For the majority of families, the morning is anything but relaxing or enjoyable. Instead, it’s a whirlwind of activity, rushing from one task to another in order to try and ensure everyone can eat, get ready, and leave exactly on time. Even on weekends the same energy can take over, except rather than rushing to school or work, the focus is on getting to playdates or to the grocery store; the feel of the morning, if not the activities, is much the same as it is on weekdays.
While there’s no denying that mornings do tend to need to be busy to a degree, it’s also something of a shame. After all, there’s nothing quite like a perfect morning.
Starting the day right
Being able to relax, unwind, and go at your own pace is pleasant regardless of the time of day, but you may find that these things feel especially enjoyable first thing in the morning. The reason for this is usually the illusion of time: there’s no sense of the night encroaching or the day drawing to a close the way there is in the afternoon or evening. Instead, the day seems to stretch out before you with endless possibilities available. You can kick back, take your time, breathe deeply, and still know that there’s going to be plenty of hours available for you to work through your to-do list.
Setting the scene for the perfect morning
Realistically, the perfect morning needs to take place on a weekend; the twin pressures of school and work inflict a little too much structure on what should be a relaxing experience, so pick a day where things are a little more fluid.
You’ll then want to think about planning in advance. Here’s a few areas to consider:
Food. If you enjoy cooking, then you could plan to make your ideal meal either for breakfast or brunch - something special that you don’t usually have the time to do. Alternatively, and perhaps preferably given you’re supposed to be relaxing, plan ahead and place an order with the likes of Eastern Standard Provisions so you can enjoy amazing-quality food with ease when your chosen morning arrives.
Chores. The night before your chosen day, do a sweep through your home and take care of the most obvious chores, so that there’s no temptation to rush into these tasks when you awaken on your dream morning.
Admin. If you need to make any important calls or send emails, make sure these are all completed well in advance in order to avoid feeling as if these tasks are hanging over you when you should be relaxing.
Entertainment. One of the greatest aspects of a relaxing morning is being able to do whatever you see fit, but if you’d prefer a little structure - which can be especially beneficial if you have young children - then plan your entertainment ahead. You could, for example, buy a new puzzle for everyone to do, or choose a new movie to watch together.
Making the above kinds of decisions, or completing tasks, prior to your morning commencing helps keep the day itself effortless and pressure-free, as everything is already laid out for you. All you have to do is wake up and let things proceed as planned.
In conclusion
Mornings are usually the busiest time of day, but every so often, creating the perfect morning with the help of the guide above can be a real treat for you and your family.