Ladies, can we talk about morning routines for a second? Between getting the kids ready for school, squeezing in that workout, and trying to look somewhat presentable for the office, mornings can be CHAOTIC. But we’ve discovered a little secret that’s absolutely transformed our days: the morning reading ritual!
Remember when we used to hit snooze seventeen times and then scroll through social media before even getting out of bed? (Please tell us we’re not the only ones!) Well, we’ve replaced that habit with something so much more nourishing for our souls, and we’re never going back!
Just 15 minutes—that’s all it takes. We’ve started setting our alarms just a teeny bit earlier to carve out this sacred time before the house erupts into the usual morning madness. There’s something absolutely magical about cracking open a book while the rest of the house is still quiet, steam rising from that first cup of coffee (or tea, if you’re like Susan who’s trying to cut back on caffeine… bless her heart).
The difference in our mental state has been INCREDIBLE. Instead of immediately diving into everyone else’s emergencies (because somehow there’s always an emergency by 7 AM, right?), we’re starting our day centered and filled with someone else’s beautiful words. It’s like a little gift we give ourselves before we put on our superhero capes for the day.
And between us, it’s made us better moms, better partners, and better professionals. When we start the day with a story instead of stress, we’re showing up differently for everyone in our lives. Plus, we’re actually finishing books again! Remember when we used to read all the time before the kids/careers/life took over? That part of ourselves doesn’t have to disappear forever!
Some practical tips from our collective experience:
- Keep your current read on your nightstand so there’s zero friction between you and those pages.
- Set your alarm just 15 minutes earlier—we promise it’s not as painful as it sounds!
- Have your coffee maker prepped the night before (game-changer, trust us).
- Try a reading light so you don’t disturb your sleeping partner (Mark complained for WEEKS until we got one).
- Don’t check your phone until AFTER your reading time—those emails can wait!
We’ve found that fiction works best for this ritual—it’s like a mini vacation before the day begins. Historical fiction has been our collective favorite lately. There’s something about escaping to another time and place that makes our modern-day challenges seem that much more manageable.
So what do you say, friends? Will you join our little morning reading revolution? We’d love to hear what you’re currently reading and if you’ve managed to carve out any special reading time in your busy lives. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 40+ years on this planet, it’s that we deserve to prioritize the things that fill our cups.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a date with our current read and a very large mug of coffee!
