The act of establishing a morning routine seems tedious. Can we really make those initial minutes of the day feel pleasant let alone productive and fun? Let’s figure it out together.
Some people get really into their morning routine. From establishing a morning routine checklist to a morning routine aesthetic, there are some diehard morning routine (ers) out there! But what constitutes a successful start to the day?
Instead of showing you my morning routine, I’m going to share morning routine ideas that you can try out for yourself.
Everybody’s morning routine looks different. There’s no one size fits all. We all need good morning vibes, but there isn’t a one perfect morning routine for everyone.
This blog post is all about 9 awesome tips for your new morning routine.
1. Start the night before
Plan for enough hours of sleep, prep your lunch and snacks, and lay out your clothes and shoes before you go to bed.
Nothing makes a morning routine more effective than starting the night before with tomorrow’s basic needs.
2. Avoid pressing snooze
The sound of the phone alarm… yuck!
The sound of the phone alarm a second, third, fourth time?! Hell, no.
Tomorrow, try jumping (or rolling) out of bed after the first alarm goes off. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel getting that extra five or six minutes into your morning routine.
3. Get hydrated
It’s not uncommon to wake up still feeling tired with a slight headache – especially if you’ve been out the night before!
One of the quickest ways to alleviate morning dehydration is to drink some water with electrolytes.
Personally, I don’t buy electrolyte drinks. Instead, I just add a wee pinch of salt and a few drops of lemon juice to my water. It’s a cheap way to add electrolytes without any fuss.
4. Leave plenty of time to get ready
It’s the worst feeling when you’re rushing out the door on the way to work. You’re flailing, already sweaty, and already wondering what you forgot to put in your bag.
If you can, wake up 10 minutes before you really need to in the morning. It’ll be a much calmer start to your day.
Ten minutes extra doesn’t sound like much, but try it once and then try to increase the amount of time over several weeks. Chances are, your stress levels will decrease before you head out the door.
5. Eat breakfast (or break your fast)
You might not be a big fan of the typical “breakfast” time, but you will eat at some point after you wake up 😉
When you’re picking out your breakfast, try and eat something that will nourish your body. Maybe it’s something as cheap and simple as a couple of eggs?
Whatever your chosen breakfast, try your best to pick out food that will set you up for the day.
6. Pamper yourself
A little pampering session (in other words, self care!) is what you deserve in the morning. Self care is anything that makes you feel happy and looked-after. Here are some examples:
- Read a book
- Journal
- Take a hot or cold shower
- Do your hair and make up
7. Move your body
Whether it’s a five minute walk outside, or an hour long gym session, some kind of physical movement in the morning has been shown to improve your focus, lift your mood, and increase your energy before you hit up your to-do list.
8. Change your clothes
These days, so many of us work from home at least part of the week. As a result, it’s tempting to keep your PJs on for the entire work day and not change into a fresh outfit.
Here’s the thing… you generally feel way better when you put on a clean outfit in the morning. It’s doesn’t need to be an elaborate or fancy outfit, it just needs to not be your sleepwear.
Try it next time you’re tempted to stay in your pajamas and see how your morning routine goes!
9. Meditate
Meditation involves purposeful breathing. Personally, I love to sit cross legged on my yoga mat, close my eyes, place my hands open to the sky, and breath deeply and slowly for two to three minutes.
Meditation is a great way to get your heart rate down, calm your mood, and reduce anxiety.
10. Say affirmations
It might feel embarrassing to repeat phrases like, “I am strong,” “I am smart,” “I am successful,” out loud, but it can help boost your self confidence over time.
You know what they say: fake it till you make it.
11. Connect with your faith or belief system
Whatever your faith or belief system, engaging with it before the day starts can be very soothing.
Whether you read a religious or spiritual text, or say some type of prayer, a morning routine can be a really effective way to begin your morning.
12. Do five to ten minutes of cleaning
Urgh, cleaning. Doing the dishes first thing in the morning does not seem fun.
Here’s the thing though: why not try it for five minutes?
Whenever a chore seems like too much hassle (cleaning normally falls into that category!), remember that your future self will be super grateful.
13. Make a to do list
When there’s too many things to do, it’s easy to forget about smaller tasks once the day gets started.
Try writing down your to do list, on paper, your phone, post it notes, or try a whiteboard.
Once you get the day underway, there’s nothing more satisfying than crossing each task after completion. Better yet, highlight three tasks that you want to prioritize so you don’t get overwhelmed.
14. Connect with people you love and who love you back
How often do you send a message to someone you feel great affection for first thing in the morning?
Try taking five minutes to send a message to someone you love. Wish them the best for that big meeting at work, or ask them how they’re feeling after spell of sickness.
Most important, connect with people who demonstrate love towards you. Friendships and relationships are a two-way street.
15. Accept the day ahead
It’s natural to be resistant to the challenges that lie ahead.
But I’ve found that the more I resist the reality, the first hours of my day feel more stressful.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is walk “straight into the fire.” Look the challenges of the day head on. Make an action plan. Don’t shy away from it.