Question of the Day: Which Routine is the Most Important Part of Your Day?

I would say my evening routine is probably the most important because it plays a huge role in how the next morning is going to go.

However, the morning routine definitely has the biggest effect on my attitude and helps simplify a stressful time of day the most.

To be honest, I had trouble choosing between those two as the most important, but I think the evening routine (getting the house ready for the next day) has such a big impact on the next day that it is the most important. This is actually different than what I said in my original post, and I’m not sure if that means my priorities have changed or just that I’m looking at it from a different perspective!

I find parts of our morning routine fun, when they’re going smoothly, as the girls are usually in a good mood and we’ve got a good system down for getting everybody dressed, teeth brushed, hair done, curtains open, laundry to the laundry room, etc. It really feels like we’re working together as a team, and we can be silly and have fun in the process.

I think my morning routine would be the answer to all four questions above. With my 8 week old baby, I find it helps me to get up after her feed around 6 o’clock and start my routine which involves showering, unloading the dishwasher, putting on a load of washing, browsing through blogs while eating breakfast at the computer and then trying to do one quick chore all befor her next feed is due. I feel much better and less stressed knowing that I have accomplished these few small tasks before my day with my baby has officially started. I find this routine the most ‘fun’ as it also includes some ‘me’ time.

I also believe my answer would be the morning routine. Although it is wild and crazy in this house of 6… if I get up early it sets my day off right. I’m a morning person!

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The bedtime routine is very important for my own sanity as well as the childrens’. The girls have always had a fixed bedtime. They have a small snack, pajamas, brush teeth and then a bit of time to unwind before kisses goodnight and their Dad tucks them into bed.

Thankfully, by enforcing this rule since we had our first little one, it is a smooth transition to bed with no fussing or arguments. The consistency has led them to become sleepy around the same time each night. Some nights we even have requests to “tuck me in bed now, please?”!

The bonus to this routine is that Mom and Dad get to drink in the quiet time together before retiring to bed ourselves.

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To be honest, I am suffering from not having any routine right now. Kids home for the summer does that to me. However, I am losing my mind without it. We are in the process of establishing routine in this house and setting boundaries. (I didn’t think about the importance of boundaries even for a three year old). The only routine I have right now is in the morning. My cup of coffee and 1/2 hour of silence before my little one wakes up. It is the most important 1/2 hour of my day.

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I am with you, Mandi. My evening routine and by morning routine have a big impact on my day. If I haven’t cleaned the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher before bed, I am behind all the next day. If I don’t get up, get showered, dressed and start breakfast before the kids get up, I am behind again…with grouchy, hungry kids! Its hard to decide which routine is more important!

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Wow… hm… tough one. The most important one of my day would probably be my morning routine though right now, I don’t seem to have a routine. I really need to get on the ball. Heh heh… My morning routine (whatever that is) seems to make the rest of my day roll smoothly or stressfully. I need to feel a sense of accomplishment and having a head start on my day helps tremendously!

My evening routine is what is my “me” time and helps me just chill out. After the boys go down, I make a strawberry banana smoothie with fat free yogurt and enjoy blogging, surfing or playing a mindless computer game. Complete down time, in other words.

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My morning routine helps get me and the kids going for the day. So I feel more prepared for whatever comes up. My favorite is my evening routine. I love curling up with the kids to read them a bedtime story and then having a bit of quiet to check out my favorite blogs or read a book myself.

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My evening routine plays a huge part in how well the next morning goes. I like to have dishes and toys put away, and have everything nice and straight and ready for the next day.

In the morning, I love getting up early (around 4 or 4:30) to have time to write, blog, drink my coffee, start the laundry, and do a few other chores before the girls get up.

If I can get most of my writing and blogging finished before they get up, I get so much more accomplished!

My favorite part of the morning routine is when my 3-yr-old “gets” my coffee for me. My husband “helps” her pour it (she pretty much just holds the coffee cup handle), “helps” her carry the mug, and she delivers it to me. It is so sweet and precious, and she insists on doing it. It really makes me feel special, and she is so proud!

