratitude to start off my day. There are so many blessings! Now I not only pray for my children, I get to pray for my precious grandkids too! ?
Libby says
Yes to not listening to the news!! I listen to my local morning radio show. They give me any updates while I’m splash water on my face and put my hair in a pony tail for morning drop off. I read anything else after that if I need to. Journalism has really gone down hill as of late.
Patrice Stagliano says
Shay – Great post, great reminder!! I dream all night about waking up earlier than my family so savor my quiet time. 🙂
My 16 year old daughter also has Celiac and wanted to share a Trader Joe’s find – Gluten Free Chocolate Muffins. They are so yummy!
Carol says
So enjoyed this post. With the exception of 13 and 14, I have been doing the same things for 25 plus years and it has worked great for me. Another thing that I do every day before I get out of bed in the morning and each night is Thank God for another day and His Blessings.
Taylor says
I stopped watching the news every day when the pandemic started. It has helped my mental health so much. You are the queen of mornings!!
Mendy says
Where did you get the chair?
Mix and Match Mama says
Restoration Hardware
Kit says
Love this, so inspiring!! Do you specifically have any tips for how to have peaceful mornings with younger kids?! I have three kids under age 6 and my mornings are usually anything not categorized as “peaceful” LOL!! I typically have been choosing to sleep in more, because mama needs sleep, but dang I would love to have a little bit more peace and calm in our mornings and also not always running late!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I honestly think the key is getting up early. I think mama will miss her extra sleep for a day or two but LOVE the quiet time even more!
Dana says
What a great post, with super helpful reminders of how to start your day on the right foot!! I go into the office a couple days a week, and last night I laid out what I was going to wear, set out my containers of what all I put in my morning smoothie, and put on an Audible book while getting ready. It was great, and honestly, I felt so much less stress! I wasnt running around trying to figure out what to wear, iron a shirt, etc. Like you said, the more of these little tips you add to your morning, make it that much better!
I love these kind of posts! Thank you, Shay!
Dana 🙂
Carman says
Yes!! Love these little helpful life tips. They’s so sweet. Thanks for making the start of my day so nice today.
Traci says
Love these so much and I am right there with you. Early mornings, a workout, cute mug and coffee, cleaned and ready for the day and some worship music. Perfection. Happy Thursday!!
Loren says
One of my favorite posts. More please!!
Mary says
Love this post! I’ve been doing most of these for years while my kids were growing up. The one I just started was making my appointments in the afternoon. What a huge difference this has made! I’m a morning person and so much more productive if I don’t have to rush out for an appointment early in the day.
Nat says
Oh my! I so want to start making appts in the afternoon … I envy y’all but I have anxiety just thinking of it. I’m always at the dentist at 7:30 and the earliest possible at others .. I feel like I would anticipate it all day if I waited. How do y’all do it? Help me LOL!
Mix and Match Mama says
I used to always schedule them very first thing but then I realized that my day felt rushed the rest of the day. Now, I do it right before I get my kids from school so that I can officially transition from work mode to dentist to mom mode without the rush.
Ashley-Rae Vaughan says
Yes! Love this post and would very much like to see others that are similar. For me, #26 is reading your blog each morning 🙂 Such a great way for me to transition from “getting everyone ready for school” mode into “getting ready to work” mode when I refill my coffee and sit down at my desk.Thank you!
AliJ. says
I LOVE that you admit to yelling at your kids, husband and dog! I swear, some days I feel like the worst mother ever when I lose it on my 13 year old – one can only take so much back talk and then her wanting to always have the last word. My Mom always started her day way before any of us kids got up – if we got up, we knew to go right back to bed and just be quiet, go back to sleep or read.
Betsy says
love this! saving to try and incorporate some (or all!) of these things – and also can’t wait to try the breakfast recipes! printed them all!
Jade says
LOVED this post – definitely going to start implementing some of these <3 thank you!
