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Here are 5 QUIET early morning routines – once you’ve forced yourself to wake up at 5:30am

 

I can’t be the only one with the 5:30am New Year’s resolution.  Every single year. Okay, every month.

I finally pulled myself out of bed at the butt-crack of dawn ready to bang out the first half of my to-do list and quickly realized I have a hubby & 2 kids still snoozing – and I wanted to keep it that way.

Maybe you have roommates, maybe you have dogs, maybe your apartment building has paper-thin walls.  The only one you want to see the sunrise with is YOU. Quiet times call for quiet things to do.

So here’s a list of super-quiet early morning routine stuff you can jump into – without waking the whole damn house:

(I obviously don’t have to remind you to keep your cell phone in another room, pick out your morning outfit the night before, and drink a ginormous glass of lukewarm water the SECOND you wake up. You already know all that stuff.)

 

#1 Get Your Reading On.

It’s been said millions of times – Leaders Are Readers.  No wait it’s Readers are Leaders.  I think.  Whatever.

Oprah Winfrey says reading was her “personal path to freedom.”  Mark Zuckerberg committed to reading two books a month – and succeeded.  Bill Gates blesses us with his annual summer reading list.  Think you can’t keep up?  Let’s break it down:

 

The average non-fiction book is 50,000 words long.
The average adult reads 300 words per minute.
50,000 words ÷ 300 wpm = 166 minutes, or 2.8 hours

 

That means, in order to read 50,000 words, or the average entire non-fiction book, in one month, you just need 6 minutes a DAY.  That’s it.  Since your crazy motivated self now has 2-3 extra hours EVERY morning, now’s the time to fit it in.

Are you a writer? Read some newly published books in your genre, keep it fresh. Just finished grad school with a bit lot of student loan debt?  Pick up a tried-&-true personal finance or budgeting book (Dave Ramsey is a great start).  A personal trainer? Well you probably already get up at 4:30am to fit in your first client – go you, #morningboss – pick up a book on building your client base.

If you incorporate only one of these tips into your early morning routine, make it this one.

Reading = Knowledge = POWER.  You have NO REASON not to pick up a book for ten minutes.  It is NOT going to take forever.  You WILL benefit from it.  You WILL acquire new perspective & new skills.  Don’t not do this one.

 

#2. The Elusive DIY Mani.

I know what you’re going to say, “But Mina, a trip to the salon is WAY easier and not THAT expensive,” but add in that monthly pedi & those tips and at year’s end, you’ve found you spent the equivalent of your holiday gift budget on neon paint that starts peeling & chipping 4 hours after you leave the salon.

I know what else you’re going to say, “But Mina, it never looks as good as when my girl/guy at Blah Blah Blah Salon does it!”  Oh, really?  When was the last time you were SUPER happy with your manicure?

Not to mention germs galore, chemicals, possible cancer exposure – super fun times.

C’mon. Just do it yourself.

Wanna throw in that Pedi?  Me too!  I use the Amope foot file.  Keep it close to the shower (out of kid reach) for when you get around to washing yourself.  Use it in the shower BEFORE you turn on the water, it works WAY better when feet are dry. Takes literally 2 minutes.  Then let the water flow and your suds-up will rinse out the tub for you.

Keep a cuticle pusher in the bathroom while you’re at it, when you’re done in the shower get to work on your hands & get your feet up on that tub rim (or toilet seat cover-not judging) & gently push ‘em back – takes 15 seconds – time your nail tech next time if you don’t believe me.

Now your mornings are free for just the trimming & painting part.  Google a tutorial to keep it simple (as morning routines should be) & remember, practice makes perfect.

#3 Super fun time with the partner – or yourself!

Yep, I went there.

The self-love trend is on FIRE right now and there are obvious benefits to being mindful of our bodies.  This includes our reproductive systems, people.

The benefits of orgasm are not just the obvious.  Regularly getting it on – with yourself or a partner – boosts the feel-good hormone oxytocin, kicks up your immune system, helps regulate your menstrual cycle, and can increase your chances of living longer (!).

Still gotta keep it quiet tho – some good ideas are to move super s-l-o-w-l-y, and move the party to a chair, floor or wall to bypass a squeaky bed.  You’re welcome.

 

#4 Yawny Morning Yoga.

You knew this one was coming.

If you’re like me, you don’t actually want to exercise.  You would-should-could exercise if only you had the time.  Well now you do!

I’m a huge fan of forcing myself to do the things I hate the most FIRST.  It’s a relief to have the most annoying part of my day totally behind me.

Plus, if you’ve followed tip #3 you’re already warmed up!

There are plenty of YouTube videos to follow along with.  I personally use Fitness Blender yoga & ab workouts, they are FREE and have low-medium impact options (less grunting & jumping – and knee pain) that are over in less than 20 minutes.

If jump ropes & burpees are more your speed, & your floors don’t creak, go for it!

Related: 6 Workouts You Can Do at Home + Tips for Overcoming Excuses

#5 Dinner Prep.

This is by far the most beneficial part of my morning routine.

“Gotta make dinner” was practically a curse word in my house for quite a long time.  Kids especially need attention, on their terms, after literally 7 hours of being told what to do, say & learn at school – but that’s hard to give 100% if the flame’s on & the onions need chopping.

Getting dinner prep out of the way gives me a huge block in the evening of uninterrupted, intentional family time, and a lot less mess to clean up:

• Make a huge pot of brown rice/quinoa/bulgar/whatever – I promise it tastes just as good out of the microwave, nobody’s gonna notice.
• Peel & cube the potatoes & put them in a pot or bowl of cold salted water.
• Clean, dry & cut the veggies, onions & garlic.
• Whisk up the marinade.
• Open that package of meat/tofu – slice or cube & marinate.
• Bake up some meatballs, let cool & freeze in serving-size, freezer-safe bags with sauce.

Stick everything in the fridge & when dinnertime rolls around you’ve turned what would have been a 20-minute prep (not including the “I-want-apple-juice-where-are-my-glasses-I-spilled-the-apple-juice” distractions, if applicable) into a 5 minute, throw-it-in, delicious dinner. Weeknights are for easy dinners anyway, save the bells & whistles (and the chicken au vinaigre) for the weekends.

Related: How I Meal Prep Lunch, Snacks & Dinner Working From Home + 3 Days of Recipes!

 

What’s your living situation?  What routines can YOU get away with (or not) in those early morning hours?  What are you struggling to get done in the mornings?  Let me know in the comments!

One last note, try your hardest to do any (or all) of these in the SUNLIGHT (except obvs #3, neighbors probably wouldn’t appreciate that).  Throw open those curtains (quietly!) – it’s the easiest & cheapest way to snap your body out of melatonin-induced sleepiness & get to work!

 

Thanks for reading,

-Mina

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Here are some more posts that might be helpful:

–The Best SAHM Morning Routine for a Happier Day!

–How I Meal Prep Lunch, Snacks & Dinner Working From Home + 3 Days of Recipes!

–6 Workouts You Can Do At Home + Tips for Overcoming Excuses

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