There are two types of people in the world: those who have a routine and those who don’t. No matter which type of person you are, the way you start your morning will be a good indicator of how the rest of the day will go. A routine is a general outline of how you spend your day, and you typically follow this routine on a daily basis. The reason that a lot of people don’t have a routine (specifically a morning one) is because it’s hard work to maintain one.
Trust us; we get it! It’s hard to stay consistent with the same wake-up time, same eating time, and whatever else you have to do. Nobody said it was easy, but it’s definitely worth it. If you can get your body into a routine, you will sleep better and have an easier time waking up in the morning. Having a morning routine can also help with your productivity levels throughout the day.
We aren’t saying you’re going to have a bad day or that you’re unhealthy if you don’t have a morning routine. That’s not the case at all! Some people don’t need a routine and do fine without one. But, if your sleep schedule is off or if you struggle to have productive days, then you might want to consider trying a routine. We’ve got lots of ideas for how you can kickstart your day with a healthy morning routine!
Stretch
When you first wake up in the morning, your muscles are still sleeping. You’ve been in the same position for about eight hours, so it’s essential to get your blood flow moving. You don’t have to do an entire yoga routine (although you can if you want), but a few stretches will help your entire body to wake up. Touch your toes, raise your hands over your hand, and wiggle around. It’ll make waking up just a little bit easier!
Make Your Bed
This seems so simple, but you’d be surprised at the effect it has on your day. There are some who say that making your bed when you wake up is the single most important thing you can do to have a productive day. The thinking behind it is that if you can do something productive and accomplished as soon as you wake up, it will set the tone for the rest of your day. You’ll be on a roll, and you won’t want to slow down!
Drink Water
We know you’ve heard it a hundred times, but you need to drink more water! Staying hydrated is one of the keys to being healthy. Your whole body needs water to function, and let’s be honest; it’s easy to forget to drink water during the day.
One trick to make sure you start your day hydrated is to just keep a tall glass of water by your bedside. When you wake up, simply reach over, grab it, and chug it!
Meditate
Some people prefer to practice meditation in the evenings, but it works great in the mornings too. The great thing is, you can do this from bed before you even get up to start the day. Work on quieting your mind and doing some deep breathing. Focus on your intentions and calm the mind so that you don’t feel anxious before the day even begins. You can do a quick and effective meditation in as little as five minutes, which can help prepare you for your day.
Make a To-Do List for the Day
This is another trick for making sure you have a productive day. If you write something down, you are much more likely to actually do it. Plus, it’s so satisfying to cross something off the list when you finally finish the task. You can prioritize the tasks by most important to least important or by “must-do today” or “would be good to do today.” Whatever will motivate you to get each task done is perfect!
Use Essential Oils
There are plenty of essential oils that can help to wake you up and brighten your day. Stay away from calming and relaxing oils (such as lavender or chamomile), which will make you more tired. Instead, try energizing and refreshing scents. Citrus scents, such as lemon, are great, as well as scents such as peppermint or spearmint. You can also try Bubbly Belle’s energizer pure essential oil, which is the perfect blend of energizing oils that will wake you right up!
Get Your Body Moving
Ever wish you could be one of those people who get up at 5 am to work out? No? Us neither. Seriously, that sounds horrible (but more power to you if you do that). We aren’t saying you have to get up at 5 am to do a crazy hour-long workout, but some movement would be a great way to get the day going. Do a quick yoga flow, walk or bike around your block, or go for a quick job. This will get your blood and endorphins flowing.
Make a Healthy Breakfast
If you really want to kickstart your day, make sure you have the energy and fuel to do so! This means whipping up a delicious, healthy, and filling breakfast. You want to balance the meal out with some protein (eggs, nuts, turkey sausage, etc.), healthy fats (nuts, healthy oils, avocado), and some vegetables (leafy greens). You can put a plate together with all of these foods. Or, if you aren’t that hungry, make a delicious green smoothie with added protein to give you an energy boost.
Wake Up at the Same Time
This is maybe one of the easiest ways you can set yourself up to have a healthy and productive day. Getting enough sleep is essential to your daily body functions. On the other hand, getting too much sleep can make you groggy, irritable, and sluggish. If you get your body on a sleep schedule, you will feel much better. Try to go to bed at the same time each night, and wake up at the same time each day.
What’s a Sample Morning Routine?
All of our suggestions are just that; suggestions. We definitely aren’t saying you have to do each and every one of these things every single day. No one has time for that! The point is, these are a good mix of things you can try that will help you kickstart your day. Pick two or three of these ideas and try to incorporate them into your morning routine. You can always do more if it feels good to you and if you have time!
- 7:30 am: Wake up. Drink a glass of water and do a quick stretch. Make your bed!
- 8:00 am: Go for a walk around your block (or a jog, if you’re feeling ambitious).
- 8:30 am: Take a hot shower to de-stress, then do your skincare and makeup (if you use it).
- 9:00 am: Make a green smoothie with kale, avocado, pineapple, and coconut water. Add a scoop of unflavored protein powder.
- 9:30 am: Get to work on your to-do list.
Remember, your routine can be totally customized to what works for you and your lifestyle. Maybe you want to wake up earlier or later than 7:30, maybe you have to include time to drive to work, and maybe you want to spend more time doing a workout. It’s totally up to you! Listen to your body and do what you need to do. Don’t worry about what other people are doing for their morning routine.
A Beautiful Morning
So, what does this all mean for you? If you don’t have a morning routine, it definitely can’t hurt to start trying one. You might be surprised at how much a healthy morning routine can improve the rest of your day. If you start things off by doing something healthy and productive, you are far more likely to continue that streak for the entire day.
The best part about a healthy morning routine is that you can completely make it your own. You can do whatever feels good for your body, and whatever works with your specific schedule. Whether it’s taking a moment to use some essential oils or whether you want to get a quick jog in, it’s entirely up to you!
Sources:
9 Morning Routine Habits to Try for a Happier Start to Your Day | SELF
This is the Healthiest morning Routine, According to Experts | Global News