morning routine inspiration
Our days create our weeks, our weeks create our months, our months create our years, and our years create our lives. - Mimi bouchard
Until I became aware of how much better my mornings could be, they went something like this. Set the alarm for the latest possible time that would allow me to sleep in most, scramble to get ready, grab a flimsy breakfast (if any) and head straight to class. The way that we start our days can determine either how productive and enjoyable or how "eh" and "alright" the rest of the day will be. Do you notice how busy people are these days? We could save so much time by starting off our day on the right foot...feeling energized, inspired, and ready rather than dreading the day ahead and starting it off scrambling to be on time.
Morning routines are not a one size fits all. Everyone is different which is why I think it is so important to design your own morning routine, based on what makes you feel happy, healthy, creative and energized!
Please keep in mind that just because I am giving this advice does not mean that I do every single one of these things every morning. I do, however, notice a HUGE difference in how I feel when I consistently work at least some of these habits into my daily morning routine.
While I may not do every single part of my ideal routine everyday, I always drink a lot of water first thing after brushing my teeth, sometimes with fresh squeezed lemon or sliced ginger.
Water
Before coffee or anything else, rehydrating always makes me feel so much more awake and brings me life. We lose so much hydration overnight while we are sleeping! Like I said earlier, sometimes I drink it plain, or add some pink salt for minerals , some lemon, or some ginger.
Body Movement
Even if it’s just a 10-15 minute walk around my neighborhood, a little movement helps a lot in my mornings. While it may seem tempting in the moment to hit the snooze button for as long as possible, or scroll through social media… is a mediocre day and a rushed morning really worth that 10 extra minutes of comfort? Once it becomes a habit, getting out of bed right when the alarm goes off can become second nature. I recently got this alarm clock on amazon. It’s meant to simulate the sunrise, and wakes me up gently with a gradually brighter light and nature sounds. I love it because I can leave my phone in the other room when I’m sleeping and it doesn’t jolt me awake
There are so many benefits to starting your day with movement! Here are a few:
Mood Boost
Simply put, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.”
Better Sleep
If you tend to work out late at night, you may want to reconsider. Exercise is a form of stress on the body and causes the brain to release a hormone called cortisol, which is also naturally at its highest in the morning. The amount of cortisol being released gradually decreases, and is at its lowest at night. This increase in cortisol release is not a bad thing, unless it is taking place at night, since our bodies naturally want to unwind at this time!
“It’s impossible for your body to get the most rejuvenative sleep right after exercise. And sleep is the real name of the game when it comes to changing your body.” - Shawn Stevenson, Sleep Smarter
Healthier choices throughout the day
If you start off your day making the healthy choice to exercise, chances are you will want to maintain the positive and healthy mindset that you achieved from doing something that made your body feel good
Boost in metabolism for the rest of the day
Wakes you up, mentally and physically!
Studies have shown that exercise improves brain function and alertness by 12% while caffeine only improves it by 6%.
Practice Gratitude
““Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
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Actively remembering what I am grateful for is something I strive to practice every morning.
According to an article from The Greater Good Science Center, “over the past two decades, studies have consistently found that people who practice gratitude report fewer symptoms of illness, including depression, more optimism and happiness, stronger relationships, more generous behavior, and many other benefits.”
Ideas: Find a journal that you love and set it next to your bed. Jot down 3 things that you are grateful for, 3 things that would make your day amazing, and how you are feeling.
Being grateful puts me in such a positive state of mind. I find that when I do this regularly, I generally feel more present, positive, and happy throughout the rest of my day.
Break the Fast
Sometimes I forget this, but we are fasting when we are sleeping! This is why I think that it is important to “break your fast” with a healthy and satisfying breakfast that will fuel you and give you energy until lunchtime.
When preparing my breakfast, I try to include one thing from each category: protein, healthy fat, fruit, and/or veggie. This brings me the most stable energy.
Some other ideas for
Inspiration
Draw, paint, write, read a great book, meditate, get breakfast with a friend who puts you in a positive mood, listen to happy music (Jack Johnson is my favorite in the morning!), go for a hike, review your goals and make a to do list for the day, get inspired by listening to a great podcast (I'll be writing a post about my favorite podcasts soon!), practice self care...there is no limit to the things that you can do, anything that resonates with you and makes you feel GOOD! Considering these questions might help:
What do you need in the morning?
What brings you energy?
What inspires you most?
What brings you a blissful, peaceful mind?
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A great morning routine includes things that YOU love doing, that make you feel happy, energized, and ready to take on the day. Try out different things, whether it includes the activities that I suggested or not, and find out what works for you.. Get up and go kick today's butt, sunshines! I’d love to hear what you come up with :)
