I am a night owl.
Like most creatives, night time is often when my ideas are the most fluid. My mind floods with writing topics, products to create, and new memories I want to make. This creative flow along with a peak in my energy often interferes with my ability to sleep.
Unfortunately, being a night owl doesn’t work for my lifestyle.
Between getting up early for work and getting my fellas off to school, staying up to 1 a.m. just doesn’t work for this over 40 momma. It’s not that I don’t like morning-I do. I am just more creative at night. Somewhere along the way, I had to find a balance between being a night owl and the demands of my lifestyle.
Instead of trying to make myself into someone I am not, I decided to create night-time habits that would allow early mornings and my inner night owl to coexist. Instead of focusing on what I needed to do in the morning, I focused on what changes I could make at night. This one change made all the difference.
If you struggle with how to rock your mornings when you are a night owl, then I have a few ideas you can do at night to help you out.
1. Prepare the night before
Preparing the night before is by far the easiest and most helpful step for me. As a educator and momma, one of the quickest ways for me to become irritated in the mornings is rushing. I end up rushing because I can’t find what I need and my fellas are not ready. One way to combat this problem is night-time prep.
Preparation starts with YOU. Before going to bed, think about everything you will need in the morning. Looking at your calendar list everything you will need to have a successful day whether that means packing your gym clothes, preparing your lunch, or making sure your phone is fully charged. Once you have everything prepared, put it IN your vehicle or by the door. You want to make sure you have what you need in a place you are sure to see it.
As a momma, I also have my fellas pack their bookbags, prep their lunch, and set out their shoes and clothes. There is nothing worse than waiting for your kids to look for their shoes, homework or sports equipment when it’s time to walk out the door. Each of our boys places their packed items near their bedroom door as a part of their nighttime routine. This helps our mornings to go smoothly and teach them the importance of being prepared.
(Read 3 ways to stay organized during the school year for more tips)
2. Set time aside to be creative
Most nights I set time aside to be creative. Since I know my mind is most active and creative in the evening, I don’t fight this process. Usually, I block off time after my fellas have gone to bed so that I can read, create, or write. Just getting my ideas out of my head and onto paper gives me the release I need to relax.
To be creative at night, it’s important to set boundaries. Most nights you cannot spend hours writing, designing new products, or editing your work, especially if you have been up all day working and/or taking care of your kids. So, you have to be flexible with your time then safeguard it. Keep journals by your bed, journals in your purse, and your laptop close. If you are married, set time aside that will not interfere with connecting with your spouse.
Some suggestions to make the most of your time creative time:
- Set boundaries
- Keep your supplies close
- Identify a goal
- Limit your distractions
- Do brain dumps
- Audio record your thoughts
3. Know your why
Why is creating a productive morning important to you? Of course, you could say that your life requires it, but I can tell you that it is not enough. Just because you have to get up in the morning will not be enough motivation to get you out of that comfy, warm bed without hitting your snooze button five times. We each need our why. What do you want to do with your time?
For me, getting up early in the morning is about spending time with God before I interact with the world and spending time with my fellas. After another morning of fussing and rushing my fellas out the door, I was convicted. I was not giving my children the best of me. I didn’t want to get up barely able to interact with the world, upset that I was given the opportunity to wake up another day. Every morning, I have to remember my why.
At night, determine why you are getting up. Write it down and keep it close to your heart. Your why will be the motivation needed to get your night owl body moving in the morning.
So momma, if you are a night owl like me, you can still rock your mornings without being an early bird. Instead of tackling your morning routine, try making the most of your nighttime routine.
What nighttime habits helps you be more productive in the morning?
