10 Productive Things to Do in the Morning Before Your Kids Wake Up

Learn the most productive things to do in the morning before your kids wake up!

And if you need help creating consistent family routines, be sure to check out this course!

Want to be a more productive mom every day but it just never seems to happen?

I hear ya!

I’ve struggled with productivity and time management and I know just how hard it is to do all the mom things each day.

And it can be even tougher when you work at home or you’ve got kids learning at home!

Having a stay at home mom schedule or work at home mom routine can make things easier so you’re not going crazy all day.

And starting that routine off with some productive things to do in the morning can make such a difference!

The key is getting those things done before your kids get up. Because let’s face it, once the kids are awake your whole day can get away from you before you know it.

You know what I’m talking about, right?

So what you need is a productive morning checklist to get your days as a busy mom started!

Why Productivity Matters (Especially for Busy Moms)

Being productive, whether you’re a stay at home mom or you also work at home, matters because there are only so many hours in the day. And if you’re like me, you want to make the most of them.

Staying productive is important for getting all the things done each day that matter to you most.

So that might include:

Homeschooling your kids or just spending quality time with them
Keeping up with the cleaning and laundry
Putting tasty and nutritious meals on the table
Managing your financial life and staying on top of the bills
Getting your work at home to-do list done so you can earn extra money for your family

And your list might include other things, too.

These are just some of the things I value and aim for when I’m trying to have a more productive day. And the more boxes I’m able to check off each day, the better I feel about how I spent my time.

Productive Days Start With a Solid Morning Routine

I’m a big believer in routines and I have a go-to checklist of things I do each morning to start my day off right.

If you want to have more productive days, then it starts with knowing what things to do in the morning.

So why are mornings important?

It’s simple. Because what you do in the mornings will shape what the rest of your day looks like.

You’ve probably experienced this firsthand.

Think about a day when you were able to get up early and knock out half of your to-do list before 9 am. Now, compare that to a day when you got up late and were scrambling from the second your feet hit the floor.

Which kind of day would you rather have?

For me, the answer is always the first option — a productive day that starts and ends without me feeling completely stressed.

Because when you’re constantly struggling and juggling, you’re going to end up with a bad case of mom burnout. And that’s not what you want.

Having a list of go-to things to do in the morning helps you avoid that.

And it can help you be more intentional with your time, which is priceless as a busy mom!

Read this post to learn how to create a morning routine:

The Perfect Morning Routine Checklist for Busy Moms

10 Smart Things to Do In the Morning for More Productive Days

Ready to get your days started on the right foot and ditch the busy mom chaos?

Then here are the best things to do each morning to feel focused and productive each day!

1. Resist the temptation to hit the snooze button

If you want to have more productive days as a busy mom, then getting up before your kids is a must.

Having some quiet time in the mornings can make the waking up part easier if you’re more of a night owl type.

And research shows that people who get up earlier are happier and healthier, too.

So if you’re used to sleeping in or hiding under the covers when the alarm goes off, stop it!

Commit to getting up earlier each day so you can get an extra 30 minutes to an hour to yourself before your kids are awake.

And if you’re struggling to adjust, try setting your alarm five minutes earlier each day until you’re waking up at your desired time.

2. Drink a glass of water

Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning has some serious health benefits.

It can help you get hydrated and aid digestion. And it can also help with flushing out toxins.

I only drink water but if you prefer tea, soda or something else, you may need to get into the water-drinking habit.

Some easy ways to do that include:

Setting daily water intake goals
Investing in a fun reusable water bottle
Creating reminders or alerts on your phone to let you know when it’s time to drink your water

All of those things can help you drink more water each day. But if you only have one glass a day, make it the first thing you drink each morning.

3. Do a brain dump

A brain dump is a great way to start your day if you need a way to get focused.

Doing a brain dump just means free-writing whatever’s on your mind for a set time.

Julia Cameron calls this exercise morning pages and it’s a great tool for creative types. But it can also work for busy moms, too.

The idea is that you handwrite three pages in the morning. It doesn’t matter what you write; the goal is just getting your thoughts out on the page.

Doing this kind of mental decluttering can make it easier to dial down the white noise as you get your day started.

And that’s super helpful for making the most of the next tip.

4. Make your to-do list

Making a to-do list is one of the best things to do in the morning if you want to get anything done at all.

A to-do list gives you a plan to follow for the day so you don’t feel scattered from sunup to sundown.

I use the rule of three to make my to-do list each day. That means I limit it to three things that must be done for that day.

