3 Tips To Help You Create a Morning Routine That Doesn't Suck
The first thing I did when getting my life back on track after my divorce was work on my healthy habits, specifically a morning routine. I hear you - waking up early is the worst. You wake up in a warm comfy bed, you look around and everything is dark, the sun isn't even up yet and the thought of starting your day with a grueling routine is enough to make you want to throw up.
What if I told you that your morning routine doesn't have to start that way? I'm about to share some life-changing information. Here it goes... A successful morning routine is doing whatever makes you feel good, consistently. So forget the sh*t about waking up before the crack of dawn and running 5 miles (unless you're a rockstar like that). Your morning should be a ritual you enjoy and sets you up with energy for a kick-ass day.
I'm not here to tell you what to do exactly because it's going to be different for everyone. Although I will say, there are some guidelines you'll need to follow in order to ensure victory. The consistency of routine, not only keeps us healthy both in mind and body, but it also gives us a sense of control over our lives when we feel we have absolutely none.
Whether you've got 15 minutes or an hour, here are some things to keep in mind when putting together your morning routine:
Stop saying how much mornings suck.
I heard this little treat on a podcast this week and it got me thinking about morning routines and the words we use to describe them. We often associate morning routines as a chore, painful, and down-right annoying. Who wants to get out of bed at an ungodly hour? The words we use need to inspire us, set an intention for the day, and encourage who we want to be. Do I want to be a lazy person, who gets no work done and watches Netflix all day? Maybe. Or do I want to be a badass babe, who starts her morning by honouring herself by doing the daily prepwork that enables her to conquer the day? THAT’S BETTER! Your words matter, choosing powerful words to describe your routine (and anything else in your life for that matter), changes your perspective around whatever that thing is and helps you look forward to doing it. So it’s time to get cracking! (sorry for the awful pun…)
Who cares what they're doing on Instagram, if it feels good, do it (and give yourself replacements!)
If you hate running, don’t do it. If you hate getting up at 6 am, don’t do it! Trying to enforce a routine that's a complete 180 from your normal nature - will never work. You’ll quit before you even start. Look at what you CAN make work and focus on putting those in action. Listen to your body. Recognize what gives you joy and energizes you. You may not need to wake up at 6 am but find a time before your day starts to maximize your efforts and benefits. Is it setting your alarm for 7 am to drink that cup of tea while reading a book? Is it writing in a journal about how awesome your day is going to be? Is it going for a walk while listening to a podcast? Or Is taking 2 minutes to fit in some conscious breathing? Make a list of all the things you want to try to incorporate before your day begins. When one activity cramps your style, go directly to your list cross it off and try another. Whatever you choose make sure it's something you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or copy a workout schedule from JLo's Instagram or be something you completely loathe. When you start getting into the groove of doing what feels good, you’ll start to look forward to waking up early - crazy, I know.
If You Start of Your Day With Putting Sh*t in Your Body, You’ll End the Day With it Too.
You’ve heard the saying - you are what you eat. It’s super cliche but rings true when it comes to what we put in our bodies. The food and drink aspect is important here, and why? Because it solidifies the process. Fueling your body with healthy foods and drinking plenty of water will give you the energy you need so you're not tapping out mid-afternoon. This tip might take a bit of planning but it will be worth the effort. Take the time to organize your breakfast meals, prepare them the night before so that you make healthy choices instead of rushed shitty ones. Ditch the pop tart and Starbucks coffee and switch to overnight oats, yogurt and fruit, eggs, and toast. Get creative and find new morning recipes that you can batch on Sundays setting you up for stress-free weekday mornings. It's a whole new world when you're not rushing to find leftover pizza in the fridge and instead, you're actually able to see premade egg muffins you made the night prior. Don't be surprised if this new behaviour encourages you to start making healthy choices straight through to dinner time.
BONUS TIP - When you start including healthy habits into your day, your days will change. You'll start feeling happier, healthier, and grateful for what you do have. Being grateful doesn't just mean being grateful for your experiences, it means being grateful for what hasn't happened yet. Identify what you want and become that person who's already experiencing it. Live it, breathe it, and become it. Write this down in your diary, put it on your fridge, make a t-shirt, wherever you can see it. This healthy habit is one you need to program into your brain so that every choice you make is made with your desired life in mind.
Morning routines are a little slice of joy in your day. They're a celebration of self, no matter how unique or weird your morning ritual is. It's time to dedicate time to self-care and cherishing self-indulging moments. you'll be surprised at how a little morning dance-off, can change your entire day.
Lots of love,
Erin xo
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