to ask: if you have time to yourself in the morning before everyone else is awake - how do you use it?

[Blinketyblink]

Please tell me about your morning routines / habits :) particularly solo ones that take place before the calls of work or motherhood or general life grind take over!

Coffee on patio, listening to birds, bit of gardening.

Radio podcast, emails, writing birthday cards/life admin, then get work ready for day.

Sometimes I have a long & luxurious bath with a podcast or music.

In the winter, I light a fire and then a candle ☺️ I love it when the Christmas tree is up and I put those lights on, too

I go for a run

Go back to sleep for as long as I can lol

Kids have flown so it's just the two of us now.
DH is disabled and ill so I have a cuppa in complete silence before he gets up and I have to help him get washed and sort his medication out.

Cup of tea, scrolling on my phone

I give the dogs some cuddles. When they’ve gone back to sleep I go for a run. Early runs are lovely at this time of year.

Tea phone

I have two books that I am reading over a year - The Bible and Stoic philosophy. So I read the day's chapters while still in bed. Then I make a coffee and sit on the balcony and read whatever novel I'm currently reading OR I go out for a walk with a friend at around 6.30 as we both like getting up early and luckily our children like sleeping in! It is so nice to get back two hours later and find everyone still asleep.

Should have said - this is my current routine. Can't do the long walks during term time!

I also practise the piano in silent mode but that is a bit risky as my daughter tends to still hear it and get up!

@Blinketyblink

Please tell me about your morning routines / habits :) particularly solo ones that take place before the calls of work or motherhood or general life grind take over!

Up, make packed lunches, put the sprinkler on for half an hour, quick slower, sling a face on, get dressed, clean the bathroom, put the washing out I did overnight, yell at others they'll be late! At work by 7 am even though I'm not supposed to be there until 8 but frankly I like to check the workflow before everyone else comes in and annoys me.

Phased return, home by 1, on a sun lounger snoozing for 4 hours. It's worth it to get chores out of the way..

Power Hour by Adrienne Herbert is worth a read for the early birds amongst us! Really interesting and inspiring book about how to start your day. I have to say I haven’t started setting my alarm earlier to wake up before the kids (can’t bear it when I don’t sleep well at night) but useful all the same.

Get up,fuss over the dog,brew some coffee and sit in the garden in the summer while Alexa tells me the news and weather forecast. I love the morning peace.

I cook the dinner and do all the chores. So when kids are up, I can spend that time with them instead on chores.

I make a cup of tea and sit down with my knitting for an hour before my partner gets up.

either potter about in the kitchen (empty & refill dishwashers, clean worktops, sweep up) or watch tv & crochet/knit

I try to have my first cup of tea in relative peace; if possible on my own before the kids wake and if not I’ll settle DD 4 with the iPad and her milk and DS 1 with his milk in the kitchen with me and have 10 minutes. Then it’s pretty much all go but that 10 minutes sets me up for the day.
I also tidy up before I go to bed so I get up to a tidy house (ish)

I'm always up first because I'm a naturally early riser. . I empty the dishwasher, put some washing on, make a pot of coffee and then read the online paper and do a killer sudoku. In the garden when the weather is nice but more often, back in bed. I love my solitary mornings.

Having spent years thinking I was very much not a morning person, I discovered in my mid-40’s that I actually am. I love the quiet peaceful moments & it gives me time to wake slowly rather than immediately dealing with life. On the day I don’t do these things I feel totally out of sync & irritable. I honestly believe that taking the first part of every day for ourselves - however you choose to spend it - is essential for good mental health & feeling like you have more balance in your life. I rarely turn my phone on because it just sucks up that precious time.

Spring/Summer: up at 5.30am, make espresso & large glass of water, sit outside & listen to the birds then do my workout or yoga. Breakfast, shower & ready to start work by 7.30/7.45.

Autumn/Winter: 6am wake up, make a pot of tea, light a candle & either journal or meditation. Workout at 6.30am. Breakfast, shower & ready for work by 8am.

I love getting up early. Today I went for a swim at 7am as soon as the outdoor pool opened. Showered and was back home by 8.30 and everyone else was still asleep.

I walk the dog (occasionally this is a run, but that’s rare before work), then make a hot lemon water and meditate for 5-10 mins. Then it’s in the shower and get ready for work.

Cup of tea - in the garden in summer - book or newspaper online. Soak up the peace and feeling of solitude. Bliss.

Masturbating. What else?

I feed the cat and then have my own breakfast in peace. Sometimes I'll put the news on, depending on what's happening in the world - during the Euros I won't bother, as the morning shows will be back-to-back football and I'm not interested.

Up at 5 every day. Run, yoga or Peloton for forty five mins, shower, coffee in the garden. Usually online and working by 6.30.