Simple Living

My morning routine | Tips for making mornings easier

For a long, long time, getting up from bed in the mornings was a mission I excelled at postponing regularly as if going to work was a subject for debate.
I used to snooze my phone alarm until the last possible minute, resulting me acting like a madwoman, running around, stressed, unprepared, not knowing what to wear, packing my lunch in a hurry (or ending up forgetting it), and generally felt frustrated throughout the day.

One of my goals for 2019 was to create a morning routine I enjoy waking up into and that will help me to feel at my best to start the day, every day.

Today I’m sharing my morning routine as well as few tips that helped me to keep up with it, and I hope it can help you to create your best morning routine for a better and more productive day.

 

5:10-5:20 A.M. – Wake Up

My alarm goes off at 5:10 a.m.  (though I admit I still occasionally snooze). I change to my workout clothes as soon as I’m up and had to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

Next, I head to the kitchen and grab a banana or a yogurt to keep me from starving throughout my morning workout. By 5:40 a.m. I’m out the door with my sports bag and my lunch box and commute straight to the gym.

 

If you are like me and have just half an hour (or less) to be ready and out the door,
here are my tips to make the morning as easy as possible:

 

Tip #1: Prioritize your Beauty Sleep

 

When I made the decision to move my exercise to the early mornings, it made me realize how it is important to prioritize sleep and to make sure I have the amount of rest I need.

Whether you exercise in the morning or not, waking up refreshed from a good and much needed night sleep is a key for starting to work on your perfect morning routine.

Calculate the time you should be in bed (for me the lights-out hour is ideally 10 pm, although it sometimes extends to 11 pm), and go to bed at the same time every night.

 

Tip #2: Don’t fall asleep with a bad mood

 

You’re likely to wake up feeling the same way the next day and it will harm your motivation.

If you have unresolved issues with your spouse, or you got into an argument with your sister on a friend, resolve it before you go to bed, not only it’s better for your relationships but you also likely to fall asleep much easier when there is nothing nagging at the back of your mind.

You can also keep a gratitude journal beside the bed to list three things you are grateful for to end the day with a smile.

 

Tip #3: Brain Dump before bed

 

If you have trouble falling asleep because you’re brain filled with thoughts about the day or maybe because you are trying to memorize your to-do list for tomorrow ‘cause you afraid you’ll forget it in the morning, just write it down.

Bring it all on paper. Your thought, feeling, ideas, disappointments, memories, things you’re excited for or things you want to achieve tomorrow, or just things you want to try someday. Write it all down.

When knowing it’s all in a secured place where you can find it tomorrow to deal with, your brain will be able to relax, wind down and switch off for the day more easily, and I assure you, after doing so, you’ll fall asleep faster.

 

Tip #4: Plan Clothes Out

 

If you prefer morning workouts and have a strict time-block for it as I do, when every second after you’re up is critical, consider planning your clothes the night before to save time in the mornings.

Lay out your gym clothes and sneakers next to your bed so they’re ready to put on in the morning. Pack your gym bag and prepare your water bottle and car keys. Having everything ready to go will reduce the number of decisions you need to make in the morning while still being sleepy and this will reduce the chance you’ll cancel all your morning plans by falling back to sleep.

Tip #5: Make Lunch the Night Before

 

Prepare your lunch box the night before and have it ready in the fridge for a quick pick-up when leaving for work. No take-out delivery bits a homemade cooked meal, and your body will thank you for it.

 

Tip #6: Rehydrate as soon as you wake up

 

Your body was fasting during the night, but before you eat or drink anything else, drink a glass of water. It will not only help your body to wake up, but it is generally the best fluid for your body at any given time of day.

Take a minute before you go to sleep to fill up a bottle of water and put it beside your bed, you might squeeze lemon into it to wake up your senses as well.

 

6:00-7:00 A.M. – Workout

This is my Self-Care thing I do in my morning routine. This is my cherry on top.
Scheduling my workouts first thing in the morning is the main thing that helps me maintain a fitness routine and a morning routine. This is my ‘Why I wake up early’ if you please.

For years I used to workout in the evenings and it was always a struggle. Excuses where all over the place, and really good ones too (or so I thought), so I would pick one and release myself from this “task”.

Today my mindset is different. I no longer see it as a task that needs to be checked off from my to-do list (it’s not even on it anymore), but as a duty for my physical health as well as my mental state.

I create my own training program and it changes quite a lot. Training programs will forever change and evolve as you will change and evolve, but I’ll be sure to share my workout routine with you when I’ll find one that sticks for a while.

 

7:00-7:30 A.M. – Groom Yourself

Once I’m done with my workout, I shower, get dressed and blow-dry my hair (I rarely leave it wet on work days). Then I apply my makeup, which is super light and nothing fancy, and that’s it, I’m ready to leave for work. Fast & simple, no crazy skin-care rituals here.

 

7:30-8:30 A.M. – Have a Good Breakfast

I never skip breakfast. N-E-V-E-R. And I don’t go wandering what it should consist from either.

Because I have my breakfast at work, I usually know my options and just make one from the engridians that are available that day. Most days I’ll have 2 slices of bread with avocado & tuna and other days a cheese toast with tuna or cherry tomatoes. Usually, I drink coffee with my breakfast but sometimes you’ll find me with a cup of tea.

Lastly, as I’m trying to work on my drinking-more-water habit, I fill up my water bottle to bring it with me to my desk.

 

8:30 A.M. – Check Your Planner & Start Working

I’m ending my morning routine and starting my day when I know what needs to be done and having a way to track my progress.

I have a bullet-journal type planner that I plan and write in, but for you, it can be something completely different like an app on your phone or a note on your computer. If you still don’t have a planning system that works for you, just try one and see if it sticks, if you like it, and if you come back and revisit it. If you don’t, just try something else until you find your platform.

Having a clear picture or even a guideline of how your day should look like will busts up your productivity levels by helping you be more organized and less overwhelmed.

 

Hope you enjoyed reading and got some inspiration for your morning routine!

Do you have more tips on how to create a better morning routine?
Be sure to leave them down below in the comment section for everyone to enjoy!

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