A morning routine when you’re home all day

Life looks a lot different right now. All six of us are home all day long. Work and school are done from home these days.  Having a morning routine makes all of the difference in the day!

As a mom of four kids doing their school at home this year, it is more important than ever before to have a good routine and schedule.   

I wake up about an hour before the kids do. I didn’t use to do this, but I’ve found that it makes a huge difference.  If I’m tired and groggy when the kids wake up, I’m not going to be as cheerful and helpful as normal. Getting up before them gives me some quiet time to get my day going before it’s time to help them. 

MAKE THE BED
(5 minutes) The very first thing that we do when we get out of bed is to make our bed. I feel like making the bed sets the tone for how the day will go. It’s like checking off that first thing on your to-do list. It’s one of those habits that I love. Did you know that there have been studies that prove that just making your bed can make your entire day more productive?Once the bed is made, your room immediately looks nicer and you can move onto your next thing.  For me, this is taking care of me. 
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FIX-ME-UP
(5 minutes) I’ll just throw on some type of work-out outfit, brush my teeth, toss my hair into a ponytail, and head downstairs. 

OUTSIDE WALK
(20 minutes) I usually take the dogs on a quick walk around the block before anyone wakes up.  It’s just a way to get out and get moving.  It is a great way for a quick dose of Vitamin D, fresh air, and a way to get my blood moving.  It really helps my back, too (I’ve had back pain in the morning for as long as I can remember).  I put in my headphones and listen to that fun new book I’ve downloaded.  It’s only about 20 minutes, but it’s enough to start my day!
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GETTING READY FOR THE DAY
(20 minutes) Once I get back, I have about 20 or 30 minutes until the kids get up for the day.  I hop into the shower, get cleaned up, and wash my face.

I didn’t always wash my face in the morning, but as an adult, it’s a habit that I started and haven’t let it go. I love how it leaves me feeling refreshed.  I use the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel in the morning. My husband and I have both been using this for over a year and we agree that it’s done wonders for our skin. Even our teenagers use it now. 

Once I’m done, I’ll get changed into clothes that I’m going to wear for the day (which nowadays isn’t much different from the workout clothes that I had on before the shower). Then I’ll spend a few minutes on my facial routine while I’m thinking about what needs to be done that day. 

I still wear makeup, even when I’m just staying home.  It’s not much, but I like makeup and I always have.  It’s fun to put on and I always feel better wearing it. A little eyeshadow, mascara, lip gloss, and maybe a touch of foundation that I mix with my moisturizer to tone it down a bit. 

I’ve been using Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream in the morning before putting on any makeup. 

You can find it at Walmart with their Online Pickup & Delivery option. I love using it in the morning, it brightens my skin tone and reduces the look of wrinkles. 

This makes my makeup go on so much smoother.  It has Glucose Complex to help accelerate the skin’s natural surface activity (this gives you rapid results). On days when I do wear foundation, I usually take a little more of this amazing cream and mix it with a drop of foundation.  I’ll mix them in my hand and put it on. 

I wish that I had taken better care of my skin when I was younger, but it’s never too late to get started. I started using Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream to fight against fine lines and wrinkles. An anti-aging & moisturizing retinol face and neck cream that can be used in the day or at night… so I do both. Just a pearl-sized amount is enough to deliver their highest concentration of anti-aging Accelerated Retinol SA so it goes deep into the skin’s surface to reduce lines & wrinkles in one week.    

WAKE UP THE KIDS
Once I’m ready for the day, I wake everyone up and help them make their beds, if they need help. They get ready for the day (dressed, teeth brushed, bed made) and we all go downstairs to eat breakfast.
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NO ELECTRONICS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
One big change that we made this year was to eliminate electronics (other than schoolwork or texting friends) during the school week. Monday through Friday isn’t time for electronics. The kids are online enough to work on websites and do school work, so extra time can be spent doing something else (playing outside, drawing, etc.) If we have time at night, after everyone has showered, finished their work, had their dinner, etc., we will put on one episode of a show that we are watching as a family. Usually, it’s about 30 minutes, and then the kids head up to their rooms to read before bed.
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DAYTIME
Our day looks pretty normal… Chores and independent school work is done in the mornings.  I do mini-lessons with the kids during this time, too. Then, we work-out at home for 30 minutes in the early afternoon before lunch (Mickey works out with me in the living room).   
After lunch, we help the kids with their school work and we finish our own work. In the late afternoons, we play outside, read, play games, etc…
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BEDTIME ROUTINE
The kids go to bed between 8:00 and 10:30 (depending on their age) after they read. Mickey and I go to bed a few hours later, but before I go to bed, I shower & repeat my face routine. I wash my face, let it air-dry, and then I use my Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream. However, before I use the cream, I use Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil at night. It has 0.3% Retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles overnight. It absorbs into the skin quickly and the Retinol SA oil works really well – you can see visible results and younger-looking skin in one week. It helps with dry skin, too, which I love.