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Awww, that’s such a sweet routine, Amy!

Oh, and I was going to say I think we’re on the same schedule! I just “slept in” for the first time in probably 10 days because the third trimester is kicking my butt!

Bedtime routine here tends to wear we out these days with the big girls, but our littlest is in the best mood at night (shh, sometimes we keep her up just to spend that time with her while she’s goofy and happy and basking in all the attention!), so that’s a pretty fun part of our routine too!

I’ve never really been one to read bedtime stories. I think because we all go to bed fairly early since my husband and I get up early, and so I’m just read to get them in bed and have an hour to unwind before I head to bed myself. The few times I have read to them then, it’s been a sweet time, for sure!

Yeah, I can’t imagine waking up with the kids. The few times it’s happened, I’ve felt disoriented for the whole day without some time to think and get my bearings first!

At our house, knowing what’s for dinner helps the most. Having the weekly menu planned and ingredients on hand are the most critical elements for happy evenings. Middle-schoolers live life to the fullest (sports, homework, meetings, socializing) so having a set dinner time and menu simplifies a potentially stressful time of day.

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I’m sure! The third trimester was always the hardest for me… esp with my #3.

I think about you a lot these days! I know it is getting close, and with those other sweet girls, I know it can be a challenge at times. But, I know, too that you are like me, and would not trade it for the world.

BTW, I am so excited that you are having a fourth girls!

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The morning routine is probably the most important to me in starting my day out on the right foot… It’s important for me to be up and ready, with a few things accomplished before the kids are up. That way I feel like I can focus on them without trying to multitask while still waking up.

That being said, our nighttime routine with the kids is the one we stick to most… We rarely sway from our bath, books, bed routine. And it’s the most fun too

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I love the bedtime routine, too. It calms me down… at least when my girls are good about it It seems to be harder in the summer because of all the activities. And, my sweet hubby sometimes has a hard time sticking to that routine, too. He likes to play!

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I do wake up with my kids because they are up at 6am and I can’t bring myself to get up before that. We have a nice little morning routine anyway. Morning hugs, change diapers, breakfast together at the table, then the day begins. I find that mornings are much smoother when I’m able to get the kitchen/dining room cleaned the night before. With the counters and table clear I can focus on the kids and breakfast, all while still a bit groggy from a 6am wakeup

“Which has the biggest impact on your attitude?”
I am not a morning person by nature so it is actually my morning routine that gives me the greatest impact. Breakfast immediately upon getting up for both my daughter and me. Then some time reading my Bible, journaling, feeding my dog, making the beds, and dressing presentably. (I work at home, but being in pajamas 24/7 gets depressing after awhile.)

“Which simplifies a stressful transition time?”
On my daily planner page, I have written down from the night before what dinner is going to be. None of that 5:30 freak out.

“Which is the most fun?”
My evening routine. I fill out the next day’s planner page (my “brain-dump”), quickly declutter our living room and kitchen, and then run the dishwasher. Then I get to read and take a nice, quiet, long hot shower before I go to bed. Heaven!
.-= Marie´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.

The routine for me that has the biggest impact is our night time routine of cleanup, preparing for next day and downtime. Because it makes for a nice start to the next day allowing it to be stress free and relaxing.

The routine that is the most fun is our playtime and family time routine Which is a big part of our day. This routine also has a big impact on me because it leaves me free to take care of things at other times of the day knowing that first and foremost I gave my time and attention to my family and we enjoyed a good part of the day together.

Thank you for sharing! this is so wonderful. I might try it out and do some for my nieces for christmas! *hugs*

Oh I wish I sewed! These are SO cute and I have 5 little granddaughters who love them! 
Bernice

Aren’t they adorable?!

Bernice, if I can do this, you can do this, LOL! She really does make it simple and easy to follow!

Hi Mandi!

I just received a link to this post from someone who purchased my Pixie pattern.  Just want to say Thanks so much for sharing them with your readers!  Looking forward to seeing how your little dolls turn out:)
hugs,
~Shelly

You’re welcome, Shelly — I really do think they’re pretty much the cutest things I’ve ever seen!