Embracing Sunrise: A Deep Dive into My Morning Routine
Welcome back to The Lifestyle Nook! Whether you're easing into your day, or anticipating tomorrow, I'm certain this article will help you have the morning that you desire.
Sometimes, getting out of bed is the hardest task of the day. And sometimes, getting out of bed is a hard task followed by a plethora of even harder tasks! Either way, I've found that having a guided, semi-planned morning routine sets up my day, no matter how hard it's looking.
This blog post is going to detail how incorporating a personalized morning routine has changed my life, and how finding one that works for you could do the same for you. I'll walk you through my very own routine step by step, with some helpful tips along the way. And for those of you who often don't have time for a morning routine – don't worry, I've got you covered! Read to the end for a section about those panicked mornings that come when you can't stop hitting snooze.
So, grab your coffee, and we'll get into the nitty-gritty of a morning routine.
How Incorporating a Tailored Morning Routine Enhanced My Life
Some people like to wake up to the sun rising and the birds chirping, while others prefer to stay in the sanctuary of their cosy bed. And that's okay!
I've always been a morning person, but now more so than ever. In a way, I had to train my body to enjoy the process of waking up bright and early. And if I can achieve that, so can you!
It’s important to remember that everyone’s morning routine will look totally different, and you’re the expert. My morning routine won’t work for everyone, just as others may not work for me.
When I was younger, I spent hours trawling through YouTube, watching all of those aesthetic morning routines and trying to copy them. But it never stuck, and here’s why – it wasn’t personal. You need to listen to your body; listen to your mind.
It's taken a lot of trial and error to get my routine right, and I’m still tweaking it every day. It’s taught me a lot about myself, though, so here are my findings.
Although I’ve always been one to wake at the crack of dawn, even when I didn’t need to, I never knew why. I now know it’s because I’m a person who needs to ease slowly into my day, giving myself a couple of hours to myself before I face the world.
That means that my routine is quite long and leisurely, so if you’re going to follow along with this guide, bear that in mind.
Having a set routine makes me feel accomplished and in control. It puts me in a powerful mindset and sets me up to tackle my day because it allows me to have structure and set intentions. It moulds the framework of my day. It gives me direction.
Starting the day with things you enjoy, the little things, while slowly easing your body into awakeness, is the key here. Don’t force anything, don’t push, don’t make your body do something it’s not ready for. Introduce some flow and mindfulness into your day, and see how it changes your perspective.
With that said, let’s dive into what you came here for, step by step.
The Routine!
Drink a glass of water The very first thing I do when I open my eyes is drink a glass of water (yes, before I look at my phone!). I like to keep a bottle or a glass by my bed so that it’s all there ready for me. Hydration is key for a healthy body, and sleep can be quite dehydrating. Drinking a glass of water first thing will wake you up and rehydrate you, especially if you’re going to be drinking caffeine soon. The best part about this is it is so easy! You don’t even need to get out of bed.
Coffee time! Ah, my favourite part of every day. On those mornings when I’m sure nothing can convince me to roll out of bed, coffee can. I like to introduce some low light into my room, make a coffee, and then climb back into bed.
Meditation Once I have my coffee in hand, I do a quick guided meditation. Sometimes this is five minutes, sometimes it’s twenty. I like to see how I feel on a day-to-day basis. When I first started out with meditation, I would even do two-minute meditations, just to get my body into the habit of it. Now I won’t miss it!
Drink my coffee I like to stay in bed while I drink my coffee and simply relax. Sometimes this means reading a book, sometimes it’s listening to music, and sometimes it’s turning on my favourite morning show. Occasionally, I won’t have time to do this. But I like to carve out this time to ease my body into the day, with no stress or pressure.
Make my bed As lovely and leisurely as step four is, I have to get up at some point! When I finish my coffee, I know that it’s time to get out of bed. I use it as my road marker. I always make sure to make my bed (to get rid of temptation).
Tidy up I don’t mean clean your entire house from top to bottom, or start a thorough spring clean. At this stage, I simply like to make sure that everything is in its right place. This sometimes means emptying the dishwasher, putting away laundry, and in general tidying up my space. A clear space is a clear mind! This just allows me to kind of reset from the day before, and start afresh.
Stretch Everyone knows that stretching when you wake up is one of the best feelings ever. If you sit at a desk a lot, like me, or your workout left you feeling stiff, a quick five-minute stretch can work wonders. I like to gently work from my head to my toes, paying extra care to those areas that feel extra tight. Don’t push yourself too much! Just some neck rolls and a little hamstring stretch might be all your body can handle this early in the day, and that’s okay. This also warms me up for the next step…
Work out Now, this part can be a little daunting. It was for me at first, too! But my body is now primed to this working out first thing, and my morning doesn’t feel complete without it. I don’t always work out in the morning, mind you. On those busy mornings when I don’t have time to exercise for an hour, I like to do a quick five-minute at-home workout like pilates or yoga to get the blood pumping. If you’re not a morning workout person, I’d definitely recommend just beginning with a few minutes of moving your body in a way that you enjoy. Planning to wake up at 5 am to run a 10K can end in you hitting snooze (don’t worry, we’ve all been there!), and the aim of this entire article is to teach you to love your mornings. Take small steps, and you’ll get there.
Plan your day After I’ve done my workout, I like to get my ducks in a row so I know what to expect and what I need to do. This might look like writing a to-do list or simply reflecting upon what I’d like to get done for the day.
Shower, skincare After my day is all planned out and I’ve got that straight in my mind, I hop in the shower, wash my face, and moisturize so that I feel nice and fresh and ready to get ready for my day. Sometimes, I like a freezing cold shower (well, like might be a strong word!). There’s tonnes of research out there about the benefits of a cold shower, but I just like how invigorating it is. I’d like to stress that this is not an everyday thing for me – often a nice warm shower is all I fancy, especially in the colder months.
Breakfast This is one of the best parts of the morning for me – sitting down to a fresh, healthy, warming breakfast. I never used to be a breakfast person, but I very much look forward to it now. The key – eat something you love! In the winter months, I love oatmeal with berries or cinnamon, and in the summer I reach for fruit smoothies. Eating breakfast sets you up for the day, even if that just means eating a banana. Either way, I like to carve out just fifteen minutes so that I can eat mindfully and enjoy it (and maybe fit in another cup of coffee!).
Get ready to start your day! Get dressed, do your hair, get to work – your morning routine is all done, and you’re ready to kill it.
What About Mornings When You Don't Have Time For Your Morning Routine?
If you’ve planned an hour-long morning routine but you’ve overslept, or maybe you got to sleep a little later than usual and want to prioritise that, don’t worry! It happens to everyone.
When I have less time than usual, I like somewhat blend the stages of my routine together. For example, I’ll drink my coffee while I’m doing my makeup, and I’ll leave the other parts in case I have time at the end. The key is to prioritise so as not to stress yourself out.
Remember, the aim of making a routine is to reduce stress and allow positivity into your morning. Try to go with the flow, and don’t allow yourself to become too rigid in your routine.
I’ve fallen into this trap before, and so I took a few days to let my body fall into its natural routine. Now, this is my natural routine!
Please try to remember that everyone is different. It takes time to find your body’s natural rhythm, and trial and error is a winner for this one. See what works for you, and don’t pay too much attention to how other people’s mornings look.
I hope this article inspired you, and I gave you some helpful tips to invite warmth and mindfulness into your morning. Which was your favourite?
Stay tuned for my next article (hint: it comes at the end of the day!).
Thanks for reading!
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