Everyone who knows me probably knows how I love mornings and never skip my morning routine. But that wasn’t me a few years ago! I shifted from being a complete night owl with a chaotic life to an early bird who thrives on routines.
However, this shift didn’t overnight. I never understood how life-changing incorporating healthy habits in your routine, especially your morning one, could be. Until I tried it myself. Bit by bit, and with some experimenting, I reached the best tips to make the most of your morning routine.
Why is having a morning routine important?
There’s something about starting a new day early in the morning. There’s this magical hold and a feeling of letting go of whatever happened the day before. Another chance to start clean. A fresh slate.
I spent quite some time getting my morning routine together and understanding how every step impacts my mood, productivity, health, and overall quality of life. I built a routine that helps me feel relaxed and productive, hand in hand.
I’m a HUGE believer in the power of taking some extra time to show yourself some love. I believe that extra time, even if deemed unproductive, leads to even more productivity and enhances your quality of life. The paradox of taking some time to have more time.
It is also a HUGE part of loving yourself. Showing yourself enough respect to take care of it. Because self-love isn’t all positive affirmations and cute bath bombs, it’s the amount of time and effort put into YOU… to take care of your well-being, maybe a little extra if you’re having a bad day.
I personally need around 1-2 hours to head out of my house which some people may think is absolutely insane. I understand you, I used to be one of those people. However, that isn’t a rule, I can get ready in as little as 10 minutes if needed, but I prefer taking my time.
I take that extra time to make sure to perfectly set the tone for the day. After following the tips I’m about to share with you, my mornings have become calmer and I feel more energetic throughout the day, rather than lethargic and chaotic. I guarantee a hundred percent that starting your morning slow is so worth it.
Now, let’s jump right in!
1. Get out of bed as soon as you wake up
This one’s a pain in the back for the very few first times! Those extra 10 minutes of sleep, after I click snooze, are very close to my heart. Sorry to have to say this, but, YOU NEED TO DITCH THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
As much as those 10 minutes don’t seem significant enough to have a ‘negative’ impact on your sleep, but they do mess up your REM cycle, like, a ton. Staying in bed and getting drowsy again leaves your body feeling confused and disoriented. Not to mention making it 10x harder to get out of bed.
2. Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning
The first hour of waking up sets the tone of your day. So, when you wake up and instantly check your notifications, e-mails, missed calls, social media accounts, etc… you’re setting yourself up for a morning full of stress, and it messes with your mental health in the long run.
Your mind gets overwhelmed by the amount of information and begins to think of every single thing that needs to be done. Do you ever get that feeling of tiredness even before the day starts? Yep.. you’ve probably checked your phone first thing in the morning.
3. Hydrate before you caffeinate
The recommended six to eight hours of sleep is enough to leave your body dehydrated. Hence, drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning is a no-brainer – it immediately rehydrates your body and gets your organs working.
Most people start their day with a cup of coffee, thinking it’s the best way to boost alertness and help them focus. This is both true and false at the same time. Although coffee has a lot of antioxidants and caffeine to boost your energy, it can be immensely dehydrating to your body, and disregulate your hormones. This dehydration causes your energy levels to sink throughout the day causing that energy crash. Make sure to opt for that bottle of water first thing in the morning, and then you can drink coffee as you want.
4. Let some fresh air and natural light in
After sleeping for hours in a dark room, it’s an absolute necessity to get a breather of fresh air and some light to rejuvenate your body. Inhaling fresh air allows you to take deeper breaths which means that a higher amount of oxygen will be carried to your cells.
In addition to the tremendous benefits, sunlight offers to your mood and body, I LOVE the feeling of sunshine early in the morning. I love when I’m awake early and start my morning routine when the sun is rising. It’s like I can feel the Serotonin (happy hormone) taking over my body! Also, getting some sunshine has been proven to decrease the risk of depression and lowers your stress levels because of the amounts of Vitamin D.
5. Take some time to get in touch with your feelings
As I mentioned, some days you need even more time to take care of yourself. And that’s completely fine. There are days when you jump out of bed, excited to get a hold of the day, and others when you could feel the anxiety and stress creeping in the moment you open your eyes. We have all been there.
In these days or every day, if you can, I want you to take a moment of silence… Maybe close your eyes and try to get in touch with how you’re feeling. Are you feeling more anxious than usual? Do you feel drained? Unable to take on a lot this day?
