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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find my morning routine difficult?

72 replies

Cherryhun · 30/06/2023 21:11

I'm sure others will have it tougher but I'm finding my mornings before work so tricky to get through and am looking for advice.

DH has an early start and takes the car to work at 5.30. I'm up at 5.15 and try to do a half hour workout. I then have 45 minutes to get ready and eat a big bowl of fruit, yoghurt and seeds. I then get 2 Y/O up at 6.30 who is tired and reluctant to get up. Eventually, I get him up and ready and feed him a snack (breakfast provided at nursery) We then set off at 7.15 for my one hour walk, dropping DS at nursery en route.
By the time I get to work, I am already exhausted.

Am I just super lazy and not capable of this or is there a way of making it all a bit easier? Would also be great to hear about your own morning routine so I don't feel like I'm going it alone every day!

OP posts:
Whatelsecouldibecalled · 30/06/2023 21:13

You're not lazy. Walking an hour to work and presumably an hour home again?

Bobbybobbins · 30/06/2023 21:14

That does sound full on OP! I would say possible changes could be:
-any way to have the car some mornings to save the long walk?
-cut down work out to every other day as you have a walk as well

  • more protein or carbs for breakfast
GetOurraMeWay · 30/06/2023 21:15

Well you're getting up an hour earlier than you need to!

SeaToSki · 30/06/2023 21:16

do you need to do a work out as well as an hour walk to work each morning. Also maybe try eating more for breakfast if you want that level of exercise

bridgetreilly · 30/06/2023 21:19

It shouldn’t really need 90 minutes for both you and 2yo to get dressed and you to eat breakfast. I would not do a 30 minute workout AND an hour’s walk before walk! I think you are just trying to fit far too much in and making yourself unnecessarily exhausted by getting up so early.

Flippingflamingo · 30/06/2023 21:20

This has to be a wind up!

You are getting up super early in a morning, working out, sorting children and then having an hours walk… and then you complain you are tired!

Knock the work out on its head, or fit it in later in the day so you can sleep in longer in a morning.

Tinkerbyebye · 30/06/2023 21:21

Well for a start if you are doing an hours walk each way you do not need to do a workout, save that for the weekend, so that’s half an hour you have saved, and why 45 mins to get ready and eat breakfast, I can’t believe how long that is, 5 min shower, dressed make up and breakfast takes me 30mins, so another 15 mins

so set your alarm and get up at 6am

ThatFraggle · 30/06/2023 21:23

Do you need to do a workout if you're walking 2 hours daily.

If you watch your carbs and calories you should stay in shape with that.

lovemelongtime · 30/06/2023 21:26

Sorry but another one going to say why on earth are you doing a work out so early if you are then knackered.

Surely a ones hour walk is exercise enough first thing?

It's not difficult to work out that if you drop the work out, get an extra 45 mins in bed, it will help

Original poster
Cherryhun · 30/06/2023 21:26

Sorry to drip feed - I am obese and my doctor has suggested that my walking is not sufficient exercise so some daily higher intensity exercise would be beneficial.

I try to make an effort with unruly hair and bad skin so if does take me a bit longer. I perhaps do need to hurry along my 2 Y/O. Everything seems to take such a long time with him, it used to make me so cross but I'm trying to be a bit calmer with him to keep my stress levels low and make sure he goes off happyish.

OP posts:
Seaside3 · 30/06/2023 21:27

Get up later. Get ready faster. Give kiddo a snack on way to nursery so they don't have to get up so early. Ask if you can start work later. Look into lifts/taxis/bikes/2nd car/husband look for alternative transport.

BeautifulSloth · 30/06/2023 21:27

Put toddler to bed earlier so he can wake up naturally rather than you waking him. I know a lot of people will say cut out the workout but you may need those endorphins to get you through the day!

Is there some prep you can do the night before like choosing and puting your and toddlers clothes out. Packing your bags and putting them in the push chair. Even filling the kettle ready for the morning. I find those tiny things really help.

ThatFraggle · 30/06/2023 21:28

Also, maybe give DC a snack they can hold in their hand. Eat if they're hungry, leave it if they're not, since they're getting breakfast later.

You literally have to scoop them up, wipe their face, change out of PJs, pop them into a buggy and go.

Give them this chewable toothbrush. No toothpaste needed.

