The Morning Shift: How I Created a Routine That Brings Peace and Productivity to My Homeschool

“Creating a Peaceful and Productive Start to My Day—One Morning at a Time”

When I first began the journey of home educating my children, I was overwhelmed. I was juggling the roles of mother, teacher, homemaker , wife and somewhere in the whirlwind, I came across a community of Titus 2 women—godly mentors whose lives reflected wisdom, grace, and quiet strength.

They inspired me deeply. They didn’t just offer practical tips for homeschooling—they offered spiritual encouragement that called me to pause and reflect. One thing they challenged me to do was to assess my daily schedule. At the time, I was struggling with consistency, constantly pouring myself out for my children while letting my own cup run empty.

I was weary. Spiritually dry. Emotionally frayed.

Matthew 11:29 met me in my time of need :“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That verse reminded me that Jesus offers us rest—but we can’t receive it if we’re too overwhelmed to even notice the invitation.

What struck me most about so many of the mom’s I was learning from was how many of them made it a practice to rise early in the morning to spend time with the Lord. Honestly, my first reaction was, Lord, how would waking up earlier help me feel less exhausted?

But then I remembered a powerful illustration I once saw at church: the glass jar and the pebbles. If you’ve never seen this demonstration, click here to watch it.

In short, the illustration shows that when you fill your jar (your day) with the small, unimportant things first, there’s no room for what really matters. But if you start with the big things—faith, family, purpose—everything else falls into place. It’s a simple yet powerful visual reminder that placing God at the centre of all we do is the single most important decision we can make.

And here’s the good news: we’re not expected to do this on our own. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What a comfort to know that God’s strength meets us exactly where our own ends.

And when we pray—when we bring our needs, schedules, and struggles before Him—we can trust that He hears. As 1 John 5:14–15 reminds us: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

Crafting a Morning Schedule That Fills, Fuels, and Focuses Me

When I began to take a serious look at my daily routine, one thing became clear: I needed to start my mornings with purpose if I wanted to experience peace and productivity throughout the day. I knew I wanted to use my quiet time in the morning to prioritise time with God—not squeeze Him into the cracks of a chaotic schedule.

So I started crafting a rhythm that reflects my values, my season of life, and my need for both structure and flexibility.

While I aim to be awake by 5:00 a.m., I also give myself permission to adjust. On nights when we have later evening church commitments, I know I won’t get into bed at my usual time and I try to prioritise sleep. So the morning after I allow myself to sleep in a little longer if needed and then shift into a slightly later version of my morning routine. I’ve learned that discipline and grace are not at odds—they work best hand-in-hand.

In the summer months, when it’s already light here in the UK by 6 a.m., I love starting my day with a Bible study and a prayer walk on my alternate gym days. There’s something incredibly grounding about walking and talking with God in the stillness of the early morning. It helps me reframe my mindset and begin the day anchored in truth. Four alternate mornings a week after bible study, I head to the gym with my husband. It’s become a special time for us to connect, and it’s also how I take care of my physical health. My workout typically includes some weight training followed by time on the treadmill—which I use as an opportunity to listen to a sermon, devotional podcast, or something else that helps me grow. I need to add that I home educate through chronic illness and that sometimes I am unable to get into the gym due to this but I try to be as consistent as I can with my morning exercises even if it a YouTube work out (I love Gro with Jo) or a walk.

Practical Anchors

My morning rhythm also includes some very practical habits that help me stay grounded:

• Starting a load of laundry (keeping the household running!)
• Review my catch all planner
• Reviewing my daily goal planner 
• Completing my budget binder 
• Review the home ed schedule for the day

These small but intentional tasks help me enter the day feeling clear-minded and focused it also what I refer to as my Life Admin Time , so emails, bills, post I need

Finally, I take time to care for my personal hygiene, skin care, and get dressed—even on non-gym days. I’ve learned that staying in my pajamas can leave me feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Dressing for the day—even if I’m not leaving the house—sets the tone for intentional living. I have a condition which causes wide spread pain across my body and so the temptation to remain in my pjs is strong!!

Whether you’re just starting to build your own morning routine or looking to refine what’s already working, my encouragement is this: start small and start with God. He’s not asking for perfection—just presence.

So dear mama, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, know this:
You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a willing heart.
Start your day with Jesus. Let Him order your steps.
Your cup can be full—not because of your own strength, but because of His unfailing grace.