***UPDATED 7/12/24***
I have a morning routine and if I deviate from that routine, my day is all out of sorts. Also, if you are someone that deals with depression and/or anxiety, a routine could make a noticeable difference in your mental health. Any therapist will tell you the many benefits of starting your day this way.
When we make a morning routine part of our day, we develop habits that soon feel second nature. So let's talk about some of the things you might want to add to your morning routine. Everyone's morning routine will be different, so the suggestions on this list are meant to be a starting point and happen to be my morning routine. Experiment with what works for you, and remember the key is consistency.
1. Put off checking your phone. This is a hard one because we all seem to be addicted to our cell phones or tablets. Plus the information we see first thing in the morning can cause stress. Why not delay this action a bit? It's better to maintain a general level of calm as long as you can. It's better for our bodies and emotional systems to reduce stress for the day. Also, reaching for your phone first thing is a quick way to derail your whole morning routine.
2. Stretch your body. At my age, doing a stretch first thing helps me get out the kinks and help my body move better. I'm not saying do a full exercise routine, just enough stretching to make your body limber and move better in the morning.
3. Drink some water. We cannot survive without water. The benefits of drinking water are well documented. You should be hydrating throughout the day, but a glass of water in the morning kind of gets the whole process going. I drink a cup of water right after going to the bathroom. It's refreshing and helps things get going in your body, if you know what I mean.
4. Meditate. In my morning routine, after the first few items above and getting a cup of coffee, I take time to read the Bible and pray. I can't tell you how important this time is for me. If I skip this, my day is completely out of whack. I believe the Lord gives me the fuel for the day when I spend it with Him. Just taking a moment to be thankful will help you with your day.
5. Make your bed. This is something I've always done. If you make your bed every morning, your space feels clean and less cluttered. I love this quote from retired Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”
6. Practice a “getting ready” routine. Most of us have a list of things we do every morning to prepare for the day (getting dressed, brushing our teeth, etc.), but you might not have it down to an exact order yet. Maybe sometimes you jump straight from the shower to doing your hair while other days you lounge around in your towel scrolling through the morning news. You can save yourself from constantly having to ask yourself, “Okay, what next?” by solidifying a step-by-step process.
8. Write or review your daily to-do list. I have a notepad app on my phone and use it daily to keep track of things I need to do during the day. When you take time to write out a game plan for the day, you are setting yourself up for a great day. I may not get everything done but when I do accomplish a task I mark it off and have a feeling of accomplishment. A great quote from Greg McKeown, “When we don't purposely and deliberately choose where to focus our energies and time, other people—our bosses, our colleagues, our clients, and even our families—will choose for us, and before long we’ll have lost sight of everything that is meaningful and important.”
9. Eat a healthy breakfast. The most important meal of the day is breakfast. Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or at school. Those are just a few reasons why it’s the most important meal of the day. Skipping the morning meal can throw off your body’s rhythm of fasting and eating. When you wake up, the blood sugar your body needs to make your muscles and brain work their best is usually low. Breakfast helps replenish it. If your body doesn’t get that fuel from food, you may feel zapped of energy -- and you'll be more likely to overeat later in the day. Breakfast also gives you a chance to get in some vitamins and nutrients from healthy foods like dairy, grains, and fruits. If you don’t eat it, you aren’t likely to get all of the nutrients your body needs.
10. Exercise. Not everyone has the luxury of getting exercise first thing in the morning but for me, after eating a healthy breakfast I get a walk in with my hubby. I have a goal of 10,000 steps a day and starting it off with a long walk helps me to keep moving through the day. I have an Apple watch to keep me on track with my steps. I encourage you to keep moving.
I hope this helps you in your daily routine. Remember, consistency is the key!
We would love to hear what your morning consists of and just maybe we can be of some support for each other to stay motivated, strong, and healthy.
Keep it Sassy,
Kelly
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