
All AI images created by Nakia Reine
We’ve all heard it referred to in different ways: "schedule," "routine," or my personal favorite, "ritual." Whatever word resonates with you, it doesn't change the ultimate goal—creating what I like to call a *state of flow* when you're a work-from-home mom. Over the years, I've picked up countless books on organizing, structuring, and somehow managing to run my home like a well-oiled machine. But let me tell you a little secret: that’s not reality.
As I watched yet another "Day in the Life" of a woman who is not a mom or doesn’t juggle multiple streams of income, I realized these are all kaleidoscopes of lies. The reality for a mom who works from home is that structure has to be ever-changing. You may be wondering: *But how do I even begin to do that?* Don’t worry, I’m not here to give you another list of 5 steps or 10 reasons why your current routine is all wrong.
Instead, I’m going to share what *I* do—flaws, flexibility, and all—and you can take what you like from it. My mornings, as much as I’d love for them to be picture-perfect, do *not* begin with me waking up in flawless PJs, with perfect hair and “I woke up like this” makeup. I don’t glide into a softly lit room to sip coffee while birds serenade me. That’s just not my reality.
Here’s how it actually goes: My alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. Some days, I roll out of bed, one eye open, because I’ve remembered my *why* and the reason not to hit snooze. Other days? My body screams for more rest, and I listen. I switch off the alarm and decide to wake when the kids do, giving myself an extra 30 minutes of sleep.
What I’ve learned is to create a state of flow that *aligns with my body’s needs*. If I feel like rising early to read, meditate, and write, and my day allows for that—perfect. If it doesn’t? I adjust and flow.
Here’s the simple foundation of my mornings:
1. Mental Space is Non-Negotiable
I *must* make time for my mental well-being. Whether it’s 15 minutes to meditate or 30 minutes to journal, this time is sacred. Sometimes it’s just sitting in stillness with my thoughts. It helps me reset before the day kicks into gear.
2. Move Your Body
Movement is key, but I choose *when*, *where*, and *how*. It could be a brisk 30-minute walk (a new addition to my mornings), an intense HIIT workout, or even a simple stretch. No matter what, I check in with my body and go from there.
3. The Girls Come First
My mornings revolve around my daughters—making breakfast, helping with lunch, brushing hair, and giving out those essential morning hugs and kisses. No matter what else is happening, they are always my first priority once I’m up.
4. Feed Your Creativity
This one is flexible. Some days I dive into something creative—whether it’s designing, writing, or sketching ideas for a new project. When it happens, it’s a beautiful release, but it doesn’t have to happen daily. It’s all about flow.
5. Dinner Planning
I wish I could say I pre-plan our meals each week, but let’s be real—that’s not always the case. Every day, I mentally take stock of what we have and decide what’s for dinner. I often pair this with my walk or physical movement, multitasking like the pro I am.
These five things are my non-negotiables. They give me structure, but they also ebb and flow with the day’s needs. Having a preset day would be lovely, but it’s just not realistic, and honestly? It feels robotic. I understand that "flow" is subjective, so I encourage you to come up with 3 to 5 of your own non-negotiables to build your foundation.
And most importantly, be *kind* to yourself. Don’t get caught up in the rose-colored pages of “perfect morning routines” or “how I do it all as a mom of X children.” Those are just myths. As a mom of two girls, who has worked from home for three years while juggling side gigs, I can tell you this: flow and grace are all you need to keep your feet on the ground.
Now that I’ve shared my state of flow, I’d love to hear how you create yours. Drop your daily rhythms in the comments, and let’s learn from each other. Maybe we’ll even discover a few new flows we hadn’t considered!
Let’s keep flowing, together.
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