Over the past few months, I have been working on creating healthier routines. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but the practice of creating mini rituals that I love has helped me make a lot of really positive changes in my life. Today, I’m here to share my morning and night routines with you!
Morning Routines:
OK … honest mom talk—my mornings are a lot more disrupted and crazy than evenings because of Nova. This isn’t a bad thing and I’m not complaining, but it’s the truth.
But, I grade things on the curve and since implementing these routines, my mornings are for sure BETTER.
Since I work from home, I believe it’s a powerful thing to begin my day with some routines that signal to my brain “it’s time to work.” So as soon as Nova leaves for school, I begin my routine.
Diffusing Oils. The main times I start all our diffusers (we have five of them throughout the home) is the morning, and before we have guests over randomly. (I do only do them in our bedroom at night, but I’ll go into that below.)
Wellness Blend. (similar here). My current daytime oil. I actually use it at night too, when we’re feeling under the weather. It smells so good like Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. It’s definitely a comforting smell. My other go-to daytime blend is Homebody. (similar here).
Face Mist. Currently loving this one. I keep one mist by my bed and one at my work desk. I spritz my face and neck throughout the day for a pick me up.
Making Coffee and Tea at home. Before the new year, Jeremy and I had fallen back into our Starbucks routine. But beginning in January, we started to make coffee at home. We each do our own because I like hot black coffee (year round) and he likes cold brew (year round). Anyway, the routine of making my own coffee each morning has become a good signal for my brain. And during the cold months, I make tea all day long after my 1-2 cups of coffee. Brrrrr.
Music. This is new for us. We made a New Year’s resolution to give Nova a more musical childhood. Recently, we added Google Home speakers all over our home so we can listen to music from our Spotify when we’re hanging out at home. It wasn’t very expensive, and we’re loving the new atmosphere in our home. Music makes such a big difference!
Night Routines:
Nighttime is a lot more leisurely for me. Lately, I’ve been going to bed a little earlier than Jeremy and I love having that little bit of me time to take off all my makeup and put on face oils, read some of my book or write in my journal.
Diffusing oils at night. Keely and I created our dream sleep blend for Oui Fresh called Sleep (similar here). It has Lavender, Cedarwood, Frankincense and Vetiver. It smells so dreamy and calming. I use it every night. I also add in a drop of Wellness when we’re not feeling well or when I know a bug is going around.
Years ago, when I first began diffusing lavender to help with insomnia, I became obsessed with the idea of little rituals like this. It may seem like a small thing, but these routines can become a powerful signal to the brain that it’s time for sleep, time to work, etc. …
Body Butter. I love love Weleda Skin Food (like obsessed!) and the body butter is my favorite for using on my feet, knees and elbows before bed.
Reading. I am obsessed with my phone (addicted) as much as anyone, so learning to put it on airplane mode and do something else before bed has been so healthy for me.
I love audiobooks, but reading a real, physical book before bed is the greatest pre-sleep routine ever. I have been reading The Joy Of Less and it’s the perfect book to fall asleep to.
If you have any routines that have really helped your life I would love to hear them! xx – Elsie
28 Comments
Thank you for sharing your routine, Elsie! I love that you’re bringing more music into Nova’s childhood! 😀
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Oh this was such a good post and it just comforted me. We had a bad ice storm in Michigan so we have been living out of a hotel for the past 3 days (no power at home????) we have a google home hub and I am obsessed I can’t wait to add some of your ideas as soon as we are back in our home!
OMG! Sending love your way- that’s so annoying! xx
I’m in Michigan, too! This weather has been absolutely terrible. Wishing you warmth and hugs!
