Mornin’! It’s no secret that we are basically products of what we habitually do. It’s our habits and routines that lay the foundation of the life we live. Now, while nobody’s perfect, focusing on creating habits that match your ideals is necessary for building a life you love! That is why I’ve put so much focus on creating a morning routine that I love and that sets my day up for success.
Not every morning is the same, but there are aspects to each morning that remain constant:
1. 8 hours of sleep (most of the time)
2. Hydrate and coffee
3. Cuddles with my hubby
4. Workout
5. Breakfast
It may sound excessive, but I wake up 1 hour before I want to leave for the gym, which is about 3 hours before I need to leave for work. Yes, I wake up 3 hours before work! I’m devoted to this time in order to ease into my day, give myself time to poop, and workout. Priorities, am I right? 😀 Mornings are my favorite so it’s not hard for me at all to wake up early enough to fit all of this in! Now, for all you mamas out there who may be thinking, “Good for you, but some of us don’t get to spend our mornings to ourselves!” I hear you and respect all of the hard work you put into making your kid’s mornings successful. But, maybe there is one tip that you can implement to make your morning a little bit better?
My morning routine is what fits my wants and needs, and may not be right for you. But let this post lend inspiration to reflecting on your own routine and whether it is meeting YOUR wants and needs.
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
- Do I feel rushed in the morning?
- Do I walk out the door feeling anxious?
- Am I tired and dragging my feet all day?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your morning routine may needs some revamping!
Whether it’s going to bed an hour earlier so you can wake up in time to not feel rushed in the morning, or eating a satisfying meal that will fuel you for the rest of the morning. These small changes can have major impacts on your day to day life.
My Current Morning Routine
5:30 AM – 6:30 AM
1. 8 Hours of Sleep
My morning routine truly starts the night before by getting to bed on time. I’ve tried to be a person that can function well on less than 8 hours of sleep but I can’t.
If I sleep for 8 hours, my energy is higher, my stress and anxiety is easier to manage, and I have less cravings for sweets. I can’t stress enough (ha! no pun intended) how important it is to get adequate amounts of sleep in order to have a more productive and relaxed morning.
2. Hydrate
First thing I do is drink 8 ounces of water. Straight up H2O – nothing fancy because I’m still half asleep and could care less about squeezing a lemon into my cup.
Then I pour 1 cup of coffee. We upgraded to a Ninja Coffee Maker so that we can set our coffee the night before and have it turn on 5 minutes before we get up. Nothing like a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning! And if you’re thinking that coffee isn’t a good way to hydrate, I’ve got good news! 1-2 cups of coffee will not dehydrate you. Its not until you reach about 4+ cups of coffee does it become a diuretic and can then cause dehydration.
3. Relax and Meditate
I get up early enough to give myself an hour to sit on the couch, sip my coffee, and cuddle with my hubby. We generally watch The Daily Show with Trevor Noah every morning. On the weekend, I’ll read or work on a blog post.
On the weekends I’ll also do 5 minutes of meditation or some light stretching while Michael is still asleep. I’m trying to do better at meditating during the week but instead I’ll often resort to 30 seconds of deep belly breathing while I’m in the shower.
One thing I find very relaxing is writing my to-do list in my daily planner. I know some people may find this incredibly stressful, but I find it takes the pressure off of my mind to remember everything I need to accomplish for the day.
Lastly, I go poop. Hopefully. It truly takes me 1 hour of relaxing and sipping my coffee to make this happen. It’s been really helpful for relieving my IBS-Constipation. TMI? There’s no such thing when you work in a GI office. 🙂 And for those of you who struggle to have a daily BM, I highly recommend creating a low-stress morning routine that includes hydration to kick your bowels into gear before your day gets busy and stressful.
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM
4. Workout
My favorite form of exercise is strength training. Luckily we live just 2 minutes from our gym. I generally exercise 6 days a week, but I always listen to my body and take an extra rest day(s) as needed.
Two days a week I’ll do some form of cardio, which is generally Insanity Max 30 or Core De Force by Beachbody. I like my cardio to be short and intense. I’ve never felt more alive than when I finish an Insanity workout. I highly recommend if you’re looking to add some intensity to your workout routine!
At least one day a week I’ll do yoga. My stress levels are always lower the mornings I do yoga. And my posture is a lot better, too!
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM
5. Breakfast
After I workout I’m in and out of the shower, and I only give myself 30 minutes to do make-up, hair and get dressed. Why? Because I’d rather be making breakfast than doing my hair. hehe
I love taking the time to sit down with my breakfast and enjoy it without feeling rushed. Lately I’ve been opting for a smoothie in the morning, like one of these, but even then I’ll sit down for a couple of  minutes while I drink it.
If it’s a workday, I’ll pack my lunch. Lunch is generally leftovers, a piece of fruit and some walnuts.
And, just like that, I’m ready to tackle the rest of the day!
Tips for Success
My morning routine is specific to my needs, but I find that the 5 habits I always incorporate are habits that can help a lot of people.
Do you find it difficult to drink enough water throughout the day?
Set a goal to drink 8 ounces of water first thing in the morning.
Do you wake up feeling stressed about the day ahead?
Take 5 minutes to write out your to-do list, and 5 minutes to meditate.
Not sure how to meditate?
Start by sitting in a relaxed position. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus your attention on your breath. Your mind will stray and that’s okay! Revert your attention back to your breath.
Do you feel lethargic?
Set a goal to exercise, even if just 10 minutes in the morning. I find that increasing my heart rate always perks me up and gives me a boost of energy.
Also, eat breakfast! This is your fuel for the morning. If you’re not hungry in the morning, listen to your body and wait until you are hungry before eating. There’s no rule saying you have to eat breakfast, but don’t ignore your body’s signals telling you it needs the calories to give it energy.
YOUR Morning Routine
What do you plan to do differently in your morning routine to set your day up for success?
Do you have any morning habits that you have found to be helpful?
Share them below in the comments!
XX,
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