Sara says
Love this post! So many good tips I’m going to start incorporating, thank you! Hardest part for me is the waking up before everyone else haha
Colleen says
I also LOVE any list of positivity/improvements/suggestions/tips….keep the “25 keys for ….” coming! Afternoon school ideas, ways to stay in the moment, kids morning routines, summer ideas, traveling. I am here for all the routine tips and lists 🙂
Tiffany says
I have the weirdest question ever regarding #21. Do y’all leave your pilot light lit all year for your fireplace? We switched to gas in the last couple of years and I had thought people turned off the pilot light in the spring and relit it in the fall. But that left me sad on cooler, rainy days in the summer when I wished I could turn on the fireplace, ha ha. I was just curious as to what other people do!
Mix and Match Mama says
We pretty much do. Sometimes, we’ll go a bit and not use one of them and Andrew will have to relight it, but yes, we try to!
Sandy Hunter says
Your mornings sound wonderful!
Maggie says
Where’s your gray and gold charter from? Looks so cozy!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Restoration Hardware!
Beth says
Good tips! I do several of these and would like to add a few more. I had to share – I chuckled at “make the bed”. My husband doesn’t get up as early as I do. My family already lovingly teases me because I’m always go, go, go. Can you image me making the bed with my husband still in it?! Too funny!
Carrie says
Not much to say other than I LOVED this!
Amy says
I LOVE posts like these! I am not totally a morning person, although I so desire to be. You have seriously inspired me in this area and routine/helpful tips posts like these keep that inspiration going! Already dreaming about tomorrow’s cozy morning coffee while I read and everyone sleeps-just praying I’ll actually stay up after the baby’s early morning feed rather than going back to sleep for just an hour. ? Thanks Shay!
Kelly Kirkland says
LOVED this! Thank you! I am always a fan of reviewing any of your lists! 🙂
Laura says
Love this post. I know you’ve shared most of this before, but I liked it all in one place! Going to bookmark & come back to reread.
I second the idea of posts from your mom!
Another idea for a post, Bestie Breakdown question, or grab bag question is- how do you learn what clothing is in style or what looks good on you?! Especially after 2 babies in 2 years, it’s tough to learn and know what’s flattering on me, especially since I’ve never been great at clothes and fashion!
WhittyWife (Lindsay) says
These are my absolute favorite kinds of posts! Especially when they detail normal, everyday life. ❤️
Elizabeth Mumford says
Absolutely loved (and needed this).
Jenn says
Great list! I go phases doing most of these then have a baby again and it all goes out window. Need to get back into claiming mornings now that I’m getting sleep! So key. ☺️Random: You recently put in new windows…which brand did you go with?
Sheaffer says
Reading this list seriously made me more calm. Time to incorporate some of your tips!
Anonymous says
I LOVE these posts!!!! I started copying your morning routine since 2020 when I was home a lot. I still do it to this day and will probably for the rest of my life! I have a baby now, so sometimes mornings are different, but I love all of these tips. Love you so much shay!!!!
Amy says
Have you shared where to find your gray office chair and ottoman? Would love it for mine!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have! It’s from Restoration Hardware 🙂 !
Kristal Strong says
Loved this post! ☺️
Jules says
I LOVE this! This was a reminder of all the things I used to do for myself, to set myself for a good day. That all went out the window and my mornings became all about making sure my kiddo was set up for a successful day, while being an only parent. This was my reassurance and call out that making time to put myself first will benefit the whole house, and give us a calmer lore successful day together. Thank you. I needed this. PS Your list is almost identical to my old routine so I will definitely be checking your list off as I get back into this routine.
Erin says
I’m curious what you do with your Apple Watch notifications when your phone is on do not disturb! Is it on DND too or do you keep certain notifications (text or anything) on to alert you to anything urgent?
Mix and Match Mama says
Your watch always mirrors your phone, so it automatically goes on Do Not Disturb too. I honestly don’t think urgent things come across very often at all, so I don’t worry about that when my phone is on DND. I can look down and check text messages later and quickly see if I have one that might be urgent, but honestly, I cannot think of the last time there was one that was super time sensitive.