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Being a morning person sounds great in theory until your alarm clock goes off at 6 am, and you barely peel yourself from the cozy confines of your bed.  However, there is something so satisfying about waking up before the sun has even made it up over the horizon. Like many, I find that I am most productive in the morning.  Don’t get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoy sleeping in on a cozy weekend morning.  However,  at my core, I am a morning person.  I thrive in the morning and enjoy having that time to myself.  I’ve learned that waking up early is worth the effort, and it has easily become my favorite part of the day. Being a morning person doesn’t always come naturally.  It is something that requires a level of intentionality and discipline.  Below are seven habits to implement into your routine to make the most of each day.   A morning person understands the importance of a nighttime routine. A good night’s rest leads to a more productive morning.  Because of this, it’s important to have a good nighttime routine in place.  Things to consider are taking a bath, journaling, a comforting drink, stretching, or whatever else helps you wind down at the end of the day.  Also, be mindful of your eating habits.  There is an old quote that says, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”  Nothing is more uncomfortable than being too full at night and having it interfere with your sleep!  It is best to have a light dinner at least two hours before bed to allow your body to properly digest your meal and have better overall rest. Finally, consider turning off your screens at least two hours before bed.  If possible, stick to reading.  However, if you choose to use a screen, opt for changing out your bulbs to red light or use blue light glasses to reduce sleep interference. Ben Franklin said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”  He was right on the money (literally!).  All jokes aside, to successfully wake up early in the morning, you need to go to bed at an appropriate time.  Good sleep is so important for many reasons, including increased productivity, restoring our bodies, and just better overall health.   Make sure to set a bedtime for yourself that aims for at least eight hours of good, restful sleep each night.   a morning person builds up to their desired wake-up time. Don’t expect to become a morning person overnight.  This will inevitably lead to frustration when you fail in the morning.  Instead, think of becoming a morning person as a marathon, not a sprint.  Take baby steps towards an earlier waking time, which leads to lasting results and greater overall success. First, start by deciding what you want your final rising time to be.  Say, for instance, you want to start waking up at 6 am each morning.  If you are currently waking up at 9 am, start by waking up at 8 am.  This means that your bedtime should be no later than midnight to allow for eight hours of sleep.  After a couple of nights, adjust your bedtime and wake up a little bit earlier.  Repeat this process until you reach your desired wake-up time.   Also, try your best to stick to the same sleep schedule on the weekends.  This allows your body to set its circadian rhythm based on your current sleep patterns and habits, eventually allowing you to wake up without an alarm clock.  Not using an alarm clock is ideal, as it is a much gentler way to start the day. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE PRODUCTIVITY CHECKLIST FOR MOMS! a morning person avoids the snooze button. If you do use an alarm clock, don’t allow it to sabotage your efforts.  Fight the temptation and resist the urge to push that snooze button!  This only leaves you groggier and more sluggish throughout the morning.  I know it’s hard, but force yourself to get up the first time your alarm goes off. A helpful tip is to put your phone or alarm clock on the other side of the room.  This requires you to physically get up and turn off your alarm.  Once you are up, use that momentum and continue with your morning.  Leave your room as soon as possible to avoid the temptation of getting back in bed. A morning person prioritizes their morning routine. You need to have a good “why,” or driving force, for waking up early each morning.  This starts by having a solid morning routine in place.  Choose two or three non-negotiable activities, and use these as a starting point for creating your morning routine.  Activities here can include morning skincare, taking a walk, morning prayer and devotionals, journaling, exercise, or even a fun drink you look forward to each morning.  It takes time to establish a new routine, but soon, it will become an important part of your day.  Having activities you enjoy ensures that you are successful, so make sure they are meaningful to you.  Use these pockets of bliss in the morning to do the things you love that will set the tone and pace for each day.   CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE PRODUCTIVITY CHECKLIST FOR MOMS! a morning person enjoys the benefits of early morning sun. There are so many benefits to getting sunshine in your eyes first thing in the morning.  It can lead to a more regular circadian rhythm, increased energy and focus, reduced stress, and an overall boost in mood.  Also, don’t forget to get outside on those cloudy or rainy days, too, because even if you can’t see the sun, you are still reaping its benefits!  If possible, aim for at least fifteen minutes outside each morning.  This can be in the form of a morning walk or even just sitting on your porch

