Have you ever taken the time to assess the effectiveness of your morning routine? Often times, the first thing we do when we wake up grab our phone and start engaging with the world. Whether it’s picking up our phones to check our social media or rolling out of bed and right in front of our laptops to check our emails, we are always active and willing participants of the daily hustle.
Getting up and getting right to it seems like a positive step toward being productivity, but girl let me tell you–it’s not! Being able to collect yourself and sit at the moment is how you keep a clear head before you try to conquer what’s next.
Quick 5-minute meditation, praying, saying affirmations, taking deep breaths in the morning air, and stretching in bed before getting up are all better options than jumping straight into the day. The goal is to be proactive rather than reactive; we don’t let our environment control us, we control our environment!
Tip: Buy a cute, digital alarm clock instead of using the one on your phone or laptop to curve the temptation of using your phone after you wake up.
Nourish and Care For Your Body
How we care for our body is an obvious big deal and the importance of it is only amplified when we think about what we do to and with our bodies the first thing in the morning. Showering, moisturizing, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking tons of water is important for great health and hygiene, but they also are great if you want to feel good.
In order to nourish and care for yourself in a way that makes you feel good on a personal level, think about some problems you may have that need fixing.
Maybe you struggle with sluggishness in the morning–drinking water and taking multivitamins first thing in the morning could gradually help energize your body!
Or maybe you notice that you feel better when you take Epsom salt baths after the gym instead of a regular shower, so now you work that into your weekly morning routine. Figure out what works best for you and your body and start incorporating it into your morning routine.
Tip: Keep a journal by your bed and track how you feel every morning. It’ll give you a better idea of what you need to feel good on a daily basis.
Get Moving!
I know, I know–exercising in the morning automatically sounds like the world’s biggest hassle when there are so many other things you have to do in the day!
However, getting a good workout doesn’t always mean being drenched in sweat for 2 hours a day at the gym; It can be incredibly fun and rewarding if you find something that you enjoy doing and be consistent with it.
Yoga, pilates, basketball, spin class, dance, distance running, walking, kickboxing, and swimming are just a few examples of some things you can do to get your heart pumping and blood flowing! Do you know what’s even better?
There are tons of effective workout videos and cheap equipment to use so you can work out in the comfort of your own home!
If you’re still not convinced that adding exercise to your morning routine is a good idea, just consider the benefits: mental clarity, elevated metabolism, improved mood, and better sleep. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Give it a try!
Tip: Make an encouraging and upbeat (or relaxing and peaceful) workout playlist that’s about 30 minutes long, and make it a goal to keep your body moving until the playlist has played all the way through one time!
Go Over Your Daily Plans
If we’re being real, wasted time, and laziness are really just a result of being disorganized and overwhelmed. When you don’t know what you’re doing for the day or you have no real clear course of action, you can easily fall into the procrastination pit. So, sit down and go over your plans.
Grab a notebook, whiteboard, app, or planner and start going over what you need and want to do for the day. Already know what needs to be done? Review it and get everything you need together and get started. Starting your morning with this level of productivity helps you stay on track all day long!
Tip: Instead of writing a new to-do list every day, sit down during one day of the week–like a Sunday–and clearly plan out the next 7 days. Read it every morning and say a few affirmations to keep you focused and positive.
Need some inspiration? Here’s my personal morning routine:
6:00 AM – Prayer and Gratitude – I pray and say thank you for all of the beautiful things in my life that I’m grateful for. It helps me start the day off on a peaceful and positive note.
6:15 AM – Yoga and Running – Instead of going to the gym, I decide to do yoga and sprints in front of my house. The morning air is crisp, and I’m always right on time to see the sunrise as I finish.
7:00 AM – Self-care and Nourishment – Drink water. Shower. Make myself a fruit smoothie and egg whites. Delicious, healthy breakfast and warm, clean clothes always make me feel a little better!
7:30 AM – Whiteboard Time – I look in my planner, write down all that I have to do for the day on my whiteboard along with my daily affirmation. (Something like, “As I face new tasks for the day, I feel calm, confident, and powerful.”)
Writing things down on a whiteboard is a great way to keep the words that you want to live by at the forefront of your mind.
Not only that, but you can also find peel and stick dry erase whiteboards now, meaning that you can take them from place to place, making whiteboard writing a more practical activity.
8: 00 AM – My Work Day Begins – I’m off to work, feeling strong, healthy, and capable. What does your morning routine look like these days? Comment below!
