My Realistic 6 AM Morning Routine as a Stay-at-Home Mom (What I Actually Do Every Day)
- amydarley
- Apr 29
- 8 min read
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Hey y'all! If you've ever wondered what a typical day actually looks like for a stay-at-home mom, this post is for you. I'm sharing my real 6 AM morning routine on a normal school day — from getting my two kids out the door to my workout, quiet time, skincare, and getting dinner started in the crockpot.
This isn't a perfect Pinterest-worthy routine. It's the real thing. Some days are smooth, some days I'm running behind — but having a structure makes everything easier. If you want to watch the full video version of this routine, I've embedded it below. Otherwise, keep reading for everything I use, including links!
Shop Everything in This Routine
Want the quick shop link? → Shop My LTK Morning Routine Post for everything I'm wearing, using, and loving in this video, all in one place.
6:00 AM — Wake Up & Get Breakfast Going
My alarm goes off at 6:00 AM and I head straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth and put my contacts in. Then I go to the kitchen to get breakfast started. I always start breakfast first, especially when I'm using the oven — that way it can preheat while I get myself ready, and we have enough time to actually eat before we head out the door.
Today we're doing bacon in the oven and the kids are grabbing leftover muffins. Easy, fast, and something they can eat quickly or take in the car if needed. Our goal is to be out the door by 7:05 AM — if we leave any later, traffic on the way to school is no joke.
Getting Ready in My Workout Outfit
While the kids are getting ready, I throw on a workout outfit because I'm headed straight to Hotworx after I drop them off. My entire outfit is from Amazon — I have on my absolute favorite leggings, a flowy workout top (perfect for the gym, walks, or Hotworx), and a sports bra tank top.
I have everything linked in my LTK morning routine post if you want to shop my exact outfit.
Filling Water Bottles + Liquid IV
Once the kids come down, I finish up breakfast prep, fill their water bottles for the day, and toss them in their book bags. They pretty much always pack their lunches the night before — they pick what they want to eat and put anything that doesn't need to be refrigerated in their lunch box, then grab leftovers from the fridge in the morning. Sometimes they buy school lunch, but most days it's leftovers or a turkey sandwich.
Then I fill my own water bottle and add a packet of my favorite Liquid IV electrolytes — the cotton candy flavor is SO good. I buy mine in a multi-pack on TikTok Shop because it's always cheaper there than Amazon or in stores.
7:05 AM — Out the Door for School
We pack up the car and head out the door at 7:05 AM. The drive to school takes about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic. My daughter is in 7th grade and starts at 8:05, and my son is in 9th grade and starts at 8:15.
After Drop-Off: Hotworx Workout
After I drop the kids off, I head straight to Hotworx. There are a few locations near me, and I usually go to the one that's least busy on school mornings — it's so quiet I can almost always get a sauna to myself.
Today's workout is Hot Bar, which is one of my absolute favorites. Some of my other go-tos are yoga, Pilates, Hot Buns, and Hot Blast (their HIIT workout). I usually set the sauna between 125°–130°F. The regular workouts are 35–45 minutes and the HIIT workouts are only 15 minutes.
I try to get to Hotworx at least 3 days a week for sauna workouts and a couple more times for the FX Zone (their weights area). If you love to sweat, you'll love Hotworx. I come out dripping every single time.
Quick Starbucks Run (Sometimes!)
I had a couple of gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, so on the way home I stopped at Starbucks for egg bites and a sugar-free iced caramel protein latte. Between the two it's about 49 grams of protein, which is amazing. I don't do this every morning — it was just a treat day.
Back Home: Quiet Time + Planning
Once I'm home, it's quiet time. I use my Bible in a Year journal along with the YouVersion Bible app on my phone for the daily reading. I love how the journal gives you a theme for the week and Bible verses to go with that theme. Some weeks I'm a little behind, but I'm loving working through it.
Pull out my planner and check off any leftover to-dos. I also use a free block schedule printable that helps me organize my day in time blocks (work, errands, cleaning, kids' stuff). It keeps me from feeling scattered and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.
A Walk + Audible Book
After quiet time and planning, I head out for a walk. I always wear a hat instead of sunglasses — my sunglasses always slip down my face once I start sweating, and a hat keeps the sun off way better.
I love listening to Audible books on my walks. Right now I'm reading Lock Every Door by Riley Sager — a psychological thriller, which is my favorite genre. I usually walk between 2–4 miles. Today I did 2 since I already had a Hotworx workout.
Make the Bed + Open Blinds
Back home from my walk, I open the blinds and make the bed. There's something about a made bed and natural light pouring in that resets my whole vibe. Then it's shower time — my favorite part of the morning, especially after a sweaty Hotworx workout.
Shower + Skincare Routine (Medicube)
After my shower, I do my full skincare routine. Lately I've been obsessed with the viral Medicube products from TikTok Shop. They're everywhere right now for a reason — they actually work.