Do you know one of those moms that just exudes joy?  The kind of mom that seems to have it mostly together?  I know that’s the kind of mom I aspire to be!  Although being a happy mom all the time is not a reality, there are certain things we can do to have better, more productive, and less stressful days, which lead to a happier disposition.  Below are 16 habits you can implement to be a happier mom.   happy moms wake up early. You have heard this over and over again, and for good reason!  Waking up early should be considered a gift of self-care, as it sets the tone and intention for your day.  It is a discipline that leads to increased productivity, better sleep, a better mental disposition, and numerous other benefits.  Also, there is something so therapeutic about that stillness and silence as the world is waking up. Use the early morning to pour into your cup and prepare for the coming day.  Prioritize a morning routine that boosts your mood and makes you happy. As moms, this time may not always be solo, and that’s okay.  Consistency is key, and your kids will learn to understand that this is mom’s time.  This is also a good time to teach them the importance of having a routine.  They can mirror your morning activities, such as morning hygiene and moving their body, and start building good, life-long habits.  If your children are still quite young, waking up early after an exhausting night with babies may be the furthest thing from your mind.  That’s understandable, and mornings might look different during this season.  However, take advantage of those early morning hours whenever possible.  Also, make sure to step outside and take full advantage of those early morning rays.  This will help regulate your circadian rhythm and again give you that “good mood” boost throughout the day.   Happy moms time block for maximum productivity. Having schedules in place provides a sense of predictability, improves productivity, and keeps everyone happy, including Mom!  Schedules are the cornerstone to managing life and keeping things running smoothly.  Essentially, schedules are how you organize the items on your to-do list throughout your day.   It’s important to keep schedules simple to avoid getting overwhelmed and being counterproductive.  First, find a planning method that works for you, whether paper, digital, or a combination of both.  I find it helpful to break tasks down into monthly, weekly, and daily. Next, utilize the power of time-blocking, or setting designated chunks of time for each task.  For example, you may have a time block for your morning routine, household tasks, work tasks, etc.   CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE PRODUCTIVITY CHECKLIST FOR MOMS! happy moms optimize their to-do list. Now that you’ve organized your routines and planned your schedules, it’s time to optimize your to-do list.  Make sure your to-do list works for you, not against you.  Overwhelming yourself by writing a long and complicated to-do list is an easy way to stress yourself out and get the cranky mom blues. The key to a good to-do list is to make sure that you do not have too many items on your plate.  What is the point of creating an impossible to-do list that is going to make you feel bad at the end of the day?  Keep it simple, and keep it manageable.   Happy moms know their “why”. What gets you out of bed every day?  As moms, almost certainly, we start thinking of our families.  It’s kind of a given!   While that is certainly part of our why, it shouldn’t be the only reason. Nobody wants to just coast in life without any meaning or purpose.  Each of us has a desire to succeed and reach our goals, whether we are stay-at-home moms or working moms.   A simple way to start achieving those goals and defining that purpose is to create a mission statement for your life.  Most of us have probably heard the phrase “mission statement” at some time or another.  Essentially, a mission statement is a brief explanation of your purpose, values, and goals.   Take the time to spell out your mission statement, and put it somewhere you will see it every day.  A mission statement provides motivation and keeps you on track to achieving your goals. Happy moms work smarter, not harder. As moms, we are constantly juggling many hats, so having systems in place for completing tasks helps keep anxiety and stress at bay.  A less stressed mom is a happier mom.   Another way to work smarter and not harder is to fight the urge to “multi-task.”  Trying to complete multiple tasks simultaneously can backfire tremendously, ultimately making tasks take longer.  Instead, complete your tasks one at a time.  This will make you more efficient and more productive in the long run.   happy moms set measurable goals. There is something so satisfying about setting your mind on something and achieving that goal.  Setting a goal gives life purpose and direction.  Having a goal can even help pull you out of a rut. The key to goal setting is to make sure that it is achievable and measurable.  I like to use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym.  The “S” in smart stands for specific.  Avoid overgeneralizing your goal, and be very specific about what you are trying to achieve.   Next, the “M” stands for measurable.  It is important to make sure that your goal is measurable.  You can do this by setting specific checkpoints for your goal.  This helps keep you on track and breaks down that bigger goal into smaller chunks.  Those smaller chunks make your goal more achievable, which is the “A” the S.M.A.R.T.  We all have those large, lofty goals, which are good.  We should all dream!  However, make sure your goals are achievable and have actionable steps. The “R” in the acronym stands for relevant.  Essentially, you want to make sure that whatever goal you