Have you noticed the sun is rising later and the mornings are becoming cooler? With that it can be tempting to press ‘snooze’ on the alarm, wrap the duvet around you, and curl up into a ball whilst grabbing another 10 minutes in bed. But when you step out of bed, have you ever felt like you’ve woken up on the wrong side of it?! You may feel lethargic or irritable and the thought of all the things you must do seem overwhelming, as if you are about to embark on an expedition up a mountain?
We assure you, you are certainly not the only one, and we know that some people enjoy the mornings more than others. But did you know that if you have a routine in the morning regardless of whether you are a ‘morning person’ or not, it can help you start your day right and bring more joy?
Well, this week we will be sharing more on the importance of a morning routine along with 6 things you can start straight away, to help you live a happy, healthy, and successful life.
So, why is a morning routine important?
Creating a routine for your morning helps to remove the guess work of what you are going to do when you wake up. It can be easy to wake up on autopilot, maybe going straight to check your phone or switching on the news, but if you allow yourself time in the morning for you, whether it be 10 minutes or 60, it can help to create calm and clarity, increase your productivity for the day ahead, encourage you to take care of yourself for the rest of the day, and help to improve your mood too.
If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of it or think it’s too good to be true, it’s natural to do so. Starting something new can be daunting, but what we share are the small steps that if done consistently, can make a positive impact in all areas of life. So, let’s get started…
Here are 6 simple steps to create the foundation of your morning routine:
1. Be intentional
If you use an alarm to wake up, avoiding the snooze button could be the best thing you do to start your day well. Getting up straight away sets the intention that you are ready to go, and it will avoid the stress from rushing around trying to make up for the extra time you had in bed. Pressing the snooze button can result in you drifting back to that slumber too, but unfortunately the ringing of the alarm will soon come back around, and you are likely to wake up in a daze wondering what day it is.
If you use your phone as an alarm, we recommend having your phone on ‘airplane’ mode or turning off your notifications. Stay tuned, we share more on why this is important shortly.
2. Rehydrate
Even though you are not physically exerting yourself whilst sleeping, you will likely wake up dehydrated due to the water lost through exhaling and sweating during the night. It can be tempting to reach for the coffee, but before doing so we would encourage you to have a refreshing glass of water instead. This will help to replenish some of the water lost and in turn, kick start your body into action, making you feel more alert and ready for the day. To make it easy, keep a large glass of water next to your bed as a reminder for when you wake.
3. Do the small things
Once you have enjoyed your glass of water, move onto the small things that will create an environment of peace and calm. It may sound simple but ensuring you make your bed soon after getting up, tidying the room around you, letting some natural light in, and opening a window to allow the fresh air to pour in can take less than a minute, but creates a sense of calm and order that will help you win the day.
4. Get moving
After spending hours lying down, your body (and spine) will be craving movement when you wake up. Whether it be stretching and marching on the spot, taking your dog out for a walk, or doing something more energetic like going to an exercise class, movement will do wonders for your overall health and help to boost your mood too.
5. Avoid technology
When you first wake up your brain is most creative and open to new ideas, which is why starting it with something positive can train your brain to continue that pattern as the day goes on. Using technology such as your phone straight away primes your brain for distraction and has the potential to trigger anxiety and stress. Social media, text messages, emails, and the news can pull you into a negative vortex that’s hard to get out of, so where you can, avoid checking your phone for as long as possible in the morning. Create your own boundaries, but we’d recommend at least allowing yourself time to carry out your morning routine before touching your phone or switching on other devices.
6. Have a moment
Finally, before you jump into your day, allow yourself a moment to pause. A simple way to seize the opportunity of your brain being most creative when you first wake, is to feed it the good stuff. And no, sadly we are not referring to a tasty fry up! We are talking about something more powerful than that. The power of gratitude. Take a moment to think of 3 things you are grateful for and why. It could be anything, from the people around you, to the home comforts you have. It doesn’t have to be grand or fancy and you can think of them in silence, say them out loud, or write them down, but the intentional gratitude will help you feel more joy in the moment which will extend into your day, and prime your brain to see the good around you. It may sound a bit out there, but it really works!
Some of the most successful people in the world swear by their morning routines, and the 6 steps we have shared provide the basics that you can build upon if you wish.
So, whether you have a few minutes, or hours to spare in the morning, why not give it a go tomorrow?! The beautiful thing is that you can adapt it and make it work for you.
We look forward to hearing how you get on!