Tag Archives: morning

Jan16

Make School Mornings Easier With These Tips

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Make School Mornings Easier With These Tips

Are you struggling to get out of the door on time in the mornings? If you’re like most parents, you’re probably trying to juggle getting yourself ready for the day while also getting your kids ready for school. It can be a challenge, to say the least! But there are some things that you can do to make your mornings go more smoothly. Here are a few tips that may help:

Get Up Earlier Than Your Kids:

Getting up earlier than your children is an excellent way to set yourself up for success during the day. It allows you time to get ready for the day, plan meals and activities, and finish any last-minute errands. Waking up a few minutes before your kids also leaves you feeling more refreshed, allowing you to focus and be productive throughout the day. Not only are there obvious benefits for you, but setting this example for your children can influence their behavior as well – showing them that getting a good start each morning sets their day off on the right foot.

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Have a Set Morning Routine:

Starting your day with a set morning routine can do wonders for your productivity and focus. Ease into the day with something that engages your senses. Here are some activities to add to your morning routine:

Take a few minutes for meditation:

Meditation is a great way to ease into your morning routine, as it can help you relax and recenter before the day begins. Taking just a few minutes each morning to meditate can have lasting effects throughout the day. It can reduce stress, improve concentration and focus, and even increase creativity.

Make a cup of your favorite tea or coffee:

A cup of coffee can instantly invigorate you as the aroma of freshly-brewed beans wafts through the air. If you’re a coffee lover, consider investing in an electric kettle for pour-over coffee. The kettle gets the water heated to a precise temperature, allowing those precious coffee beans to awaken their delicious flavors. Those aromas, in turn, energize and help drive concentration, setting your mind up for whatever task may lay ahead.

Write in a journal:

Journaling is another great way to kick-start your day. Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and plans for the day can help you stay focused on what’s important. It can also be a helpful tool if you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed – just take five minutes to write down anything that comes to mind.

Listen to music:

Putting on some upbeat music can instantly lift your mood and get you in the right frame of mind for the day. Music is a great tool to help motivate you when it feels like no amount of coffee can do the trick. It’s also a great way to kick-start your creativity and add fuel to any task that requires focus.

Make Breakfast the Night Before:

Making your breakfast the night before can be an effective way to start your day on the right foot. Not only does this save you time in the morning, but it can also help you stick to a healthier diet. Eating a nutritious breakfast is essential for providing enough energy and preventing overeating during the rest of the day. Take a few minutes before bed to assemble an easy breakfast, such as overnight oats or yogurt parfait, so that your body gets what it needs to stay energized and focused throughout the morning.

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Set Out Clothes the Night Before:

Setting out your clothes the night before – shoes, socks, shirt, and trousers – can help you to move with speed and confidence when it comes to fashioning a look. To save yourself time and stress in the mornings, pre-select your clothing items ahead of time while you still have mental reserves and are better able to pick out the ideal apparel for whatever task beckons from the day ahead.

Pack Snacks and Drinks for the Car Ride:

Going on a long car trip? Don’t forget to pack snacks and drinks for the ride! Non-perishable snacks like crackers, energy bars, or nuts can easily fit in your bag without taking up too much space. Beverages are essential; water is always a must-have when traveling. Make sure to include an appropriate drink container, such as a reusable bottle or cup with a lid, to prevent spills during your journey.

Make Sure The Kids’ Homework Is Done:

It is important to stay on top of the kids’ homework and make sure it’s getting done on time. Without proper intervention, kids are unlikely to follow their own timelines for getting assignments completed. To help keep them on track, establish a routine by establishing a set amount of time each day for studying and work and stick to it! Put down distractions (such as video games or TV) while they are working, support them with resources they need, like books or tutors, and recognize if there’s an issue that needs extra help.

By following the tips we outlined above, you can make mornings less chaotic for everyone in the family. You’ll be able to get out of the house on time and start your day feeling calmer and more collected. Plus, by taking care of everything the night before, you won’t have to worry about forgotten homework or lost lunch boxes come morning. Give it a try – it’s worth it!

