Mornings can be rough. Everyone needs to get out the door. The coffee doesn’t brew quick enough. Or maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. In my case, it’s probably literal because my dog is a bed hog. Whatever your morning routine looks like, I think we all know how easily it sets the tone for the day. So I want to share some the tricks I used to take back my mornings. Small habits I’ve built and I’m continuing to build that help give me headspace. Whether you’re looking to make your morning routine a little less chaotic or just want to set the tone for a better today, here are my tips for how to start your morning off right.
GET QUIET
Meditation has been a game changer for me lately. Yeah I know everyone and their sister talks about it. Celebrities rave about how life altering it’s been for them. Friend, let me tell you. I can honestly feel and see a difference in my day when I meditate. I know it seems small but even 10 minutes makes an impact.
Personally, I find that when I can get quiet with my thoughts and myself in the morning, I work better. Sure, one last minute wake up here and there isn’t going to end me. But after a while, I can feel the build up of not enough quiet time in my life. Self care isn’t selfish. Remember to take care of yourself so you can take care of others. I’ve been using the app Breethe* for the last several years. It’s my favorite of all the ones I’ve tried. There’s also Calm* and Headspace*. If you find meditation hard and distracting, I know I do, then I’d highly suggest giving guided meditation a try.
NO PHONE ZONE
When I read Super Woman RX* a few months back, this was suggested for my personality type. And despite 28 years of living with myself, there are plenty things I still don’t know about me. Giving myself the mental space from my phone means I don’t start the day on edge. I’ll glance at my texts without opening them to make sure there’s nothing urgent. It’s highly unlikely but my friends are all on different hour schedules so you never know. And if it’s not already on do not disturb, I’ll switch my phone over for my meditation, quiet time and yoga if I’m doing it.
Part of my job is social media. Then I went an bought an apple watch which makes me connected even more. So I’m had to learn to create boundaries in my morning routine again for myself and my mental health. I try to spend the first 30 minutes of my day without my phone. It seems small but disconnecting even for a little bit is helpful.
SKIP THE TV NEWS CYCLE
If you ever come to my house, I feel like I should warn you that my parents love Fox News. It plays far too often in the background of our house. And it’s probably the reason I feel so strongly about this tip. I’m not saying you should be ignorant to what’s going on in the world. However, I think you should be mindful of your consumption of information. Maybe wait until you get in the car and listen to the news on the radio. Personally, I’m a big fan of Skimm. It gives you the highlights of what happened in the world yesterday without being so overwhelming. You could also ask Siri or your Google Home to tell you the main headlines. As crazy as the world is these days, it’s okay to set boundaries for yourself. And sometimes that means skipping the news cycle in your morning routine.
MOVE YOUR BODY
A little bit of endorphins in the morning makes for a happier you. Please know, if I could insert the clip from Legally Blonde about endorphins here I would. I’m fully aware that not everyone loves a morning workout routine. If the gym fits better in your life later in the day, go for it! But the rule still applies. This could mean 5 minutes of stretch or just walking around the block. Getting your heart rate up a little bit will help you boost your morning energy. And it also helps click in your mental clarity.
HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
I will confess I’ve neglected this one in my morning routine far too often. But ever since I reunited with my hydroflask*, I’ve been upping my water game. It’s made a massive difference. My skin looks better and I’m not nearly as hungry. I find myself reaching for less snacks and having better overall energy. I like to start my morning with a massive glass of water. You can opt for lemon water or maybe even celery juice. Whatever works for you and your body. However, I can promise you’ll feel better throughout the day when you’re giving your body the things it needs. And water is critical in helping you and your organs perform at their best. So drink up!
AVOID COFFEE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
I honestly debated whether or not to include this tip. And for my coffee, coffee, coffee lovings gals, hear me out. During one of the Almost 30 podcasts a few months ago, Alisa Vitti mentioned avoiding coffee before food. She’s the hormone expert behind Woman Code*. The more I thought about it and taking into account everything Kelly Leveque shares in Body Love*, it made sense.
When you start your day with coffee on an empty stomach, you’re automatically spiking your blood sugar/insulin levels. Unfortunately, there’s not really any fuel behind it to sustain it. So instead of having healthy fats and proteins to keep you stable, you spike and then crash. This can also attribute to the serious afternoon energy slump.
If you’re not a breakfast person, I hear you. I’m not either. But I do love my coffee. Now I just opt to enjoy it with a bit of a bonus. I try to eat something small before my cup like a protein ball. Or you could even opt for adding Elevated Coffee into your morning routine. Whatever you decide, I’d suggest giving it a week and see how you feel. And remember even the smallest changes can lead to bigger results. One change at a time in your morning routine might make all the difference. But you’ll never know unless you try.
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