Well guys, I’ve completed Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Mornings course as of today. The course is NOT just about getting up earlier, though I will say that I AM waking up earlier than normal (by choice). The course is about prioritizing your day, allowing yourself time to relax, setting goals for yourself and accomplishing them bit by bit, creating an effective to-do list and more!
First of all, I loved the course. But, I’m a long-time reader of Money Saving Mom and I love Crystal Paine! One of the main reasons I bought the course was because you get a peak into her life! The course is 14 days, and all 14 days include a chapter to read, a task out of a workbook and a video from Crystal (my favorite part!).
Make Over Your Mornings: Course Review
Two weeks ago, this was my schedule:
I would wake up between 6:15am and 6:45am to one of my precious daughter’s screaming. I would try to ignore them, get irritated, then get out of bed angrily to go get my wide-awake child out of bed. And more than likely, whichever child was still sleeping would be awake by now, too. I’d change their diapers while rubbing my eyes, I wouldn’t be interacting with them because – let’s face it – I was exhausted, and we’d head downstairs for milks (for them) and coffee (for me).
I would get them breakfast and try to sit down at the computer to check emails and get myself oriented. But of course, as little ones do, they constantly needed my assistance throughout their meal. If it were a day care day, I would be praising the Lord that I would get some time to work and some time to myself once I dropped them off.
Some of you are probably thinking I’m a mean mom. I can assure you I love my kids more than anything, but I am NOT a morning person when I’m being woken up by screaming. I need time to brush my teeth, have a coffee and just be. Here’s the thing though – my kid’s waking up early is not their fault. Of course they can wake up early! All kids wake up early. Me being grumpy in the mornings is solely on me.
Now, let’s take a look at my schedule:
I’ve been setting the alarm for 5:30 every day for the past two weeks. I didn’t set my alarm on the weekend, and there were two days where I didn’t get out of bed until almost 6:00am (but this was still before the girls). One of the morning’s I did some light exercises, four of the mornings I blogged, and the rest of the morning’s I used to talk to my husband, relax with a coffee and check emails / browse the internet.
My girls would wake between 6:15 and 6:45 still, but the difference was that I was happy to see them. Most mornings I was dressed and ready for the day before they started crying. A few of the mornings I even remember missing them and wanting them to get up!
So, for me, waking up early was key to setting my day up for success.
Perhaps this isn’t an issue with you. Maybe you just want to get more done throughout the day and not feel like you’re doing a million little things that add up to nothing. Make Over Your Morning’s has a section dedicated to setting goals and focusing on the BIG CHUNKS in your life (marriage, parenting and freelancing are three of mine). Crystal shows you how to break these big chunks down into smaller ones. While I knew this going into the course, it was honestly the encouragement that I needed to get back to accomplishing my goals.
Tips for the course
If you do decide to give the course a try, I recommend going into it with a completely open mind. Be willing to work through the chapters and be willing to make changes to your day. We all have goals – and if you’ve been slacking with them – Crystal’s course can help get you back on track!
Go at your own pace. The course is supposed to be done over the course of 14 days at the same time every day. I see the value in this, because it gets you in the habit of creating a routine just with the course itself. I, however, read ahead, re-read certain chapters multiple times, did a few of the lessons more than once and watched the videos over the course of three days rather than 14. This is what worked for me. If you would rather knock out the course in two days, go for it!
Keep referring back to it. Finally, this isn’t a course I plan on never looking at again. My goal is to take a look at some of my favorite chapters from the course once a week (or more) to keep me on track. These past two weeks have been two of the most productive weeks I’ve had in a while. My house is cleaner, my parenting has improved, I have more time for my marriage and – best of all – my mood has improved significantly.
Final thoughts
Even if you don’t want to go through the course, my advice to you is to try to create a routine that makes your life easier and more enjoyable. While I’m not up early doing dishes and laundry like some people are, creating a morning routine for myself has greatly impacted how my days go and my overall mood. Today, for example, my morning routine was cut short because my youngest was up extra early, but I still was able to enjoy a quick coffee before heading into her room. Even those three minutes to myself put me in a better mood.
If you are interested in learning more, click the image below!
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
atI don’t think it makes you a mean Mom at all to need a few minutes to yourself in the morning to just be and wake up on your own terms. I’m the exact same way. I think it’s because I’m a total introvert (masked as an extrovert at times though) that thrives off alone time. I feel drained if I start my day off needing to be “on” instead of first enjoying my coffee and breakfast. And then I get to Little Miss when she’s still babbling as she first wakes up and go into her room while she’s still happy instead of screaming bloody murder like usual. MUCH more pleasant.