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Nov26

Morning Hustle

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Morning Hustle

Hello!! The past month has simultaneously felt like an eternity while also feeling like there isn’t enough time in the day to get anything done. Because I spent most of the afternoons making the drive and visiting a loved one at the Cleveland Clinic, I have turned into a very early bird. My mental alarm clock has shifted to waking up around five thirty every morning and, damnit, I am tired of getting the worm lol.

With no time in the afternoon or evening, every morning has turned into a scramble to jam pack as much as I can in before getting to work. It’s not all bad, though, because it gives me extra time to love on my bunny babies and that is a major bright side! My mornings used to be a leisurely time and I could often squeeze in a few episodes of my favorite animes before setting out for the day. Now, my mornings look like this after waking up:

As soon as my alarm goes off, the grind begins by practicing my languages on Duolingo. I am well over a two year streak and I will be a monkey’s uncle if I break it! Next and, most importantly, I rush down the stairs to take care of the bunnies. This can be a timely process because not only do I have to get them fresh food, water, hay, and leafy greens but I typically have to clean their litter boxes and the surrounding area. It is so nasty but necessary lol the things I do for those precious angels!!

Once Penelope and Mel are taken care of, it’s time to to take care of me. Every morning, I do one hundred and thirty push ups and as awful as that sounds, my day would not feel right without it. Then, it is time to shower, get my skin care on, get dressed and return downstairs to my computer. My days would definitely not be complete without creating daily content on lifewithlilred, doing blog jobs, and catching up on work emails. I also have to pencil in some time to get some Christmas shopping done too!

After the online portion of my morning is done, I tidy up the apartment, cook dinner if I have the time, and prepare my belongings for the day. Then, finally before leaving, I take Penelope and Mel out for a jaunt in the apartment for their rumpus time. It is SO cute to watch them explore and is also a primary factor in getting up way earlier than usual. Just like their mom, they need exercise too and I am more than happy to facilitate their recess. ❤

The Morning Hustle has never been realer and even though it’s exhausting, it sure is fulfilling. I am a creature of habit and schedules and now that this has been my life for the past month, something tells me I won’t be sleeping in too late any time soon!

When do you wake up in the morning? Are you an early bird or night owl? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May26

Top Tips To Start Your Day Off Right

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Top Tips To Start Your Day Off Right

Are you a morning person or do you find it impossible to feel energized and motivated until at least 10 AM? Getting the morning off to a good start sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you struggle to get up or you feel like you rarely start the day with energy and enthusiasm, here are some simple tips to help you make positive changes:

Establish a sleep routine:

Most people don’t want to jump out of bed as soon as their alarm goes off because they are tired, and staying under the covers is a much more appealing option. If you experience tiredness in the mornings, it’s a good idea to review your sleep routine. You might not be getting enough sleep or your body clock may be out of kilter. Try to establish a routine, which involves setting a time to go to sleep and get up in the morning. Stick to those times as much as possible to enable your body clock to adjust and ensure that you get the rest you need.

Stretch:

Stretching is a brilliant way to make your body feel more alive and get your mind ready for the day ahead. Take five or ten minutes to stretch your body, do a yoga session, or enjoy benefits from Surya Namaskar sun salutations. Stretching is beneficial for your joints and muscles, it increases flexibility and suppleness,  reduces stress, and makes you feel calmer and more focused. The beauty of daily stretching is that you can do it whenever and wherever you like. You can follow workouts or guided sessions or simply do your favorite stretches when you wake up, you have a break at work, or there are a few minutes to spare after dropping the kids off at school.

Eat a healthy, balanced breakfast:

Most of us are familiar with the old adage, ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’. Eating breakfast fires up your digestive system and it can help to raise energy levels and prevent you from experiencing hunger and a lack of energy and motivation later in the day. Try to opt for nutritious foods and meals such as wholemeal toast with poached eggs or avocado, oatmeal, whole grain cereals, omelets, and fruit and natural yogurt. Foods that release energy slowly will help you stay fuller for longer.

