A Morning Routine For People Who Hate Mornings: Caregiver Edition
Whether you’re a paid caregiver or a caregiver helping care for a loved one at home, your day likely starts early. From helping with personal care to preparing meals and maybe even managing medications, mornings can feel like a race against time. If you’re not a morning person, this can feel even tougher.
The good news? A well-planned morning routine can help. Establishing a simple and predictable start to the day can make the morning schedule easier for you and your care recipient.
In this article, you’ll find 3 essential tips to create a smoother morning and a sample routine designed to help even the most reluctant early risers ease into their day.
Looking for more caregiver tips to make your life easier? Check if you have free access to Trualta.
1. Keep Your Routine Consistent
Sticking to a predictable routine is one of the best ways to make mornings less chaotic. When your body and mind know what to expect, it becomes easier to move through the motions—even when you don’t feel fully awake.
Bodies work on an internal clock called the circadian rhythm. Sticking to this internal clock consistently supports your body and sustains your energy. If your body knows it needs to sleep and wake up at a certain time every day, it will help you do just that in a way that feels much better than if you surprised it every time.
Here are some tips to get started:
- Set an alarm clock, even on weekends. Keep in mind that your morning routine starts the night before. Proper sleep hygiene and good sleep quality will make a big difference in not pressing that tempting snooze button.
- Set up a sequence of tasks that flow naturally when you wake up. For example, brushing your teeth before making coffee or starting breakfast after getting dressed.
- Prepare what you can the night before. Lay out clothes and set up the coffee maker. The fewer decisions and steps you must take in the morning, the smoother it’ll feel.
Consistency helps you and can also be reassuring for your care recipient, who may rely on a routine for stability and predictability.
2. Start With Something You Enjoy
If you dread the early morning, give yourself something to look forward to as soon as you wake up. It can be as simple as enjoying a quiet coffee before the day gets busy or stretching for five minutes.
Find a morning ritual that feels rewarding, even in a small way. Other ideas include:
- Reading a few pages of a book
- Listening to your favorite music while getting ready
- Spending time outside alone with a warm coffee or tea
- Engaging in deep breathing exercises
By incorporating something you enjoy into your routine, your morning can shift from dread to something a little bit more balanced.
3. Make Room For Flexibility
Even the best-planned mornings can take unexpected turns, especially when it comes to caregiving. Remind yourself that flexibility is key instead of feeling defeated when things don’t go according to plan.
Allow some buffer time in your routine to handle unexpected challenges more easily without feeling rushed. While some days can go smoothly, others may require extra time, patience, and problem-solving. Having an accommodating schedule and a flexible mindset can make a big difference.
| Expert Tip: Let things go when needed. Not every battle needs to be fought first thing in the morning. For example, if your care recipient doesn’t want to change into a clean shirt right away, consider: “Is this truly urgent, or can it wait?”. |
Sample Morning Routine
Now that you’ve learned the 3 essential tips for creating a morning routine, here is a sample routine that incorporates all the strategies mentioned.
6:00 AM – Wake Up & Enjoy
Stretch and make a warm cup of coffee
6:20 AM – Personal Care
Brush teeth, wash face, and get dressed
6:30 AM – Caregiving Prep
Check calendar, make breakfast, and prepare medications
7:00 AM – Wake Up Care Recipient & Complete Morning Care
Transfer into wheelchair, assist with morning hygiene, and help get dressed
7:30 AM – Eat Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast together at the dining room table
You can adjust the specific times to suit your daily needs and responsibilities. Remember to allow some buffer time for each activity should any challenges arise.
Conclusion
By keeping your routine consistent, making it a habit to add in something you enjoy, and embracing flexibility, you can make mornings smoother and less stressful.
Caregiving can be hard, but you don’t have to start each morning feeling overwhelmed. With a little structure and self-compassion, you can find a better routine for you and your care recipient.
Want to connect with other caregivers and hear their tips? Check if you have free access to Trualta.
References