So why three?

Well, anything less and I don’t feel all that productive. And anything more than three and I feel overwhelmed.

If you haven’t tried making to-do lists this way, give it a shot for a week. And while you’re making to-do lists, keep a “done” list as well.

This is a list of all the things you accomplished for the day, whether they were on your to-do list or not.

Having a “done” list can be a real eye-opener to just how much you do as a busy mom. And it can also help with prioritizing your time.

Read this post for more time management tips:

10 Genius Time-Saving Tips for Busy Stay at Home Moms

5. Make your bed

I’ll admit there was a time when I never made my bed.

I just didn’t see the point. I’m just going to mess it up again so why bother?

But here’s the thing: making your bed is one of the most productive things to do in the morning!

It turns out that completing a small task like making the bed can give you a sense of accomplishment. And that can carry through to the rest of your day so you’re able to get things done.

So if you’re not the making-your-bed-in-the-morning type, it’s time to get into the habit!

And you can also pass it on to your kids as well.

My kids have been taught to make their beds since they were little. And even though they grumble about it, it’s become part of their daily routine.

Read this post for tips on creating a routine for kids:

How to Create a Daily Routine for Kids When School Is Out

6. Eat a good breakfast

In the days when I didn’t make my bed or get up early, I didn’t eat breakfast either.

And what a mistake that was!

As a busy mom, there’s one thing you must have and that’s energy.

And if you’re not eating a healthy breakfast, you’re not giving yourself the energy you need to power through the day.

So eating a healthy breakfast is a must for things to do in the morning before your kids get up.

Keep it simple with oatmeal or a smoothie if you have to, but don’t skip out on fueling up!

7. Read something

Reading something in the morning is a great way to wake up your brain.

For example, you could spend 10 minutes reading:

A devotional for moms
One chapter of a novel
Part of a personal finance book to improve your money situation
Your horoscope

One thing I don’t suggest reading first thing in the morning is the news.

I’m all for being informed but if you’re trying to enjoy a little time to yourself before the kids get up, you don’t want to spend it reading stories about how terrible the world is.

And if you’d rather listen than read you could always swap out an audiobook instead.

I like Audible for that. If you’re not using it yet, head here to try Audible and get two free ebooks!

8. Start a load of laundry or spend 10 minutes doing simple cleaning tasks

Keeping a clean house when you have messy kids is the holy grail for a lot of busy moms.

But doing small clean up tasks before the kids get up means you’re less distracted by the mess the rest of the day. And that can help you be more productive.

If you’re cleaning is on your list of things to do in the morning, keep it simple. For example, you could:

Wipe down your kitchen counters
Sweep the floors
Start one load of laundry
Wash any dishes left in the sink from the night before
Tidy up your pantry

It doesn’t have to be anything big; this isn’t the time for deep cleaning.

But you can feel more productive as a busy mom by knocking out one small cleaning chore first thing.

Read these posts for more tips on keeping a house clean with kids:

How to Create a Realistic Working Mom Cleaning Schedule

11 Daily Tasks to Clean House Quickly When You Don’t Have Time for the Mess

9. Stretch or exercise

Getting your body moving in the morning can help you feel more refreshed and energized.

If you don’t have time for a full cardio workout, try doing simple things instead like yoga or running in place for a few minutes.

This can get your blood pumping and give you an energy boost so you’re ready for whatever the day might bring.

10. Work on something meaningful to you

If you have an extra hour or more before your kids wake up in the morning, be intentional with how you use it.

There’s no better time to focus on something important to you, whether it’s a work project or a passion project, when you have a block of uninterrupted time.

For example, you could use that time to:

Brainstorm ideas for your next blog post (or get your blog started)
Research the novel you’ve dreamed of writing for years
Make new products for the craft business you want to start
Spend quality time with your spouse
Meditate or pray

Using your mornings to work on something important to you personally means those things don’t get pushed to the backburner.

And once you give your attention to those things, you can focus on the rest of your day without feeling like your dreams or goals are being neglected.

What’s on your list of things to do in the morning to be productive?

Do you have a special routine or things you do in the mornings to set a positive tone for your days as a busy mom?

If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Head to the comments and share your best tips for staying productive as a busy mom.

And don’t forget to pin and share this post!

Read these posts for more productivity hacks:

How to Be Productive: 3 Secrets for Stay-at-Home Moms

How to Be More Productive as a Work at Home Mom

60+ Essential Productivity Tools to Help You Get More Done as a Busy Mom