Get organized the night before:

Stress and anxiety can make it difficult to sleep. If you know you’ve got an important meeting the next day, you won’t have time to go out and buy lunch, or you need to look sharp, get organized the night before. Make a wrap, salad, or sandwich to take with you, decide what you’re going to wear, pack your bag, and take half an hour before you go to bed to de-stress and relax. Run a bath, read a book, watch TV, listen to music, or meditate. Avoid checking emails, scrolling through social media, or doing anything that will stress you out or stimulate your mind late at night.

Some people jump out of bed in the morning ready to attack the day, but for many, it’s a struggle to get motivated. If you find it hard to approach the day with energy and vigor, use these simple tips to get every day off to the best possible start!

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Mar2

One Of Those Mornings

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One Of Those Mornings

Hello! Last week was an insanely busy one for yours truly and when I woke up Friday morning, all I could think was TGIF. Little did I know, it was going to be one of those mornings. You all know the kind, when nothing seems to go right and you’re ready to crawl back into bed before it’s even noon. As I’ve mentioned before, I am a woman of routine and my usual mornings got way bent out of sorts. All I can say is: WOOF. lol

On Friday morning, I had a lot to do between writing and my online job before I made my way to work. I was making good progress and decided to take an anime break before I completed the rest of my assignments. I watched an episode of Black Clover and was halfway through the final episode of the Entertainment District Arc of Demon Slayer when the lights began to flicker.

For a brief moment the power went off but turned back on immediately and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I went back to watching my show and five minutes later, the power turned off again and this time it was for over an hour! I stuck around at home for another fifteen minutes or so to see if it would turn back on but had no luck so I decided to bring my laptop to my parents’ house before beginning my shift there.

What normally is an under five minute drive to chez parents ended up taking forty minutes because my car was frozen solid:

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Due to Ohio’s crap weather, we had freezing rain and snow Thursday night and it left my car completely encased in ice. Oh, the joys of apartment living and no garage! It took my car about a half hour to thaw out and it was about as boring as watching paint dry lol. When the defroster had finally done its job, I still needed to pop to the gas station so I had enough in my tank for the weekend only to find that it was still frozen shut. SMH!!

When I finally arrived at my parents’ place, I was able to watch the rest of Demon Slayer and finish all of my work with five minutes to spare before clocking in. It was a mad dash, I tell you! Thankfully, the rest of the day went without a hitch because I was totally wiped out – blame it on evil Aunt Flo, I guess.

By the time I got back to my apartment, I seriously didn’t move for the rest of the day and it was SO needed. My Johnny also managed to lift my spirits by teaching me how to play Rummy, which actually ended up being a lot of fun… Probably because I kicked his butt! He also suggested that we play Scrabble, which is my favorite game, and it resulted in a tie. No one was more surprised by this outcome than me because I usually wipe the floor with him. 🙂

One of those mornings turned into a good day at work and an even better evening. But the night was the best because I slept like a dog/rock/log/baby!

What is your favorite game? How do you spend your time after work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb13

My Writing Routine

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My Writing Routine

Hello! I am currently on a 1,150 day writing streak of daily blogging on lifewithlilred and I am so proud! I get asked a lot how I keep up with this and I guess it boils down to the fact that I am a very routine and schedule oriented person. I thrive when I can check things off of my To Do List, which keeps me sitting down at my laptop every morning to continue delivering the latest and greatest.

Everyone has a writing routine and mine looks like this:

Forming Content Ideas:

I am always on the lookout for ideas for my next blog post and am constantly keeping my eyes peeled for things that inspire me. Whether it’s snapping pics of the winter weather outside or a new pair of shoes, I am already pre-writing the post in my head for the most efficient content creation. To keep all of my ideas straight and also to not forget them, I text myself possible posts all of the time that I can refer to when I feel writer’s block sinking in.

Taking Pictures:

If pictures are needed for my post, I typically take them the night before and then email them to myself so that they are ready to go in the morning. I consider my writing process to be somewhat of an assembly line so the completed post can’t be ready to write without the proper prep work done beforehand. Anything that can make my morning blogging go smoother is well worth it because I still have to get myself to work on time!