Here's everything I use in my morning skincare:
Cleanser
Cleansing pore pads (my favorite!)
Toner
Serum
Moisturizer
I bought most of these in a bundle on TikTok Shop that also includes an exosome shot (basically micro-needling in a bottle), a collagen night wrapping mask, a collagen jelly cream, and gel masks. The bundle is exclusive to TikTok Shop — the Medicube website doesn't even have it.
After skincare, it's lotion, deodorant, blow-dry my hair, makeup, and curl my hair. Most of my makeup is from TikTok Shop too — anything you'd buy at Ulta or Sephora is usually cheaper there.
Start a Load of Laundry
Once I'm ready for the day, I start a load of laundry. Today it's my daughter's clothes — I have her bring her basket downstairs the night before so it's already there. Later in the day I'll switch them over and fold before bed.
Tidy Up the House
I always start tidying in the kitchen — dishes, wipe down the counters, and run a quick sweep of the floors with my Dreame G10 Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum. This thing is a game-changer because it vacuums and mops at the same time, so I can hit the kitchen floor in about 2 minutes flat.
Then I move into the living room — fluff the pillows, fold blankets, do a quick once-over. If you're curious about my full cleaning schedule, I have a separate post breaking down what I clean each day of the week.
→ Read: My Easy Weekly Cleaning Routine for Busy Moms
Lunch + Dinner Prep in the Crockpot
For lunch, I usually keep it simple — today it was a turkey and cheese wrap heated on the stove with chips and a Diet Dr. Pepper (always). After lunch, I get dinner started in the crockpot so I'm not scrambling at 5 PM.
I use my favorite Drew Barrymore 6qt Crockpot — it's beautiful enough to leave out on the counter (I never hide it in a cabinet anymore) and the 6-quart size is perfect for our family with leftovers.
Today's dinner: crockpot teriyaki meatballs over jasmine rice with broccoli. I literally toss frozen meatballs in the crockpot, mix together the teriyaki sauce ingredients, pour it on top, and let it cook all day. Add cooked broccoli at the end and serve over rice. So easy. So good. The whole family loves it.
If you're doing crockpot chicken, a Chicken Shredder is hands-down the best $15 I've spent in my kitchen. It shreds a whole crockpot of chicken in about 30 seconds.
Want more easy dinner ideas? My Dinner Made Simple cookbook has 20 of our family's favorite easy weeknight recipes with clickable shopping links — perfect if you're tired of staring into the fridge wondering what to cook.
Afternoon Block: Content Editing
From early afternoon until 2:25 PM, I work at my computer editing YouTube videos and Instagram Reels. I batch my filming on Mondays and Tuesdays, then spend the rest of the week editing and scheduling. Then at 2:25, I'm out the door to pick up the kids — and the second half of my day begins.
Frequently Asked Questions About My Morning Routine
What time do you wake up as a stay-at-home mom?
On school days I wake up at 6:00 AM. We need to be out the door by 7:05 AM to avoid heavy traffic, and starting breakfast at 6 gives us enough time to actually eat instead of grabbing food in the car.
Do you do this exact routine every day?
Most weekdays look like this, yes. The morning structure (school drop-off, workout, quiet time, shower) stays the same. The afternoon shifts depending on appointments, content filming, and my kids' activities. Having a consistent morning gives me freedom in the rest of my day.
What is Hotworx and is it worth it?
Hotworx is an infrared sauna fitness studio with workouts like Hot Bar, Hot Pilates, Hot Yoga, Hot Buns, and HIIT classes (Hot Blast). The sauna heats between 125°–130°F so you sweat a TON. For me, it's 100% worth it because the workouts are short (35–45 min, or 15 min HIIT) and I leave dripping every time.
What Bible app do you use?
I use the YouVersion Bible app paired with my Bible in a Year journal. The app makes it easy to listen to or read the daily passage, and the journal helps me reflect with weekly themes and verses.
Is TikTok Shop safe to buy from?
I've personally never had any issues. The brands I shop — like Medicube and Liquid IV — ship straight from the brand, not a third-party seller. Just look for the official brand storefront on the product page (not random resellers) and you should be fine. The deals are usually significantly better than Amazon or store retail.
Final Thoughts: Build a Routine That Works For YOUR Life
There's no perfect morning routine — there's just the one that works for YOUR family and YOUR season of life. Mine has evolved a ton over the years as my kids have gotten older. Right now, with two kids in school, this 6 AM rhythm is what gives me energy, focus, and time to actually take care of myself instead of running on fumes.
Want help building your own routine? My Free Block Schedule Printable is the exact tool I use to map out my day. Download it, print it, and use it to find rhythms that actually fit your life.
And if you want to shop everything in this routine in one quick scroll, head to my LTK morning routine post. You can also follow me on YouTube and Instagram for more day-to-day life and behind the scenes!
You've got this, mama. 💕
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