Having a Morning routine and being intentional about your morning routine is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You don’t have to be productive in the mornings if you don’t want to be. The idea with a morning routine always is to make one that suits you best and that works for you.
There is no one routine fits all. And so often we need to be flexible with our routines too. Because life’s every changing and you constantly need to modify your morning routine according to the season of life that you are in.
So you are waking up when you want to and doing things that you want to. Do you still need a routine? Yes, absolutely. And it could be a relaxing routine, a routine that focuses on your health and fitness or a routine that revolves around your work and being productive.
But, in this post I am sharing 7 Good habits that will transform your mornings. These are 7 Simple habits that make the biggest difference when it comes to starting your day right.
#1: Take it slow & give your body time to wake up:
The best thing to do in the morning is to take it slow. Give your body the time it needs to wake up. You don’t want to be pushing your body in a go-go mode first thing in the morning.
I have had mornings where I have rolled out of my bed and directly went to my work desk. Don’t do that. It’s not going to be good for your mental health in the long run, take it from me.
When you wake up, your body and mind need some time to adjust to the fact and become fully aware. So take it slow. Sit down in your bed and have a tall glass of water, very mindfully and slowly.
Or simply take a few deep breaths and stretch. Allow yourself some time to gather your thoughts and acknowledge how you feel about the day.
We are often so busy with our lives that we push ourselves in auto pilot mode. And while routines area great way to do so, and also to make sure that you are still on track despite the uncertainties, it is still good to allow yourself a few minutes before switching gears.
So often, when I wake up, my mind is full of ideas and what I want to do. and Allowing myself to be with my thoughts lets me gather them and make sense of them. I will then go ahead and write them down in my journal, before starting my morning routine.
#2: Plan your day:
I keep repeating it on the blog here, If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. I read it a few years back and it has stuck with me ever since.
I have always been a planner girl. Having your day planned and knowing what you have going on through the day is so important. It helps you be more organised and structured throughout the day. It will also help you focus on your top priority tasks first and then move on to the tasks that are not that important.
You don’t have to make a very fancy planner with a lot of doodles. I usually make one that’s very minimal ( because I simply don’t have the time to decorate it, as a new mom) but still very structured.
I write my work tasks with a different coloured pen and the rest of the tasks in a different colour. I also, always keep a weekly habit tracker for the habits I want to adopt and keep track of.
Planning your day in advance also saves you the decision fatigue and you don’t end up wasting a lot of time deciding what to do next.
How many times do you finish a task and then think “Okay let me take a break for 10 minutes and then I will start with the other task”. But then you end up scrolling your phone for hours.
Simply because you don’t know what task to start next and you end up procrastinating.
But having your day planned and scheduling in breaks as well, makes it so easy to take a break and not feel guilty because you’ll KNOW that your work is not suffering.
RELATED: 15 Lists to make that will help you get organised
#3: Have a nourishing breakfast:
Fuelling your body the right food is so important for proper functioning of it. And when you take the time to cook nourishing and balanced meals everyday, it reflects in your energy levels through the day.
I mean, sure coffee is great for a little energy boost in the morning, but your body needs more than that. Coffee in itself in quite dehydrating for your body and you need to keep yourself hydrated to feel your best. Hello! our bodies are about 70% water.
Along with drinking enough water, you also need proper nourishment.
I have never been a big fan of bagels or a simple toast for breakfast. I always make myself something that’s more fulfilling, more nutritious and balanced. I make sure to always include a source of protein in my breakfast (and all other meals throughout the day).
And it is such a simple habit to develop as well. Simply because after trying this for a few days, you will definitely notice the difference in your mood and your energy levels through the day. And when you do notice the difference it makes, it becomes easier to stick a habit, right?
And you know what? Once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t even take that long to get breakfast ready. There are so many healthy options that don’t even take that long to make and are so fulfilling and nutritious.
My go to breakfast options always are: Smoothies, oats, eggs on toast, Besan chilla ( chickpea flour savoury pancake).
#4: Take out some time with your family/important things:
Taking out time and having real conversations with your family and loved ones is so so important. And evenings can often be so hectic and finding time to sit down with everyone seems impossible on most days because everyone’s schedule is different.
That’s why I like making it a priority and spending time with my family in the mornings. We always have breakfast together. And waking up early and not being rushed and always late for work, has been a game changer.