To find my morning routine difficult?
mynameiscalypso · 30/06/2023 21:29

Exercise is all well and good but 1) it doesn't really contribute to weight loss if that's why you're doing it; and 2) it's counter productive if it just leaves you absolutely knackered. Tiredness is a big contributor to over eating. I'd stay in bed an extra hour.

Popskipiekin · 30/06/2023 21:30

If DS only getting a snack before leaving the house can you push everything at least 15 mins later. You could even give him snack in buggy? Brush teeth before leaving house. What about a bike & baby seat - would cut down on the walk time considerably. Perhaps you could keep bike near/at nursery if you didn’t want to cycle all the way to work. If you want to keep up the workout do it every other day to get more sleep some days. Have a protein bar quickly and more breakfast at work? Why does DH have to leave so early? Does he do nursery pickup, or could he, and could you get public transport in the evening rather than walk home every day. (Or take car some days as PP suggest!)

SchoolShenanigans · 30/06/2023 21:30

You do a half hour workout and an hour walk, all before 9am, and wonder why you're tired?

if you're overly tired, do the workout another time and lie in.

Skyla01 · 30/06/2023 21:33

Can you cycle to nursery with a seat for your toddler?

On nursery days I wake DD up approx 20min before we leave the house. I change her nappy / dress her / brush her teeth all in her bedroom then straight to the front door then out to car. She gets breakfast at nursery. Agree with others- you could use a snack for the road.

If I was feeling as tired as you I wouldn't do an additional work out, would cut down time for you to get ready and get up later. At least cut the work out some days. Can you work out in the evening instead?

Well done on your exercise efforts by the way, but sounds all a bit much, you need a balance to keep motivation long term.

Merryoldgoat · 30/06/2023 21:35

mynameiscalypso · 30/06/2023 21:29

Exercise is all well and good but 1) it doesn't really contribute to weight loss if that's why you're doing it; and 2) it's counter productive if it just leaves you absolutely knackered. Tiredness is a big contributor to over eating. I'd stay in bed an extra hour.

This.

Do you HAVE to walk? I’d either workout and get bus to nursery/work or can workout and walk.

EmmaPaella · 30/06/2023 21:37

Goodness, I am so lazy by comparison. I’d be exhausted doing all that OP.

Sheselectric77 · 30/06/2023 21:39

Obviously exercise is very good for you and should be encouraged however I do think that an hour’s walk (possibly 2)is enough. Other types can be done at weekends or in the evening once dc is in bed. You would be better doing 15 mins of weights than half an hour of anything else too so that would free up 15 mins straight away. Weight loss is about diet anyway exercise is all good but not if it’s leaving you struggling to get through the day

NoSquirrels · 30/06/2023 21:40

If you’re genuinely walking for an hour to nursery then work, and again on the way home possibly, then I’d ignore your doctor who sounds clueless, and just walk a bit faster with the pushchair to get the aerobic benefits in that way.

Valhalla17 · 30/06/2023 21:43

The key question is : what time do you go to bed?

ThatFraggle · 30/06/2023 21:45

NoSquirrels · 30/06/2023 21:40

If you’re genuinely walking for an hour to nursery then work, and again on the way home possibly, then I’d ignore your doctor who sounds clueless, and just walk a bit faster with the pushchair to get the aerobic benefits in that way.

Exactly.

If you use a calorie counter and don't cheat, plus 2 hrs walk every day you will be healthy after a year of doing that.

A big slab of chocolate every night will undo it.

Watch some of the YouTube videos on intermittent fasting.

NoSquirrels · 30/06/2023 21:45

This is what I’d do, OP:

I'm up at 5.15 and try to do a half hour workout. I then have 45 minutes to get ready and eat a big bowl of fruit, yoghurt and seeds. Get up at 6 am. Drink hot beverage and eat breakfast, shower and get ready. Pack a on-the-go cereal bar snack/banana for the buggy. Get 2 Y/O up at 7 am. who is tired and reluctant to get up. Eventually, I get him up and ready and feed him a snack (breakfast provided at nursery) We then set off at 7.15 for my one hour walk, dropping DS at nursery en route.

Original poster
Cherryhun · 30/06/2023 21:46

Thanks all for the helpful responses.

I mostly go to bed at 9 and usually I'm very ready for it. Head hits the pillow and I'm straight to sleep. I've just returned from my holiday so routine is a bit all over the place, though when I started thinking about picking the routine back up when I'm back to work Monday, it got me wondering whether it needed tweaking - hence this post.

OP posts:
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