Do you start your day off Joyful? 5 ways that I flip the switch from overwhelm to excitement!

Confessions a Night Owl....

So I know first hand how hard some days can be especially mornings,

• You are tired.

• The kids are already fussing.

• To-do list already feels un-accomplishable.

• Anxiety over all the things is already creeping in.

Dear Friend, I know these thought all too well. Your internal dialogue sounds like: just lay back down, Ten more minutes and ill get up, the kids can just watch a movie this morning, I’ll just hid under the covers for a while. Or on those real special days, crap I better get up so more chaos doesn't ensue.

Mama you are NOT alone.

I have lived this cycle. To be honest some days I still do!

Can you relate?

The days keep coming but you are still dragging your feet...

This past year I have overcome so many situations I did not expect, learning life-changing practices like be able to choose your emotions! We will chat about this tomorrow but today I want you to know there is hope.

In my post-op recovery says I began a few practices that over time because habits. They allow me to start my day of in a positive mindset, regardless of all the annoyances we know mornings can being.

Here are my TOP 5 ways to start my day off with Joy:

• GIVING THANKS - This practice starts before my feet hit the ground. Be it a prayer, or grateful thought, I verbally (yes out loud!) start my day with at least one thought of thankfulness. My list changes daily! Some days the list is clouded by challenges and my gratitude prayer is short and sweet.

Setting the attention for my day also happens here. Here is an example of my gratitude prayer, every morning the list may change, but the overall gist is the same.

“ Lord, thanks for walking me up this morning. Please help me to keep a thankful heart for all the moments you have for me today.”

• ELIMINATE FAILURE - I set myself up for success the night before! Simplest way to go is with a Bedtime checklist. Yes I know it's something you would do for you kiddos, but motherhood can be hectic and honestly at the end of the day if I don't have a reminder it won't get done. Knowing what anxiety stressors I have, I limit those before bed so that I can wake up in a state if peace.

For myself, I like to have a clean kitchen. Waking up to a pile of dishes (my least favorite chore EVER!) instantly puts me in an off mood.

I don't know about you but a joyful morning to me is NOT washing dishes, or folding laundry for that matter. I try to make sure those two task are done either mid-day or before bed so it falls under the out of sight out of mind rule. Because let's be honest, a sink fill of dishes or a couch of clothes needing to be folded is hard to overlook!

• Get more sleep! - Yes I know this one is obvious, but it really does help and isn't always the easiest to follow through with. Our lives as mothers are constantly moving, the to do list is long, and there is always someone who needs help. If we do t prioritize recharging our batteries every evening we cant pour back into our family.

Practical things I try when prioritizing sleep, first is a set nightly routine. Dinner, Clean Up, time outside with the family, shower, then bed. Year's ago I would have been annoyed by the structure of my day but after the past six months I find comfort in it. I can't promise a nightly routine helps with sleep or will quiet your mind for rest, but it does set you up for success!

• Positive Excitement - Find something that excites you about the day. Big or Small we all love the feeling of looking forward to an activity or experience.

This comes from the basic memory from childhood. When you were a child, if you were like me you had a count down, building excitement for the field trip, sleep over, outing, or experience you were excited about. We may be adults now but the need for daily highlights is still the same. So I love to find at least one thing that I can do each day to spark that feeling.

A Dinner I am excited to not have to cook, beautiful weather, a spontaneous trip to get snow cones (personal favorite of mine), that activity your children love to do, it literally could be ANYTHING!

The simple glimpse of the experience to break the monogamy of the every day that can be overwhelming. Every night or morning I choose one activity that I will spontaneously enjoy, now some days they come as a surprise, but I try to carve out just that little piece of paradise in our everyday life to truly enjoy. I am curious what these moments would look like in your life.

This last tip, is the one that takes the cake. Changes your experience. Taking a moment to truly realize it is possible, it creates the biggest impact.

• Simply CHOOSE JOY! - We have the option to select our emotions just like we choose the outfit we will wear each day. While this tip can be overly complicated as women we often tend to do this, it can be a simple and obtainable task.

I will be sharing about choosing your emotions for a while, because it changed my life, but for this quick blog, lets just dust off the surface on how this plays out in my morning routine.

When I open my eyes, either from the sound of my annoying alarm clock, or the sound of loving children I often have just a split second before the reality of the emotion caused by these situations, and pre-existing factors take over.

How well did I sleep last night, am I rested, does todays task overwhelm me, or even the simplest question, DO I ACTUALLY NEED TO BE AWAKE YET?

Those of you that know we outside of the internet, know I am a lover of sleep. I always have been. My favorite activity ever is a good movie and a better nap.

So in those few hazy moments before I "wake up" I have make the choice to be joyful. It is not always easy, it takes some self control on my part but the benefits out ways the challenge.

So Yep I said it.

You can pick your emotions.

Crazy I know, it is the simplest yet most effective tool in overcoming the stress.

Do you have a morning routine?

Are you actively combating the struggles of the day or are you allowing the challenges to overtake your path?

There is no wrong answer friend.

But I want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, take control of your mornings, and transform your days.

I would love to walk along this path with you!

In my next podcast chat, I share about how I mother through the hard days, using these tips and so many others. I can't wait to share with you this life changing lesson.

Let me know, are you a night or morning person?

Until our next chat friends,

Stay Joyful,

Lillie