Do you have a morning routine? Or do you wake up after hitting the snooze button three times and spend the rest of your day playing catch-up?

This doesn’t mean simulating a trip to the spa every morning before your household wakes up. What it does mean is both taking time the night before to make a plan for how your morning should unfold as well as making sure you wake up early enough to make that happen. For some of you that may mean an extra 15 minutes, for others you may need to wake up an hour earlier. Some small things you may want to consider adding to your morning routine to start your day in a more peaceful way:
* Quiet time/devotions
* Drink a cup of herbal tea
* Take a shower
* Take some deep breaths
* Exercise

By taking a few minutes to first focus on God and then yourself in the morning, you’ll find yourself better prepared to then focus on and respond to your family. If nothing else, spend a few minutes each night preparing for the next day by making lunches, laying out clothes and packing bags. Your family will thank you when they get out the door without hearing you say, “Hurry up” twenty seven times before 7 am.