How to create a morning routine that you will love
I’m a big fan of a morning routine, so big that I started a blog and wrote about it. I believe that everyone should have a morning routine. It has changed my life for the good, and I want the same for you too. This is why I wanted to share how to create a morning routine that you love and works for you. It’s never too late to begin, even in September 2023.
Why is it important to have a morning routine?
First things first, why should anyone have a morning routine? Here are 12 reasons why:
- A morning routine allows us to do the things most important to us. For example, if you love to read and have been eager to start this new book you brought but haven’t had the time to do so, a morning routine allows us to set aside time for ourselves to do the things most important, in this instance reading.
- It teaches us willpower.
- It uplifts us to do things best to get our day started. For example, starting your day with a workout or reciting positive affirmations uplifts your mood and looks forward to your day.
- It sets the mood for our day.
- Help us feel accomplished.
- Boost dopamine.
- Boost productivity.
- It lets you stay on top of healthy habits.
- It lets you get things done before a chaotic day.
- This is YOU time – spend time with yourself. Pour in your cup
- Self-care needs. You are a priority.
- Good for our overall well-being.
People who can benefit from a morning routine
If your mornings are chaotic, you are rushing through the morning, and you are looking for structure then you can benefit from a morning routine.
If you are looking for a way to reduce stress, then a morning routine is a good option to try. The structure of a morning routine allows you to take control of your schedule and lets you stay on top of things.
If you have the habit of scrolling on socials and checking notifications, it wastes your time and energy. Instead, you can use that time to do something more productive. A morning routine will give you time to complete tasks that need to be done.
If you’re looking for a change and want to incorporate healthy habits into your life. Maintaining a morning routine is a great way to encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle.
How to create a morning routine
Plan the night before. To have a successful morning routine, you first need to know what are your needs. What do you want out of your morning routine? What do you want to accomplish in the next day? Figure out tasks that need to be done.
Once that is done, the next is to aim to sleep earlier to get at least 7 hours of sleep. What you do the night before affects the mood for the next morning. Aim to sleep earlier so you wake up well-rested and energised to tackle your day. You don’t want to wake up sleep-deprived.
Figure out a time that works for you, not against you. You are the only one that knows your schedule and what time you need to wake up. If you need to be out of the house by 07:30, try and aim to take up 30 minutes before your initial wake-up time so you can do your morning routine.
Customize your morning routine to your own needs. There are so many morning routine ideas to choose from. Choosing which ones to complete will tell you what you will be doing in the time you have allocated for your morning routine. Figure out how you want to feel, what you want to be done, habits you want to inherit, and what you want to accomplish this morning.
Lastly is your mindset. Believe that this will work for you. Be patient and committed to the routine, and I promise you will see a change in your mood, lifestyle and happiness.
The best morning routine ideas that will set you up for a successful day
Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning:
Our bodies haven’t been drinking water for 6+ hours when sleeping, so our bodies are naturally dehydrated. Our bodies are made up of 60% water, so it is an essential nutrient to drink.
Journaling:
Journaling is simply writing down your thoughts and feelings on paper. There is no right or wrong way of journaling. Start writing and see where it takes you. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes.
Prayer and bible studies:
If praying to God and reading the bible is your lifestyle, include this into your morning routine. It’s a great feeling to wake up and thank God for the day he has blessed you, and protection throughout the day.
Make your bed
Completing small tasks:
Whether it’s doing a load of dishes from last night, laundry, folding clothes, or cleaning the house. Whatever it may be, these can be completed in the morning and are part of your routine.
Eating a healthy breakfast:
We have all heard before. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast gives us the nutrients our body needs, and fuels us for the day ahead. Breakfast sets the tone for the food choices you’ll make throughout the day.
Early morning workout:
What’s great about working out in the morning is that you get it done and checked out on your to-do list. Exercising is a task that seems tedious (depending on your attitude towards working out) but needs to be done. Do it first thing to get it out of the way. It’s also a great way to kick-start your day, enhancing your metabolism, and improving your energy levels and the endorphins that will set you in a happy mood. What I also love is that it boosts productivity, which is great when you know you have a busy day ahead, and you’ll need all that energy.
Writing down a gratitude list:
Practising gratitude can decrease pain, enhance empathy and reduce aggression — which is a great way to start your day. Write down 5 things you are grateful for each morning. If you don’t have a journal, you can say them out loud to yourself.
Reciting positive affirmations:
I love these! They boost your mood and pour into your cup. They are also amazing to wake up to.
Reminding yourself of your personal goals:
Looking through your goals in the morning is a good way to remind yourself why you do what you do, and why you work so hard towards it. For example, if one of your goals is to complete a marathon, then reminding yourself will give you motivation as to why you go to the gym to train, and why you eat healthy. It sets the mood and intention for your day.
Simple morning stretching for your body:
Moving your body in the morning with gentle stretches improves your flexibility over time. Plus it feels so good, as your body usually is stiff in the morning after sleeping for long hours.
A.M skincare routine:
Your morning skincare routine will prepare you for the day ahead. Certain ingredients and products are better suited in the morning. Because of the exposure to the sun UV, it’s best to put SPF to protect your skin.
My real 6:30 A.M morning routine
My morning routine changes from time to time. This is dependent on my schedule, the season and my needs.
Wake up at 06:30 – Currently, I wake up at 6:30 a.m. I’ll lie on my bed for about 30 minutes, just allowing my body to naturally wake up. I’ll think about my to-do list for the day and the goals I want to accomplish.
Make bed and listen to music – At 7 a.m., I get out of bed and make my bed. When I make my bed I listen to music. I find that it boosts my mood. I love waking up to music. The current album I am listening to is Renaissance by Beyoncé – Cozy is my favourite song.
Stretch – After my bed is made I open the windows and curtains, and then change to my active wear. To warm up I’ll do a 5-minute stretch. This is perfect as when I wake up my muscles are tight and sore, so stretching always makes me feel better, and I’m ready for my workout.
Drink my first glass of water – I love doing this! It’s exactly what my body needs after 7+ hours of sleep. A cold glass of water, with some lemon slices for taste.
Workout – I’m not strict in terms of my workout. I don’t have a training program that I follow. I work out for my mental health. Whatever I’m feeling that day, I do. I work out 3X a week. I work out from home. I’m currently loving POPfitness and Sarah’s Day workouts! I’ll work for about 20 minutes
Meditation – I then do a 10-minute meditation.
Shower – I take a warm shower to freshen up from the sweaty workout.
Skincare and haircare – My skincare and haircare routine is very simple. For my skin, I use nature choice skin as a cleanser. I then moisturize with DermOpal SPF 30. For my hair, I don’t do much since I have short hair. I use the Native Child milk and honey to leave in, then avocado oil to seal in the moisture.
Breakfast – Ahh my favourite meal of the day. I’ll start preparing breakfast around 8:45 a.m. I love oats, so I’ll have oats with peanut butter, cinnamon, a dash of vanilla essence, bananas and chia seeds on top. My other go-to option is toasted wholewheat brown bread with avocado on top and boiled egg. Sprinkle salt and pepper for taste.
Other resources to help you: