There is something so refreshing about a new day.
Each morning is a fresh start, a chance to start your day off on the right note.
But some mornings can easily be thrown into chaos without a routine—which is why starting one will bring some much-needed order to your life.
How many mornings have we snoozed the alarm one too many times, only to frantically throw on the first thing we see in our closet and grab Pop-Tarts on the way out the door?
Having a hectic morning leads to a hectic day.
If your morning starts with you feeling stressed, it will leave you anxious and agitated all day—so begin your morning with a plan.
There are several key parts of starting your day to consider: nourishment of the body, nourishment of the mind, preparation for the day, and taking care of the essentials.
Nourishment of the Body
One of the most important parts of any morning is making sure you do not skip breakfast. Whether it is a full English breakfast or a granola bar and fruit, make sure you eat something. Otherwise, skipping breakfast will cause you to overeat later in the afternoon and leave you hungry/agitated during your morning at the office. If breakfast isn’t your thing, make sure to drink some water, green tea, or a good cup of coffee to keep your sugar levels up and your body alert.
Nourishment of the Mind
Everyone is guilty of it—we reach for our phones the second we wake up and immerse ourselves in toxic social media, work emails, and mindless games. Instead, try spending the morning without your phone (save the ever-important phone calls or texts which may be necessary). The time you spend without your phone can be spent meditating, reading, taking a walk, or even doing 15 minutes of yoga in the morning. Nourishment of the mind is just as important of the body.
Preparation for the Day
Preparation for the day should start the night before. Make sure to pick out your clothes, pack a lunch if needed, and charge any electronics. In the morning, you will have everything you need in one place and laid out.
Take Care of the Essentials
Make sure to feed/walk pets, water plants, do any dishes, straighten up around the house, etc. These little tasks add up when not taken care of at the time needed. Five minutes a day saves plenty of time on the weekends that you normally spend cleaning and running errands.
With those guidelines, think about what your normal morning looks like and how you can change it into a routine.
My morning routine:
6:00AM: Wake up, drink some water, throw on workout clothes.
6:15AM: I walk my dog for a mile on the trail behind our house.
6:45AM: I leave for my morning exercise class. I rotate between cycle, hot yoga, barre, and weight training. I always make sure to drink water during the workout and chug 40oz on my drive back from the gym.
8:00AM: When I’m back from my morning exercise class, I feed my dog and start on my own breakfast. Normally, I eat a bowl of oatmeal with berries or a big protein smoothie made with protein powder, a frozen banana, cold brew, and ice.
8:30AM: I sit with my morning coffee and breakfast and catch up on the news. Sometimes, I read a book. Right now, I’m re-reading Neil Gaiman’s and Terry Pratchett’s “Good Omens” after the series just premiered.
9:00AM: I get ready for work and leave by 10AM. On my way out of the door, I grab my laptop and phone off their chargers, my packed salad out of the fridge, and head out the door. I usually bring a hot cup of green tea with me to drink on my commute.
(h/t Better Change Project)