Establishing a morning routine is one of the key tools in creating an organized, healthy lifestyle.
Being wisely rooted in your mornings does not mean that you must keep a detailed track record of every waking moment and follow it to a tee. What it does mean is that you will spend your days having a general idea of what your goals and tasks are so that you can be organized and productive, leading to greater peace of mind and less stress.
So, a morning routine is very valuable in the sense that it is familiar. It creates a common sense of structure that your mind, body, and soul can look forward to every morning, even if the rest of the day does not go according to plan.Your morning time allows for that essential element of life called me-time. This is your time to nourish your spirit and feel a sense of peace over the coming day. It creates a centered day and allows you to ground yourself in your circumstances and surroundings.
I like to tell you I did not grow up as a morning person. Instead, I taught myself how to become one by planning out a routine which I would look forward to every time my alarm goes off. I now wake up excited and energized by the thought of my grounded mornings.
This may not be you now, but it can be you. Maybe you are not remotely a morning person. Like not at all. If you create a structure to follow, I promise you can become one. Motivation does some pretty incredible things to the human mind.
Maybe you do wake up early, but by the time you have to go to work it feels like you are already unable to catch your breath. Mornings should not be like this. There is a reason that birds sing their beautiful wake-up calls at the light of dawn. Mornings are for peace, even if this means you can only allot 30 minutes to yourself.
Now, there are many different ways that you can go about the way in which you schedule this, but I will simply tell you my personal morning routine as a general outline. Are you feeling motivated and want to organize your own morning routine?
My Morning Routine
- 6:00 AM- Wake up at 6 AM
I like to wake up at 6 because this gives me 3.5 hours to get prepare for my day before I begin work. As soon as my alarm goes off I get up. I do not like to take the risk of falling back to sleep and messing with my sleep patterns, or scrolling on my phone and wasting 30 minutes. In fact, before I was married I would set my alarm across the room so that I had to physically stand up to turn it off. This is a nice hack if you struggle with getting out of bed. If you share a bed with somebody though, all parties have to be in agreement. Unfortunately, my husband and I often have different sleep schedules so now I simply use self control to get out of bed immediately.
- 6:10 AM- Morning Stretches
After I wake up, take out my mouthguard, and pull my hair up in a super messy morning bun, I like to do dynamic stretching for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how slow I am moving. I do dynamic stretching to get my energy flowing. Sun salutations are amazing for this, or even simple twisting my upper body back and forth a few times will wake me up. I do this as my breakfast and coffee are brewing.
- 6:15 AM- Eat Breakfast
I am a HUGE believer in whole food breakfasts. If I want to be organized in my day, my body needs to be fuelled, and my metabolism needs to run. If I do not eat breakfast, my cortisol levels will be heightened and then my body will be running on stress hormones the entire day. So, I like to eat a balanced meal of proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. The day I began eating breakfast was a game changer for me. After a few weeks of putting it into practice I noticed how greatly my stress levels lowered as I went about my day. I started out not feeling hungry at all in the mornings to now not being able to function without breakfast. I promise, eating breakfast will be a game changer in how organized the rest of your day is.
- 6:25 AM- Sip Coffee and Read
After I eat breakfast I like to sit down with my cup of coffee and read. I personally will spend this time reading my Bible, but if you can read any book you would like. I would say reading a personal development book is an amazing idea because this allows you to get in a strong mindset for the rest of the day. If you simply want to curl up with a cup of coffee or tea and read your favorite piece of fiction, by all means do. This is your time to get centered for the rest of the day. In the summer times, I like to spend this time outside with my barefeet in the grass. I do not know if there is a more blissful feeling than sipping my coffee in the morning sunshine while reading words that bring me such peace.
If I am inside I get this same bliss by sitting in my favorite chair with a candle lit or my essential oil diffuser running.
- 6:40 AM- Journal
While sometimes this time also gets allotted to reading I do like to journal as well. For me this is often in my prayer journal, but I do like to recap my previous days as well and write out what I am thankful for. Try to think of 3 thoughts of gratitude. Writing these down can change the entire outlook of your day.
- 6:50 AM- Look at Planner
At this time I like to take 5-10 minutes to look at my daily planner, check out my goal for the day, and get a general idea of what the day holds. This allows me to be excited about what the day holds and to not feel overwhelmed if it is a busy day. I find that having purpose each day gives me so much motivation to put my best foot forward and to be thankful for the opportunities that I have.
- 7:00 AM- Workout
My workout schedule varies throughout the week, but I allot 1 hour every morning to get some form of movement in. Often this is weight training, but I also try to rest my body through practicing yoga at points throughout the week as well as going on a morning walk and I feel that my body needs rest. The important thing is getting some form of movement in, as this keeps my metabolism running strong and allows my mind to be alert for the day ahead. They say that movement is medicine for a reason. Even if you detest working out, try going on an early morning walk. It is truly magical to hear the birds sing as the rest of the world is waking up. Even if it is just for 15 minutes, you will begin to look forward to your time of movement every morning.
- 8:00 AM- Shower/ Get ready for Work
Directly after my workout I like to take a shower, get dressed for the day, and do my makeup. I only wash my hair on Mondays and Fridays, so this step usually only takes me about 20 minutes in total.
- 8:20 AM- Follow my 30 Minute Rule
In this post, I discuss the importance of setting goals, and following the 30 minute rule, which states that I must dedicate at least 30 minutes each day to accomplishing my goals. Today’s goal was to write this blog post, so I am am currently writing it between 8:20 and 9:00.
For me this time is set aside simply to accomplish an organizational or productivity task that I cannot accomplish while at work. It can be as simple as baking my sourdough bread, or as detailed as creating a new journal. I love having a time set aside after I get in the groove of things to be productive apart from my day job.
There you have it- that is my morning routine, and one which I believe anyone can adapt to fit their needs and seasons of life. Even if this means you wake up 30 minutes early simply so you can stretch and eat breakfast, it can be a game changer in the rest of your day. Do you leave for work at 4:30 AM? Go ahead and establish a similar routine for when you get home to unwind.