Understand how you feel, and adjust accordingly. Taking this step allows you to either cancel an appointment, delay something you needed to do, or maybe add even more. You could maybe add a bit more steps to take care of your sweet self. If you’re finding it difficult to think of how you’re feeling, consider writing it down in your journal or in a notebook.
6. Set your mindset for yourself before the world does
Throughout your day, your mind processes a lot of information and external stimuli. This in return messes with your unconscious mind. By listening to something inspirational or calm like an audiobook, podcast, or even a YouTube video, you’ll set your mindset before the world does.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about fitness for instance and is keen on eating nutritious meals, listen to something health-fueled. It allows you to keep yourself intact and focused on your goals. Your mind instantly prioritizes your goals throughout the day.
7. Make your bed
Ah! I know you’ve seen this one coming. But I can’t stress enough how important it is to make your bed, yet A LOT of people overlook this step. We’ve all been guilty, myself included, of making up those excuses as to why we shouldn’t make the bed this day; it will get unmade sooner or later, no one will see it, my mom will make it, or I don’t want to wake up the cat…
To be honest, making your bed as a part of your morning routine holds so much more power than just having your room look clean. It gives you a sense of accomplishment because it is the first task of your day. Doing so will leave you feeling like you have your life put together. You’ll be encouraged to do more and more.
Also, living in a tidy and clean environment makes you so much calmer and more organized. Not to mention the benefits it has on lowering stress levels. I mean, who likes to stay in a chaotic environment? No one. As they say, a cleanroom is a clear mind. Build this small habit, and believe me, with time, making your bed becomes a no-brainer. I now even LOVE the process.
8. Put some good music on
When you wake up and start skimming through the house, you’ll find some chores to do and things to tidy up. That’s when you know it’s time to turn on those tunes… You’ve probably heard a lot about the positive effects music has on your mind. But, did you know that a certain type of music helps you accomplish tasks more quickly? Not to mention how much more fun it adds! For me, I can make mundane tasks like washing the dishes or doing the laundry enjoyable. All you have to do is put some good music on, and vibe along (not enjoyable by the rest of my family lol).
9. Start your day with a smile
Have you heard of the phrase “Fake it till you make it”? Turns out, this also applies to your mood. You have the power to manipulate your mood; meaning that if you trick your mind into believing that you’re actually happy, it will act accordingly. So, starting your day with a smile tricks your body into believing that you’re in a good mood.
Also, smiling releases endorphins and cortisol. These hormones are responsible for putting you in a good mood. Not to mention how attractive smiling makes you look. When you’re someone who always has a smile on their face, people naturally gravitate towards you. Who doesn’t want to be around someone who is radiant and full of positive energy?
10. Make yourself a nutritious breakfast
As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and replenishes your body with nutrients after hours of sleep. Most people make the mistake of skipping breakfast when they’re in a hurry, or worse when trying to lose weight.
In fact, it has been proven that people who eat breakfast are LESS likely to be obese or overweight. When making breakfast, I like to think of food as fuel. If you had a car that you’ve worked SO HARD to get, would you put low-quality fuel in it? Of course, you wouldn’t. Then, why would you treat your body any less? Prepare yourself a delicious, yet nutritious breakfast every day. Your body will thank you for it.
11. Avoid negative and stressful news
Your diet is not just what you eat. It’s what you watch, what you read, what you see, and what you listen to. It’s basically any external stimulant that enters your system. You become what you consume. If you choose to wake up and watch negative news first thing in the morning routine, you’ll feel shitty and carry on negativity for the rest of the day.
I’m in no way saying that you should be ignorant of what is happening in the world. But, balance is key. Choose the timing and volume of which you consume negative news. And because morning routines carry SO MUCH power over your day, it’s best not to stress yourself out during that time.
12. Herb-infused shower meditation
As someone who tends to romanticize every step of their day, I always like to imagine myself washing all the negativity off when taking a shower. I make a conscious decision to let go of yesterday’s negativity the next morning in the shower. I enjoy feeling fresh and clean when starting the day.
But, you know what adds so much spice to that as well? Yes, herbs. A little tip to highly benefit from your shower is to hand eucalyptus leaves or lavender in your bathroom. They both aid in uplifting your mood and promoting relaxation. The steam from the shower releases essential oils in the leaves which clears out nasal congestion and inflammation. This extra touch REALLY gives you that extra self-care in your morning routine. Not to mention how good your bathroom will smell afterward!