My Mornings:

My mornings have followed a strict routine for as long as I can remember and it honestly stresses me out to stray from it. As soon as I wake up, I practice five different languages on Duolingo, I do a short work out, and then I shower. After all of this is complete, I turn on my diffuser by Organic Aromas and start my blogging process. Not only does this include my daily writing but I also have to complete other online jobs before I head to work.

Needless to say, my mornings have to run like a fine tuned machine to accomplish all of the above. This is why my prep work is so important as well as having a pretty strict sleep schedule. Johnny has to get up really early for work and I try to get up at least two and a half hours before I need to leave. We are usually asleep by eight thirty!!

No one ever said a blogger’s life was easy but it is so rewarding. I can’t even imagine a day without writing and it makes it even better to share it with all of you! ❤

What is your writing routine like? How often do you blog? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

Simple Tips To Improve Your Mornings

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Simple Tips To Improve Your Mornings

Hello! Every day seems like twenty-four more hours of the exact same thing: Wake up, work, relax, repeat. It can be hard to spring out of bed every day with a pep in your step when things are so monotonous but that doesn’t mean you can’t try. Starting your morning out strongly means that you have a better chance of keeping the momentum going all day, which can definitely help improve a blah mood! To get your day going on the right foot, keep the following in mind:

Don’t hit the snooze:

No one is more guilty of hitting the snooze button than me but I really am trying to work on this bad habit! Hitting the snooze button, even for just five minutes will already be pushing your morning back which makes the pre-work rush even more frantic. As soon as your alarm goes off, shrug off your blankets and get yourself moving. If you are feeling sleep deprived, it’s better to go to bed earlier than bank on those extra five to ten minutes every morning that leave you scrambling around the house so you can leave for work on time.

Have something to eat:

Some people are just not breakfast people and that’s okay – no one is saying you need an elaborate breakfast spread every morning. But, it’s important to try eating a little something before you start your day. We need the extra energy to help get us through until lunch time and your morning is really going to drag if all you can think about is how hungry you are. Have yogurts or breakfast bars handy at home so you can have a quick bite before work. You will have plenty of time to do so if you aren’t hitting the snooze!

Complete your normal morning routine:

I’m sure all of our morning routines have changed drastically since the start of the pandemic since there really is nowhere to be that requires us to get spruced up. I, myself, have tumbled into an unending cycle of leggings and hoodies. But, there is just something about completing your full morning routine, even with nowhere to be, that hits different. This might mean applying a bit of makeup, styling your hair, or shaving. Whatever it is, give it a shot. It will bring back a touch of normalcy to your day and it will be nice to feel totally work ready again.

Prepare things the night before:

Whether this be making your breakfast or lunch, prepping your paper work, or readying your outfit, it’s always better to do these things the night before. Leaving all of these random additional tasks for your work morning will only add time and stress as you start your day. Plus, if you do everything that you can to already be ready the night before, then you can hit the snooze button without it having such a negative impact! 😀

The tips above are all easy changes that you can start incorporating into your morning routine immediately so you can always wake up on the right side of the bed!

Are you a morning or night person? When do you normally get up in the morning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

One Of Those Mornings

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One Of Those Mornings

Hellooooooooo! Have you ever had one of those mornings where everything just seems to be so insanely UGH? It starts as soon as you wake up and it doesn’t end until you are caffeinated enough to get your shit together. When I’m tired, I normally suffer from a severe case of the dropsies and there is absolutely no telling where whatever is in my hand might end up. For example:

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Lol, yes that is my heat protecting spray. And, yes, it definitely landed in the toilet. Haha, thank gawd it was nearly empty, anyways! Not only did my hair care make a splash into the throne but so much makeup landed in the trash can and I honestly have no idea how that happened. I guess I’ll blame it on being tired and funnel some more coffee down my mouth? Yeah? Yeah.

All I can hope for all of you, my darlings, is that none of your morning routine essentials end up in the toilet. Because, if that doesn’t happen, then I would say you’re off to a pretty good start for your day! 😀

How does your body react when you are tired? How much sleep do you need to get yourself through another day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah