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Ugh. Mornings. Am I right? I’ve never, ever been a morning person– as a child, my mom would wake me up again and again just to get me up for school because no alarm made mornings easier. As a mom myself, I no longer have the luxury of staying in bed as long as humanly possible, because I have another human to actually get up, get dressed, and get on with the day with… and that sometimes leads to a very, very grumpy mama. But I’ve found a few tricks, like eating breakfast made with Jif Peanut Powder, that help me have a flawless morning… or at least a slightly less rocky one… making every morning my best morning ever.
Step 1: Start your morning with some alone time. Seriously– take 10 minutes to read, meditate, pray, study, or just sit in quiet. I know it can be hard to find this time, especially if your kiddo is the one to wake you up, but if you can, find 10 minutes of solitude to start off your day. For me, it isn’t realistic to get my 10 minutes before my son wakes up, because I crave all the sleep I can get, and he prefers to rise earlier than I’d like. I sneak my alone time in by setting him up with breakfast and a fuzzy blanket on the couch, then slipping into the next room, where he’s still in listening distance (so I can hear him), and just taking a few deep breaths before I start my day. After that, I do try to squeeze in some cuddles with my son on the couch before we both get to the big stuff in our day, because having that one-on-one time is really nice, too.
Step 2: Use a meal plan to your advantage. If you set yourself up for success by making a meal plan so you can see the big picture, you can get out anything you need for dinner (like meat that needs to thaw) in advance. That way, you’re not scrambling at 4pm to find out what you can fix, and it turns your great morning into a great afternoon, too! Using a meal plan also helps make sure you’re getting in that great breakfast that you need, and helps ensure smart snacking and lunches during the day, so your entire day goes off without a hitch. When you’re crunched for time, you only make things harder for yourself by not planning ahead and making sure you’re prepared for good meals that will keep you on track throughout the day, so planning out meals beforehand, even if you don’t have the chance to pre-make your meals, can really help you to start your day on the right foot (and not panic about what’s for dinner later all day long, too!) Not sure how to get started with meal planning? You can get the printable pictured above (it’s linked down below!), then print it as many times as you need to plan your meals each week!
Not only does meal planning make your day easier, but it also helps you plan out those grocery store trips. When I’m trying to start a “new year, new me,” having a list at the store keeps me on track, so I’m reaching for snacks and meal starters that are better for me, rather than meandering down the cookie aisle– eek!
My list pretty much always starts with Jif Peanut Powder, which I found in the peanut butter section of my local Walmart store. It’s really versatile, which means I can use it in breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the day. Which leads me to…
Step 3: ALWAYS eat breakfast. Don’t be the hangry mom (hungry+angry)… by eating breakfast every morning, you set yourself up for success. I know, it’s impossible to get in a full-fledged breakfast every morning. By the time you get your child fed, dressed, and ready for the day, you’re probably beat. That’s why most mornings, I swap a big breakfast for a protein-packed smoothie using Jif Peanut Powder. The great thing about Jif Peanut Powder is that it’s incredibly versatile, but it’s also a great choice for cleanses and diets. If you love peanut butter, you’ll love this because it adds that peanut flavor and nourishing protein to your breakfast, with 85% less fat than traditional peanut butter. Plus, since it’s made with only one ingredient– fresh roasted peanuts– there’s no added sugar or salt like a lot of the other peanut powder products on the market.
My go-to breakfast on a busy morning is simply 1 ripe banana, torn into pieces, 3 Tablespoons of the Jif Peanut Powder, and 2 squares of extra dark chocolate. I put all of that in a blender cup and top it off with a milk alternative, then give it a whir in the blender and sip.
You can really get creative, too! Jif Peanut Powder works with so many different fruits and veggies, so I can add it to my breakfast every morning and never have the same thing twice.
Step 4: Begin the day with a to-do list, so you know what you’d like to achieve from the get-go. BUT, don’t overwhelm yourself with a million tasks– limit your morning to-do list to 3 or 4 tasks you’d like to accomplish that day. If you find yourself crossing those 3 or 4 off rather quickly, add to them for sure! Or, make a to do list of the top 3 things you MUST do that day, and then add a short list of things you hope to accomplish when you have the time. Don’t have a to-do list on hand that is bright and inspires you to use it? You can print out my to-do list printable that will help you plan out your day.
Step 5: Start your brighter morning the night before. Finish your evening by cleaning the room that makes you the happiest to see clean. For our family, we spend most of our day in the kitchen– it’s a homeschooling hub, a home office space, a cookspace, a workspace, and a place where we can eat together and play games as a family. Because of that, to start the day in the best way possible, taking a few minutes before bed to straighten, tidy, and wipe down the kitchen means that when I wake up in the morning, my day starts off on the right foot, and doesn’t feel overwhelming from the get-go. Bonus points if you lay out your Jif Peanut Powder and other non-perishable breakfast supplies the night before, just so you don’t forget to enjoy your breakfast!
Honestly, the keys to a great morning mostly involve planning ahead, ensuring you always have your breakfast, and taking a few minutes for yourself. If you make an effort to do those things, you will see a brighter morning each day in 2016. I know this, because I started trying it this year, too, and my days have seriously improved since I made more of an effort towards eating breakfast and planning my days ahead of time.
To help you plan ahead, I’ve designed 3 printables that will make your mornings a little brighter and a little easier. Print these as many times as you want or need, but if you want to share them with a friend, please do me a favor and direct them right back here to this post so they can download and print the pages themselves! Thanks!
Download 1: Meal Planning Sheet
Download 2: Grocery List Sheet
Download 3: To-Do List
These are designed for an 8.5×11 page, and can be printed at home on paper or cardstock, and even hole punched to fit in your favorite binder.
What is your one tip for having a better morning? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to enjoy breakfast each morning– you can learn more about Jif Peanut Powder and it’s benefits, plus get more great ideas by visiting the Jif social hub; you can also find out how to purchase by visiting the Jif page on Walmart’s website.