This is definitely something we’re lacking (as far as a night time routine or rituals). We’re pretty good with the morning routine (we both work in offices and have very busy jobs), I get up and shower first (since it takes me longer to get ready in the morning with the makeup and hair) and he wakes the kids and preps their breakfast (they’re old enough to get dressed, brush their teeth and pack their bags and they’ve got that routine down pretty good now). After work, since I get home early, I go grocery shopping and make dinner, he picks the kids up from school on his way home and dinner is almost ready by then (5-5:30). He does the dishes, I make lunches, we help the oldest with home works, then it’s bath time and we finish up with watching ninja turtles together as a family (1 or 2 episodes before the kids go to bed). Once they’re in bed at 7:30, it’s wine time and grown up tv for us (Vikings baby!). Unless there is hockey on. Then, I entertain myself with a bath and a book and perhaps a mask. I definitely sleep better when I have a bath before bed but I enjoy those nights where we’re just watching tv shows before bed together.
Sounds lovely! I love hearing different routines! Thanks for sharing! xx
I love these routines! I have a question: I think a while back, you mentioned that you don’t allow phones in the bedroom? I loooove this idea, but would need an alarm clock to wake me up instead of my phone. Do you use an alarm clock and if so, what kind? It’s surprisingly hard to find a beautiful, dim lighted, and not annoying one!!
Hi Amy!
Well, we do have phone in the bedroom, we just sleep with them on airplane mode.
And I can’t recommend an alarm clock because since we got Nova she’s been our alarm clock. haha 🙂
Where is the diffuser that’s on your bedside table from? I checked out your previous post about your favorite diffusers but didn’t see it on there!
It’s from Amazon- https://rstyle.me/n/dfqvidb64yf 🙂
That link doesn’t go to the diffuser… do you know which diffuser it is?
I’m curious to know where the diffuser is from as well, but the link above isn’t right.
My absolute #1 bedtime ritual is magnesium cream on my feet. I use Sweet Dreams – https://cooksorganics.com/shop/sweet-dreams-foot-cream-4-oz – not an affiliate or anything; I just REALLY love it. It’s been a game-changer as someone who is a poor sleeper, so I tell everyone who will listen. 😀
Oh nice! I’m going to try that!
that’s a good idea to get a google home speaker. i think i’d play a lot more music if i could have easier access to it. we just have a record player and our phones. we have a six year old named mabel and a one year old named winter. we take them to a music class on saturday mornings. it’s a drum cirle called https://www.littlebirdmusictogether.com/. good luck with your resolution. i think it will be a great year for you as you grow your fam. love, clare
It’s a game changer!
I’ve added celery juice to my morning routine (highly recommend) and I have Alexa give me a daily briefing of the news as I rush to get out of the door on time ????. Where is your mug from? I love the colors!
Can you share some of the playlists you listen to on Spotify?
I think night time routines are sooo important!
http://www.petiteelliee.com
Ellie xx
One thing that has made my evening routine much easier is to put all of the things for skincare on one tray. That way I know that I have done everything to take care of my skin before going to bed. On this tray, I have hand cream, eye cream, lip balm, face cream, and a vegan eyelash serum. I wish I could do this for the day time as well, but I have too much stuff to put on my face!
The oils sounds so nice. The first thing I do in the morning is meditate and I write in my journal in the morning and before I go to bed. I highly recommend it. It’s called The 5 Minute Journal.
Where is your mug and diffuser from?
The painting and the perfectly matching mug are so beautiful. Where are they from?
I recently started to make my bed in the mornings. I have never really seen the necessity before, but now I really like it. It feels already like a little achievement right in the morning and going to bed is way nicer when it’s not completely messy 🙂
Love this so much. Any particular coffees you enjoy? I also like mine hot & black!
Same here! 🙂
I really need to get in the habit of having a good night routine. Recently, I have been waking up wide awake in the middle of the night and I am not sure why. Typically, weather has a big impact on my sleeping, so it could have something to do with that. Great post!
-Kate Christine
https://daysofkate.com
I love the idea of morning routine and ritual! Something that I use is life S.A.V.E.R.S from Hal Elrod –
Silence. Affirmations. Visualisation. Exercise. Reading and Scribing (journaling!!) It’s such a great way to start the day! x
Did some googling and found the same type of diffuser but not the pretty style she has. Brand is Okachi.
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Diffuser-Aromatherapy-Humidifier-Waterless/dp/B07227R3D3