6 Things I Do After Breakfast {Daily Routines Series Part 2}
Is meal planning a struggle? I'm so excited to announce... The CHK Seasonal Meal Planner is now available!!! Plan your meals with purpose and intention as you think through special days, holidays, and what each season uniquely offers. It will guide you, step-by-step, through planning each month allowing you to save time and money. 
Welcome back for Part 2 of my Daily Routines Series. Last week I shared with you 3 Things I Do Before Breakfast and I am excited to continue building on what my daily routines are. Today I am going to share with you some things that I try and do after breakfast so that I have the rest of my morning to be present with my kids.
I am a morning person and have most of my energy early in the day, so for that reason I tend to try and get most of my house keeping tasks done first thing. I’m also a procrastinator too, so if I don’t get some of my chores done in the morning then they probably won’t get done at all. OK ready for the list? Here we go…
6 Things I Do After Breakfast
1. Clean the kitchen from breakfast dishes
As soon as breakfast is over I rinse off the dishes and load them into the dishwasher, clean the sink, and wipe off the counter and table. I don’t like to let dishes sit out too long, and I hate a cluttered sink.
If I didn’t get the dishwasher unloaded last night, I will unload it now. I quickly spray the counters, table, high chair, and bib down with my vinegar cleaner (equal parts vinegar and water) and wipe down with a warm, damp cloth. If I need to sweep the floor (the floor is a magnet for Cheerios, stepped on ones are the worse!), then I will do that also, though I usually save my sweeping for the end of the day.
2. Shower and dress
If it is a good day (meaning the kids sleept in past 6:00 AM!), then I get to shower before they wake up. Other wise my shower time is after breakfast. A few days a week, my mom or mother-in-law come over, so I will wait and take a shower during that time. Most of the time however I have to take the kids in the bathroom with me (I use a baby gate and some toys to keep them safe and occupied). It’s not ideal, and it usually takes me twice as long to shower and dress with them underfoot, but I am a morning shower kind of girl.
I am also challenging myself to actually get dressed in something cute and practical, rather than just being comfortable (i.e. stretchy yoga pants). I fix my hair and put on a little bit of makeup. When I feel pretty and put together, I find that I am way more alert and productive than when I’m just in lounge clothes.
3. Quick clean bathroom and bedrooms
After I’m dressed, I do a real quick clean of the bathroom as explained here. I also make the bed, gather up dirty clothes, clear off the night stands, empty the diaper pail, and pick up any other random clutter that doesn’t belong.
4. Start laundry
My goal is always to do one complete load of laundry a day (maybe more) which includes wash, dry, fold, and put away. So after I gather up all the dirty clothes and place in the hampers, I immediately run a load.
I used to schedule days when I would do specific laundry (Mondays- colors, Tuesdays- whites, etc.), but now I just through in what ever hamper has the most clothing. I’ve also been known to mix loads (gasp!) if I have two half full hampers.
5. Daily chores
Like I mentioned before, if I put off my chores long enough, then I won’t do them which leads to a marathon house cleaning day at the end of the week which takes time away from other things. So I really try to be intentional and get my daily chores done early.
Daily chores include things like dusting, bathrooms, floors, and any other deep cleaning that needs to take place. Some chores I do wait and complete when my kids are out of the house because it’s just easier. Cleaning with kids in tow can often times feel counter-productive.
6. Check to make sure I have everything ready for dinner
There is nothing more frustrating then finding out at 5:00 PM that I don’t have 1 random ingredient for dinner, or that I forgot to thaw something from the freezer. I’m usually really good about pulling out frozen food and defrosting in the refrigerator the night before, but I’m human and sometimes I forget. So I always check for my dinner ingredients in the morning. That way if I do need to get something I can plan for it or make a substitution. I also quickly glance at the recipe to check if I need to marinate anything or do any advance preparation.
Once I have completed all these tasks, then the rest of the morning until lunch time, I spent in intentional time with my kids. If it’s nice we go to the park, or we might need to run an errand or two. Due to my kids nap schedule, it’s just easier to do any outings in the morning.
Like I said, I try and aim to complete all these things in the morning after breakfast but sometimes life happens and some things just don’t get done. For example one morning a week I take the kids over to my grandmother’s house to visit, so obviously I don’t have time to get most of my chores done. But my non-negotiable item that I always do is clean the kitchen after breakfast, because who wants to clean the kitchen just to get ready for lunch?
So what about you? What things do you try to accomplish in the morning?
Love these ideas!! I am a morning shower kinda gal too, and I feel so much better if I’m put together… It’s easy to stay in comfy clothes, but I usually want to stay comfy instead of productive when I do… Anyway – Thanks for sharing at the Pinterest Power Party!
Danielle
SewMuchCrafting.com
Those comfy clothes are so easy to stay in, especially during the winter months. I do try and make myself a deal, every once in a while we all stay in our PJs for the entire morning and just cuddle on the couch. Those days are special too!