Of course everyone’s priorities in life are different and everyone’s living situations are different too. Maybe you live alone or maybe your work is your top priority right now. No judgements and no shame. Do what suits you best.
But mornings are the best time to focus on things that are important and are a priority for you. As a new mom, I also like getting my blog work done in the mornings before the little one wakes up. It’s definitely a different routine than the 5 AM Morning routine I had before.
But I wouldn’t change a thing. Because this season of my life requires me to be in this role. And I know that I am doing my best to balance everything. Even if on most days things seem off balance.
#5: Don’t use your phone:
This has by far been the best change I have made to my mornings. And I am sure it will change the way you start your mornings too.
We tend to grab our phones the minute we wake up. And get swooped right into the world of social media right as we wake up. I used to have a similar habit too.
And mostly because it’s so easy. You set your alarm on your phone, so it is automatically the first thing you grab in the morning. And social media apps are right there with their pop up notifications.
And once you get on an app, it can be so difficult to stop because the content is never ending.
But think about how many times have you felt good about your life, right after spending time on social media?
The answer is mostly no.
Because we tend to compare our lives to everything we see on Instagram. Such a negative way to start the day, right?
Here’s what to do instead:
- Make it a rule to not use your phone for at least 1 hour after waking up or before finishing your morning routine (however long it is).
- Set your alarm on an actual alarm clock instead of your phone and keep your phone far from bed and not on bedside table.
- Turn off all the push notifications from apps so that you’re not tempted to check your phone just for 1 minute ( we all know that never happens)
#6: Gratitude & affirmations:
Practising gratitude everyday will change how you approach things. it will completely transform your outlook towards things.
Have you ever heard the phrase that things that you focus on grow? So when you start your mornings by focussing on the good in your life, you allow more positive vibes into your life. And when you focus on the good, the good grows.
Being grateful everyday also helps you be in a positive mind space even when everything is not going as per your plan. Because you focus on how far you have come and how much you have to be thankful for and not on what is scarce.
Simply start writing three things you are grateful for, every morning, in a journal. And if you think that you won’t be able to find three things everyday, you might be in for a surprise. We so often neglect and don’t pay enough attention to the good things happening in our lives.
And once you start writing it down, you start noticing these things. And it doesn’t always have to be something huge, it can be as simple as a really good cup of coffee. It’s all about appreciating more.
Same goes for affirmations. Affirmations are such a good way to start your mornings. They instil a belief that anything is possible and help you start the day on the right note. You can focus on a particular aspect of your life that needs your attention as well.
I used to write body positive and self love affirmations every morning and it helped me immensely in fixing my body image. Here are 45 Morning affirmations to start your day right.
#7: Take time to get ready:
Taking time out to get ready in the morning will completely change your entire day. And it’s true even if you work from home or are a stay at home mom.
Picking your outfit and getting ready every morning can be an act of self love. It also indicates your brain that it’s time to be productive and switch gears. I find that whenever I stay in my Pjs I feel lazy and don’t get as much work done.
So getting ready every morning is important, even if you’re changing from your PJs to a basic jeans and shirt, which is my go-to attire on a daily basis. It makes it so easy and quick to get up and get out of the house if you have to run any errands. And honestly, it doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes to get ready. Maybe a bit more if you wear makeup on a daily basis.
Also, let’s talk about how it instantly makes you feel good. Taking time for yourself, even if it is something as simple as getting ready can feel like a luxury at times. Especially if you are new mother like me and your life currently revolves around a little one. And that’s why it is even more important.
There you go, 7 simple small changes to your mornings that will completely change your entire day. How you start your mornings is so important to be more in control of how the rest of the day progresses. And these are simple habits that you can start doing every morning to take charge of your mornings. Here are also some BAD morning habits that you must avoid at all costs. These toxic morning habits are sabotaging you and you need to break them as soon as possible.
When it comes to having a morning routine, make one that suits you and not what everyone else is doing. The key to having a good morning routine is to include these 5 sacred rituals in your morning routine and also being flexible with your routine according your life at the moment and your priorities. Here is my 5 AM morning routine that served me well for a couple of years and helped me get started on my personal development journey.
Let me know down in the comments, what are some of your non negotiables when it comes to having a routine and what morning habits you can not do without.
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