That’s so great that you were able to make a huge overall of your mornings through Crystal’s course!
I’m working on waking up earlier in general, but have only been successful 1 day so far this week…whoops. It’s still one of my goals though! 🙂
Sarah Brooks says
atYeah waking up early has been hard, but I always just remind myself that I get quiet time and COFFEE!! That usually gets me out of bed lol. My kids are just the worst sleepers – in the morning, they don’t really babble or talk…they are either crying or screaming “mama!!” “mama!!” lol!!
Layne says
atHere Makeover your evenings course will help make it easier to wake up earlier. I know she made the Makeover Your Mornings course first, but in my opinion, you should actually start with the Makeover Your Evenings course.
Layne says
at**Here Makeover…
Sarah Brooks says
atThat’s good to know!! I’ve actually been wanting to take her MOYE course but just haven’t had the time yet. Evenings for me are tough because I’m SO TIRED lol! I try to get all my work, chores, errands, etc. done for the day before like 5:00pm that way I can relax with the family and then just crash, haha!
Heather @ Simply Save says
atI don’t have kids, but I can relate to those quiet moments in the morning. When I worked the night shift I was up several hours before work, so I had time to take the dog for a walk, sip some coffee and read emails, blog etc. All before the hectic hustle of getting ready to go to work. Now I’m back on day shift and start work at 6am and I wake up at 4:45 to be on time. I can’t bring myself to wake up any earlier than that, so now it’s just roll out of bed and GO. I do miss those peaceful mornings!
Sarah Brooks says
atOh wow I wouldn’t be able to get up earlier than 4:45am!! In college, I worked at Starbucks and had to be there at 4:00am. I was up at 3:15am, that is, assuming I went to bed. Some nights I’d just stay up and then come home and sleep!
I’m guessing you get to enjoy quiet time in the afternoons now after work. I loved that when I worked at Starbucks 🙂
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
atI am a morning person but I still don’t function well if it’s a burst of adrenaline that’s been my wake up call – like this morning when the neighbour’s escapee rooster started crowing on my veranda, at 5am. I have to tell you, that critter is living dangerously!!!
It sounds like the course was just what you needed to sort out a better approach to starting your day. As a freelancer that has to translate to getting more work done in less time.
Sarah Brooks says
atOh my haha!! I’ve never had that happen but I can imagine it not being pleasant!!
And yes – definitely getting up early has made me more productive work-wise, as well. As of now, I don’t write early in the morning (other than blogging), but I’m hoping to change that soon!!
Bethany @ Online Therapy and Coaching says
atThat sounds like a really nice course. Starting the day with a calming ritual can do a lot of set you up for success.
Sarah Brooks says
atHi Bethany! Thanks for the comment 🙂 I completely agree – starting my day off in silence and being able to wake up just to my own thoughts has made such a difference! This is definitely a habit I’m planning on continuing.
Ashley Brooks says
atYou’re “before” mornings described the story of my life. 🙂 I try so hard to wake up before Hadley, but sometimes it feels impossible! Her room is right next to ours, so I try to keep my alarm on the quiet side so it doesn’t wake her up, too, and completely defeat the purpose. Unfortunately, I’m a really deep sleeper, and 60% of the time I don’t hear my alarm at all. :/ I’m convinced that if she’d just start sleeping through the night already, I could do it . . .
The days I do manage to get up early are magical, though! In a perfect world, I’d switch between working out and writing every other morning. My longest stretch has been three days in a row. I’ll have to get creative on an alarm situation so I don’t have anymore excuses for not getting up!
Sarah Brooks says
atOh wow you are a deep sleeper!!! I am the world’s lightest sleeper, haha! For me the hardest thing is just HOW early I have to get up lately to beat my girls! They seem to be rising earlier and earlier…but I’m thankful I’m still at least able to have some coffee and wake up before I go get them. I know one of these days I’ll be the one waking them for school and telling them to get up on the weekends, so this is just a phase!
Jenny says
atBeen thinking about this course for awhile and deciding to take the plunge and go for it with some Christmas money. Hope you get credit for going through your site.
Just an FYI, the images go to her grocery university course, not the makeover mornings course. At least on my phone.
Thanks for the review!
Sarah Brooks says
atHi Jenny!! Her course was awesome! I still refer back to it. It will not disappoint!! And thank you so much for letting me know that my banners take you elsewhere, ay ay ay!!!! I feel like I run into so many small issues like this with my blog :/ Thank you!!!! Let me know how the course works out!!
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