LMAL: moving forward!

So, yesterday I decided that if I wait till I have "mornings" down to a science to move forward in my experiment, I'm gonna be waiting a long long time. At this point, I know what needs to change for the long term, and I can continue working towards that, even as I open up the next chapter in this journey. And, as if for confirmation of this realization, yesterday was about the smoothest morning I've had in this chapter! Go figure. 

I got up on time, came down, dodged a couple breakfast related wrenches, had my Devo time, got dressed, started my workout (only 10 minutes late, due to anxiety flaring up), finished my workout (only twenty minutes late, due to toddler interruptions and needing more breaks than usual cuz it was a really tough workout, y'all!), fed Lexi, nursed the Bub, washed my face and put on makeup, fed the Bub breakfast, got us all ready for a walk, and was home from that walk well before noon. 

Now, there are many improvements to be made, like having everything for the walk prepped ahead, streamlining my grooming time, maybe giving Bub his breakfast while on the walk(?), a better focus to make more of the time between 9-1030 (because we will need that during the school year), but overall, it went pretty well. 

Most of what I need to make my mornings run smoothly happens in the night before, and I'm doing *better* about being disciplined in making those things happen, but there's still work to do. Also, a few weekly items to make into routine. When I do get my evening routine dialed in more, I'm hoping to start getting up earlier, which will allow everything to shift back a bit. I can't rush that, though, because sleep is my best single weapon in  this battle against anxiety. Well, that, and my kids' smiles and hugs. 

Hopefully, with this foundation set, I can continue adding elements to our days that make us all better able to love our lives more. This school year fast approaches (7 more weeks!) and I'd like to have some rhythm by Sept 5. After this chapter of my experiment, I definitely feel better equipped to keep marching toward better mornings, which fuel and lead to better days. 

The next chapter, which I'll write on tomorrow,  is about intentionality in relationships and being with people, and as much as I love to love people, with where I am in my journey with PPDA, I'm about to panic just thinking about it. 

Pray for me, y'all...

LMAL: still working on mornings

So, I thought that when Declan moved to his own room mornings would get easier for me. They haven't yet, and I've become less disciplined. I really need to recommit to staying off Facebook till after I work out, for all the reasons. I also need to have a solid backup plan for if the kids wake up during "my time". For now, Declan can eat breakfast and then play in the pack n play while I do my thing. That's fine. But if Lexi gets up that's trickier, and we are beginning the "you have to stay in your room till I come get you" battle lately. 

Right now it's 8:03 and I'm nursing Declan. I got a really good night of sleep, and if I'd have stayed off fb and done all my prep for today last night, maybe I'd have started my workout on time and  I'd have just left him in his crib while I finished up in the next few minutes. But...I didn't. I feel like by the time the kids go to bed at night I am just ready to check out and relax. I could/should attack the giant pile of laundry, do my prep for tomorrow, etc, but I don't and it sets me up for disappointment in myself the next day. I need to break this cycle because the failure is not good for my productivity or my mental health. I need to set myself up for success and I'm going to start today. 

Here are the things I *will* make happen today (not necessarily in this order): 

-plan food/to-do's for today and tomorrow

-Jillian workout

-yoga

-wash last load laundry

-play in pool with kids

-fold all laundry that's downstairs

-vitamins and coffee setup. 

 

Tomorrow I'll attempt to finish the laundry pile. And more pool time. 

LMAL Chapter Two: Mornings

I read and started planning changes from this chapter last Friday (it's Tuesday now). So far I have a really good plan/list of ideas that I have yet to be able to really implement. The weekend was all about Lexi's recital and recovering from it, and that's fine, great, fantastic even, just nothing approaching normal. Then Sunday night we put D in his crib at night for the first time, and while he did great-6 hours without waking up!- it was not a restful night of sleep for me, and yesterday morning, while fairly productive, was a mess. Today has promise, though it hasn't begun according to plan exactly, it still has time to merge back to the plan. I'll get in my routine, and this chapter of my experiment is all about creating that routine that starts my day right so I'm equipped to continue that good start with the kids! 

I had an amazing morning routine with Lexi for about a year before I got pregnant with Declan. I got up at 6, had breakfast, devotions, worked out, showered sometimes, got dressed, then got Lexi up and we went for a walk while she ate breakfast. Having another little life in the mix has added complication to creating routine for sure-especially since for far too long my life revolved around his nursing schedule. But now we are in a new home, he's moving to his own bed, learning to use a cup, and I think we are ready for some normalcy! 

Changes I'm going to make to smooth out and fire up my mornings:

-Streamline "mama time" before kids are up.  I want to make this time both more peaceful and more productive. 

 How? By asking myself some questions: 

-what means the most to get done in this time?

   -devotions/prayer 

   -workout (goal: start within an hour of waking)

    -breakfast/make bed/get pretty

-what is in the way?

  -I have trouble actually getting my body started with working out. I drag my feet and then get upset I'm running late. 

-what could help?

  -better prep the night before: coffee, remote(we tend to lose it), workout clothes, water bottle, breakfast, which weights I'll need.

  -giving myself a physical wake up. Warming up with a short yoga session on non push up days and my first set of push ups on Monday/Thursday so my body is ready to move. 

Example of how I'd like my pre-kids time to go: 

-downstairs/drink something

-push ups or sun sal

-bible time/get coffee

-push ups/<20 m yoga

-prayer/coffee

-push ups, start workout

-eat, recover, go get pretty and make bed

Things I need to prep the night before: 

-coffee

-my breakfast (weekly?)

-remote! 

-school 

-tomorrow's to-do list (star the top 3 items)

-workout clothes

Like I said, these are all the things I'm working toward, but haven't quite made happen yet. I'm really excited to see how they impact our day though!