I’ve discovered strength in creating a healthy start to my morning. It puts my mind in a position to serve my family better because I’ve already begun my day with a sense of routine and rhythm. This is why it’s so important to prioritize your morning hygiene routine. Whether you’re in the throes of the newborn phase or trying to hustle grumpy teens out the door, you must take care of your body. Brush your teeth, brush your hair, wash your face, and put on comfortable clothes that make you feel confident and presentable. In the morning, create enough space to sit quietly for a few moments, eat breakfast, and pray. In a world where “self-care” is a hot-topic debate, its definition swinging from selfishness to necessity, I’d ask that you reframe your thoughts on self-care. It’s less about the culture’s opinion and more about the decision to honor the temple God gave you. How can you best serve your spouse and children if you haven’t equipped your mind, body, and soul with the things you need to enter the day with energy, grace, and patience? 2. Meal Plan – Reduce Stress Before It StartsMeal prepping can be intense and require that you have all your groceries stock-piled for an entire week, and, let’s be honest, most of us mamas don’t have a whole afternoon to devote to preparing a week’s worth of meals. However, meal planning has been a game-changer for our family. I found a dry-erase meal-planning whiteboard at our local Dollar General for eight dollars and use it to plan the week’s dinners. My husband travels for work, so there are certain days I know I won’t need to prepare something big. The same might happen for your family if one spouse travels or the kids eat at church before Wednesday’s worship. I note the days my husband won’t be home and allow those to be when my son and I either do leftovers or a simple meal. (A favorite in our house on nights like these is a charcuterie board of sliced meat, cheese, and crackers!) Then, for the days everyone is home, I plan out larger meals, typically listing a meat and at least two sides I plan to prepare. Preparing in this style allows me to scour the pantry and ensure I don’t already have some of the necessary ingredients. From here, I can make an affordable grocery list for what we need to create dinner. Best of all? No one is panicked at four in the afternoon when the meat wasn’t set out to thaw. And, my favorite, no one is grumbling, “What’s for dinner?!”Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/MoMo Productions
Feeling Overwhelmed This Fall? 7 Gentle Habits Moms Can Start Today
