What is the best morning routine for a working mom? It is one that puts your physical and mental health first. My guess is you probably do not have long stretches of time to yourself once your first kid gets up. Your day may involve getting the kids ready for school, packing lunches, dropping everyone off at their respective schools/preschools, going to work for a hectic day of meetings, picking everyone up, and then doing all of the activities on the after-school infinite task list (baths, homework, filed trip permission slips, groceries, laundry, etc.), and crashing shortly after the kids do.

The way to win is to win in the morning. 

I run 40+ miles a week. I read 60+ books a year. I am founder and CEO of a growing multimillion dollar company. I have four kids, including a baby.

If I can do it, you can do it.  

(If you insist you cannot do it, show me the screentime tracker on your phone, and I will show you that you can.)

The truth is that when we make excuses about why we cannot get something done, we are actually only hurting ourselves.

A mom with two young kids recently told me “there is no time to exercise when you have kids!” And I get it. That feels true. But try believing a different thought—there is, in fact, ample time. You just have to believe it is possible and plan accordingly. For example:

• Get up early and run on the treadmill in the basement with the baby monitor on (welcome to my world).
• Use a jogging stroller
• Do YouTube workout videos in your living room.
• Exercise with your kids (there are kid-friendly workout videos on YouTube that will leave you sore!)

When a mom with multiple small kids says there is “no time to exercise” very few people are going to argue with her or question her. (If you do, you will be the most unpopular person in that group!) In fact, most people will easily agree. They praise you for just surviving.  “Look at all you have to do! How do you even get them all to school in the morning? You are working and doing everything!  You are supermom!”  It is kind. And while it is nice that someone understands the time commitment and cognitive burden of being a mom, this is actually not doing you any favors. In fact, it is a trap.

Here is the truth: As soon as we start making up excuses for why we cannot take care of own mental and physical health, we are truly hurting ourselves. And, by extension, we are hurting our families.

That sounds maybe a bit over the top, but it is not.

• When I do not make time to journal and run in the morning, I am irritable. This affects my mood, it affects my work, and it affects my family.
• If I do not make my mental and physical health as a priority, I am setting a bad example for my kids. I am teaching them, through my actions, that their health does not matter either.
• If I do not make time to go to the doctor and get the vaccines and preventative care that is recommended, I truly risk hurting my family either through spreading illness or dying from a very preventable illness. That sounds over the top but it is not. In fact, it happens every single day.

So let’s choose to believe that there is time to exercise, for mental and spiritual development, and to take care of ourselves.

Why Waking Up Early Is the Best Morning Routine for a Working Mom

I’m not saying this as a guy with grown kids and a wife who “handles everything.”
I’m saying this as you.
I am the one who handles everything. I am you.

Getting up early is a game-changer. I don’t say this lightly—I say it because it works. David Goggins talks about starting the day with a “Day One, Week One” mentality. And I love that.

When I am getting ready for an 8 mile run at 4:30 in the morning, I frequently remind myself of the “Day One” Mentality. It is easy to feel motivated on New Years Day. On Monday when we have something to prove. On a new month or a new sales cycle at work. But by Thursday afternoon, it is hard to care so much. By Friday morning, we are basically done…and we feel “done” for the next three days – about half the week! That resigned attitude affects us more than we know. 

If you want to be the best version of yourself, you cannot be in a mental slump for literally half of the week.

So try starting each morning early and with a Day One mentality.  Set your own standard and keep surpassing it. Keep raising the bar. Prove to yourself who you are. When you are tempted to slack off, ask  “how would I act if this was day one of trying to accomplish whatever goal I wanted to accomplish?” We act different on Monday morning than we do on Friday afternoon. This question helps refocus us.

If that doesn’t resonate, you can ask, “how would I act if I was being watched?” If someone was noticing you and paying attention, you put in more effort and you have a better attitude. Act like this all the time. Maybe no one is watching you but you are watching you. And your opinion of yourself matters so much more than anyone else’s. What you think of yourself will determine how you act in that moment and the rest of the day.

Your actions should inspire both others and you yourself to try harder. And do more. Start early and start strong. This will build your confidence, motivation, and energy more than any number of cups of coffee could (though by all means, don’t skip the coffee!).

My favorite way to start the day?

• 20 minutes of journaling
• An 8-mile run
• A hot shower
• Getting dressed and getting ready so I feel good about myself

That’s my morning routine 6 out of 7 days a week. It sets the tone for everything. Once I finish that, I’m ready to dive into a focused, intentional workday. My calendar is already blocked with clear goals by the hour. Does the day ever go off-script? Of course. But starting strong helps me navigate whatever comes my way.

Before I switch into work mode, I often challenge myself to do something intentional for my family—cut up fruit as a healthy snack for the kids, take out the trash, play with one of my kids for a few minutes. No one notices. But I notice. And that energy fuels my day.

Final Thoughts: The Morning Routine for a Working Mom Starts with You

Though you may be tempted, don’t press snooze on your phone. Or slack on your morning run. Or show up late. Instead, get up on time. Go the extra mile (literally). Set your own standard, then surpass it.  

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about starting strong, building confidence, and taking full ownership of your day—before the rest of the world wakes up.

Because you matter. And the best way to show up for your family, your work, and your goals is to first show up for yourself.