It sounds like you have a good idea of a routine that works for you! I am still working on figuring this out, but I want to be able to accomplish some reading and quiet time as well as a little straightening up in the morning. I am not much of a morning person so the heavier clean-up tasks tend to happen later in the day for me.
I think that everyone has to come up with a routine that will work for them. I would love to be able to read in the morning, but my current season just doesn’t allow that right now 🙂
Great ways to accomplish a lot in the morning! I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and work part-time, so I’m brainstorming about what household chores to do and when, so that I don’t aggravate my condition. Thanks for sharing your routine with us!
Glad this helps. I hope that you can find a routine that works for you and helps alleviate any symptoms that might cause you discomfort.
I think I might add making sure I have everything for dinner to my morning routine. This is such a great idea and will save a whole lot of hassle in the afternoon rush.
This is only through lots of personal experience and tears (OK maybe not tears :)) of frantically running around because I only realized right at dinner time that I didn’t have many ingredients ready to go. But it definitely has helped making sure that I have everything I need ready to go when I start making dinner.
You have a great schedule. I wish I could be more consistent with mine which would keep me on track. I really need to start getting up earlier to do my bloggy stuff.
Creating a routine has really helped me accomplish a lot more during my day and be really intentional with my kids. I still don’t always follow this perfectly, but when I do I definitely reap the rewards 🙂
Over the last few years I’ve really learned the value of having a routine. It really does help to make sure you get everything done you need to get done before really getting the day going!
I completely agree Kate, having a simple routine makes a big difference!
I also like your idea of making sure you have things for supper. Nothing like getting ready to make it and to realize that you don’t have one thing. Not worth a trip to town for, but now you have to make something else. Not cool!
I finally got smart of adding it to my morning routine after several afternoons of frustration when I realized that I didn’t have what I needed or forgot to marinate something. A few minutes in the morning really saves a headache in the afternoon!
Visiting from Ladies Only Blog Share. I love your tips about what you do around the house every day. I have a completely different schedule – older children and I work full time outside my home – but I’m going to think about ways I can incorporate your ideas into my morning and evening routines.
Great ideas Victoria! As long as you have a plan (even if you don’t stick to it perfectly) life will just go better!
My 6 children are all married. We had 4 children under 5 at o time! Life was crazy but I did occomplish a lot because I had a plan–similar to yours actually. I really does work.
When our 6 children were small we only had one bathroom–that was fun. My shower time was at 10 PM when kiddies were sleeping. I jumped out of bed and got dressed before leaving my bedroom. I have very short hair so it worked!
You are doing good things Victoria–keep it up!
On my goodness and I thought I was busy with 2! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and how you were able to be productive during that busy season.
Great ideas..really organized…:)
Thanks for sharing. Your blog is lovely and I so enjoyed clicking around. I found you at Fellowship Fri…
Be well and God bless!
I would love to have a routine. But now that I’m retired there is no hope! I have been known to run out the door leaving dishes on the table because I’ve had a sudden idea or someone called. Fortunately I shower at night! Love your daily routine! I’m truly jealous…one, only one of my four have a morning routine. She is the most organized person I know.
Great way to get your day started off right. Have a daily routine helps get my focus right where it needs to be, and helps everyone know what comes next. Thanks for listing it all out for us!
I love this series, Victoria! I just read the first one before this one and realized that we have a lot of the same morning routine tasks! I also get up at 5 am and read my Bible, and I like to do a quick clean of the apartment early in the day too. I don’t have kids yet, but you give me hope that I’ll be able to keep somewhat of a routine when I do have them. 🙂
It definitely took some work tweaking my routine to find something that would work now that I have kids, but it has been so beneficial to me. I also really enjoy rising early and praying, I’m much less of a grumpy mom when I have a chance to get up and meet with Him before the chaos begins! 🙂
Thank you so much for linking up at Thank You Honey’s Whatever Wednesday party!!
Sarah
http://thankyouhoneyblog.com
Your mornings sound busy much like my own. Having a routine can make such a difference in every day life. Sometimes I can get through my morning tasks on autopilot considering that I do the same things day in and day out.
I so need to add your 6 to my morning. We just started a new family schedule as my 6 precious ones and this momma can use one.
Thanks bunches for splashing me today. I so enjoy when you link up with momma notes. Each Monday (thanks for the patience as we added 2 new princesses to our home) I start the chorus. Drop by any day of the week to add your notes. Just moms. Sharing our notes. Creating a melody.
Happy day,
Sarah
Well, now that we have an empty nest, life is a lot different. Plus my dh is self employed now, so we might sit around and chat after breakfast or both start to work. Me on the house and blog, him outside in the shop.
These are all great tips! I actually have a similar routine and it really helps keep things clean and tidy in the house.
Wow, you do more after breakfast every day than I do in an entire week. I really need to start some sort or routine but realizing how many things I’m not doing right now makes it overwhelming to think about.
To be honest, there are many days that I don’t get everything done, but I like to have goals in places of tasks to do. The best advice that I have received is to start with maybe only 2 small goals and master those before building anything new.