Anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a morning person. I am consistently working on trying to wake up early, but more often than naught I am caught waking up 30 minutes before I have to leave anywhere. For the longest time, I didn’t do a morning routine because it seemed time-consuming and added perceived stress that I didn’t feel like dealing with. BUT creating a (minimal) morning routine is something that gives a jump start to the day and can set a positive mood.
Setting a morning routine is honestly SO easy, but start with baby steps and don’t beat yourself up if you mess up sometimes. The thing about routines is that even if you don’t do it once, you can resume it any time you want.
Some perks that I have recognized since committing to a routine is:
- More energy throughout the day
- An eagerness to wake up instead of instant dread
- Healthier skin
- More likely to workout
As I said, a routine starts with baby steps. It doesn’t have to be like what you see on Instagram with a whole aesthetic.
Great morning routine starting ideas include:
- Drinking water first thing (setting a water cup beside the bed the night before)
- Light exercise/stretching
- Watering plants
- Making a cup of coffee/tea before the day gets started
- Journaling
- Jamming out to your favorite song
- Extra mile hygiene (gua sha, face steaming, moisturizer and spf, etc)
The easiest way to start making a routine a habit is to pick one thing a week and add it to what you already have.
Here is a scheduled morning routine:
Week 1:
Set a glass of water beside your bed before you fall asleep. When you wake up the next morning, it will be the first thing you grab.
Week 2:
Set a glass of water beside the bed before you fall asleep
Wake up and do some light stretching. Shoulder rolls as you sit up in bed, stretching out the legs and arms, or yoga poses.
Week 3:
Set a glass of water beside the bed before you fall asleep
Wake up and do some light stretching.
Make your cup of tea before the day starts
Week 3:
Set a glass of water beside the bed before you fall asleep
Wake up and do some light stretching.
Make your cup of tea before the day starts
Water plants
And so on, and so forth. The only thing with morning routines is they really shouldn’t be customizable. Remember: we are trying to form habits, and habits don’t happen without repetitiveness. There will absolutely be days where the morning routine will feel like a chore. I tell you right now though, even if your body and mind don’t want to get out of bed, the morning routine is 100% worth it.
The morning routine allows you to take time for YOU before you have to dedicate your time to anyone else.
My biggest struggle with morning routines is waking up- I literally have to set myself up for success before I go to bed, otherwise it all goes out the window. What is your biggest hurdle when committing to a morning routine?
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