The Evolution of a Mama’s Morning Routine
We all know that how you start your day is very important. This is why morning routines that include prayer, meditation, and affirmations are so powerful. When you start your day with God and positivity, you set yourself up to have a day filled with more of that. While we know all of this to be true, we also know that making time for yourself in your morning routine post-baby seems nearly impossible sometimes.
I’ve been meditating in the mornings on and off for 3 years now, but I had no idea how difficult it would be to continue this practice after having my son. No one prepares us for what the early postpartum days are like. Yes, they tell you to sleep when baby sleeps, but they don’t say you’ll only get 1-2 hours of sleep at a time! Yes, they encourage you to breastfeed, but they don’t say you’ll be glued to your bed with a baby on your boob ALL DAY! Yes, they tell you not to worry about dishes or laundry, but they don’t say forget about showering too! We’ve all been there. We understand that time does not exist for a new mama. Everything is about the baby for the first couple of months, yet in my experience, those months were when I need prayer, meditation, and positive affirmations the most. Is it possible to fit it all in?
We might not have a “morning routine”, but we can absolutely incorporate those practices into our day even as a new mama. Here’s how:
- Boob Meditations: These are 5 minute meditations that can be done while breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Use these moments to focus on your breath. Watch each inhale and exhale. Maybe do a breathwork exercise (Three Part Breath would be great here! Inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds. Repeat.). Not only will it give you a moment of calmness and clarity, but it will keep you more present in those intimate moments with your baby. Every time Kai came to the boob during the day, I would try to meditate.
- Recorded Affirmations: Play a recording of yourself reciting positive affirmations that feel empowering to you and play them for yourself whenever you need them. I wish I had thought of this when I was in the early months of postpartum. This could help you feel confident in your new role as mama.
- Prayer- I don’t believe that prayer has to be formal. I talk to God like he’s my best friend (because He is). So this is a really easy one to fit into your day. When you’re using the bathroom, talk to God. When you’re walking around the house baby wearing, talk to God. When you’re cooking dinner, talk to God. You can do this one anytime! I used to only know how to pray through writing but being a mama has challenged me to learn how to pray out loud. I want my son to hear what conversations with the Most High can sound like, and he’s heard them since conception.
Once I returned to work, I was able to implement a more established morning routine. I found it challenging to wake up in enough time to do all of my practices though. My morning routine around 3-6 months postpartum looked like this:
- 6 am wake up/get dressed
- 6:15-6:45 am pump for the day
- 6:45-7 am make breakfast
- 7 am leave for work
- 7:45am arrive at work and journal (prayer & gratitude)
Looking back, I could’ve incorporated the recorded affirmations and boob meditations, but at the time I had a very limited view of my reality. I was pissed that I had to return to work so early and I hated my job. All I could focus on was what I didn’t like about my life, how things weren’t working out, and how I didn’t have enough time. I wasn’t allowing myself to see all the ways I could find peace and joy in my current circumstances. My experience might’ve been different had I found ways to incorporate my practices into my day.
My morning routine at 6-15 months postpartum looked very similar to what I just shared, but I was working from home due to the pandemic so I slept in a little later and didn’t have to commute. I hadn’t incorporated meditation or affirmations back into my daily practice yet, but I was practicing yoga again which served as my moving meditation.
In January of 2021, I decided I would take back control and start creating the life I wanted to live so I got more disciplined in my morning routines and started waking up earlier to ensure I fit it all in. I was 16 months postpartum at the time, so I had a better handle on being a mama and Kairo was on a schedule so it was easier to figure out how to carve out time for things I needed.
For the past 6 months I’ve been waking up around 5 am to meditate, pray, journal, do my affirmations, read/watch something encouraging, and occasionally make time for visualizations. I have noticed a significant difference in my energy and mindset. I also feel more like myself. These practices that I’ve incorporated into my morning routine help me show up as my best self for my son. I’m not letting anything distract me from the responsibility I have of being present with him.
I know it’s so much easier to establish routines and make time for yourself once your baby gets older, but I wish I would’ve figured out a way to do it from the beginning. We can’t wait until our babies grow up before we get ourselves together. Making time to do what you need to do in order to show up as your best and authentic self each day is a necessity! It might be hard to find time, but what about motherhood isn’t hard? I’ve learned that you have to have a “no nonsense” approach with yourself. Accept no excuses. Make the time! If it’s important, you’ll find a way to make it happen, and I pray that you see yourself as being important enough create the time you need for your personal practices.
We’ve been tasked with raising more conscious, aware, and loving humans. In order to do that, we must work on ourselves first or else we’ll continue to pass down inherited beliefs and behaviors. Put yourself first mama! The cycle ends with you!
