The New Weekday Routine We’ve Fallen Into

I wrote a post in 2017 outlining our daily rhythm, which was created out of necessity on the heels of my husband’s 4th deployment. Not only did our kids do better when they had some semblance of what to expect each day, but I found that I enjoyed the toddler/preschool stage of motherhood much more knowing what I had time for and what I didn’t (a.k.a. my actual priorities vs. things that weren’t).

Our daily rhythm gave me an intentional daily plan to tackle our wants (social time) and needs (taking physical care of ourselves and our home) and most days left me feeling more accomplished, rested, and generally like I had my junk semi-together, even though I was flyin’ solo with no help. Notice I said most days, certainly not all. 😉

Life is so different than it was just 18 months ago, so our routine has changed. I wouldn’t say that we necessarily have an intentionally-thought out daily rhythm like we previously had in Kansas, but I would say that the weekday routine we’ve fallen into is consistent and works really well for our family.

In fact, I know that it’s about to change so much with the upcoming addition of a new baby and Hadley’s launch into kindergarten, and I actually feel sad about it ending. What we’re doing now just works for us, but at the same time we can’t wait for what’s ahead either. Whether we intentionally create a new daily rhythm come the fall or we fall nicely into one spontaneously, I know we’ll do our best to roll with it.

For now though, here’s a rough look at our weekday routine.

Our daily routine with a five year old and three year old

4:20 a.m. | WAKE UP & SWEAT

My alarm goes off. I’m out the door at 4:40 for the gym and Jamie’s alarm goes off.

5 a.m. We both work out.

6 a.m. – 6:45 a.m. | GET READY

We both get ready for the day. Usually one or both of the kids is in our room by 6:30, so they’ll lay in our bed our sit on the floor in our bathroom/my closet while we finish up getting ready for the day.

6:45 a.m. Make our bed, start a load of laundry, everyone moves into the kitchen/living room.

6:45 a.m. Unload and load dishwasher, put breakfast on the table for the girls for whenever they’re ready for it

7 – 7:30 a.m. | HELLO COFFEE

I sip coffee on the couch, read a devotional/magazine/watch GMA, Jamie eats breakfast and is out the door

7:30-7:45 a.m. I go through my inbox while the girls finish breakfast

7:45-8:45 a.m. | FOCUS ON GETTING OUT THE DOOR

Make lunches, get girls dressed and ready for school, I eat breakfast, me and the girls out the door

9:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | MY MOST MOTIVATED HOURS

(Hadley is in school every day and Sadie is in school three days a week): Sadie’s dance class, coffee or lunch with friends, home or coffee shop to blog, home to do laundry or clean house, go to appointments, run errands I’d rather not do with the kids, etc. This time is always BUSY.

1 p.m. | BACK IN MOM MODE/FOCUS ON KIDS

Preschool pick-up

1:15 – 3:30 p.m. Unload bags, load dishwasher, girls eat a snack, down for quiet time, I rest rest REST and shut my brain off via a nap, Netflix, or scrolling Pinterest

3:30 Girls awake, they watch TV/a movie, jump on trampoline/play on swing set while I hang with them outside on the covered patio

4:45 Start cooking dinner

5:30 | TREASURED FAMILY TIME

Jamie home, sit down for dinner

5:50 Clean up dinner, head out on a walk and/or hang in front yard with neighbors (or more TV time or play a game if it’s cold or raining)

6:45 – 7:30 p.m. | SHUTTING DOWN THE DAY

Bath time for girls, get ready for bed, read books, say prayers, lights out

7:45 We both usually straighten up the living room and kitchen together, start dishwasher, wind down

9:15 Heading to bed, I’m usually asleep by 9:30 and Jamie usually stays awake reading or watching TV until 10:30

The only caveat to this routine is that sometimes Jamie or I will be out in the evening at a bible study or out to dinner with friends once in a blue moon. Typically though we don’t like to plan much for weeknights. Our weekends inevitably fill up with all kinds of random stuff, so we really (!) like to protect our weeknights and not be too committed. We both crave slow evenings as a way to recharge (and enjoy) busy days and weekends.

Let’s chat!

When you think about your daily routine, is it one that you’ve intentionally created and are mindful of, or did you kind of just fall into one you like on accident?

Do you thrive on routine, or does your family do better generally “going with the flow” each day?

In what ways does your family’s routine mirror ours?