You wake up in the morning. What is the first thing on your mind? I’d really love to know; you can comment below and share. Personally, I’m not a morning person. My mind instantly begins negotiating to stay in bed longer. After I get the cobwebs out of my head, and begin to wake up with some good black coffee, I naturally begin my routine and start my day. As everyone, I begin to think what do I have to do today?
Some of us already have our day written and planned out. Others are thinking about it for the first time at 8am. Regardless of when that process happens, I haven’t met any Mama that doesn’t wonder what the day ahead of her holds. We all plan what needs to be done. What needs have to be met. We then jump right in. Ready or not, the day is upon us.
Mental preparation
When we hit the ground running, we are meeting the physical things on our to-do lists. I’m going to challenge us a bit this week on some other ways to prepare. Are we spending the same amount of time, or any time even, equipping ourselves to meet our mental needs of the day? There will always be things that need to be done, but motivation rests in the mind. It’s a mental state. If we are to be motivated and also empowered to complete everything that grabs for our attention that day, it’s worth evaluating and fueling yourself both mentally and spiritually as well.
My solution to prepare yourself mentally for the day is to begin with a morning check in. This is a simple exercise that allows you to be intentional about self-reflection. It will help you be in tune with what is going on with you so that you can go on to be your very best. It’s a simple string of questions you ask yourself that allows you to do a mental tune up each morning. See where your levels are, and address anything that may need attention.
Let’s not stop there, though. This is also just as helpful for our kids. Just think of the difference you could have if you were intentional about checking in with your kids before the day begins? Rather than running around, what if we actually sat at the table and ate a little breakfast with them? We asked them how they felt. It doesn’t have to be pancakes and eggs. Grab a yogurt and granola bar and sit and talk. For their morning check-in, you can simply ask them any of these sample questions:
Spiritual preparation
In addition to preparing ourselves mentally, we should also be preparing ourselves spiritually. Rather than focusing on the things we are dreading, or all the work that needs to be done, we can focus on the gift that this day truly is.
If our low fuel light is on spiritually, we are going to be less effective in every other aspect of life. God is with you every moment, but it’s amazing how sensitive you are to His spirit and leading when you are reading what He has to say in His Word each morning. Doing this is the best way to ensure your spiritual tank is full.
You don’t have to read a whole chapter, or work through a complex reading plan. You do not need bible highlighters and a fancy journal. Just start by reading a verse a day. Any part of God’s Word that you welcome into your morning will help change the trajectory of your day, filling up your cup.
Let your kids see this is important to you. Include them in on learning new verses or songs. Pray together when you eat breakfast in the morning. Pray before school starts. Any steps we take, even if they are not picture perfect, is the perfect place to start.
Research says this matters
When you get up tomorrow morning, focus no longer on just the physical needs of your day. Focus on how you are feeling mentally and spiritually. Analyze how you can give yourself a tune up in areas that may require attention.
Parents and teachers really began focusing on these morning check-ins with their children consistently when COVID made an appearance in 2020. Research started studying it closer as well, and found the benefits that a simple check-in could provide. The findings of one study predicted that checking in to see how a child was feeling in the morning was a deciding factor whether or not they required behavior support later in the day. Those that had a caring adult ask how they were doing that morning, were less likely go engage in inappropriate behavior. Their cups were filled, they felt heard.
Behavior is ultimately communication. If we allow our children the opportunity to communicate how they are feeling with their words, we are proactively preventing them from expressing it through inappropriate behavior.
Have you listened to the podcast?
Morning check ins comes up when I’m interviewed on the Nourished Mom podcast. If you haven’t listened to the episode, click the graphic and listen today while you’re washing the dishes.
One way to watch the monitor on how you are doing mentally and spiritually, especially in the realm of motherhood, is to stay connected to an encouraging Mama community. If you are not already apart of JYC, we’d love to have you subscribe and dive in each Monday with us. Together we are after being the best Mamas we can be!
As always, if your child is struggling with behavior or anxiety, or you are not sure what you are seeing is “normal”, I’d love to come alongside you and help! Great Mamas ask for help, and I’m one phone call away!
References:
Blankenship, Diana, and Irma Jones. “COVID-19 Student Mental Health Check .” Research in Higher Education Journal , vol. 39, Jan. 2021.
Weber, Meredith A., et al. “Can Less Be More for Students at-Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Evaluating Components of Check-in/Check-Out.” Education and Treatment of Children, vol. 42, no. 4, 2019, pp. 469–488., https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2019.0022.