Do you ever feel like you have to RUSH out of bed in the morning, barely having time to scarf down breakfast or shower? And forget about squeezing in self-care. That is definitely not happening.
When your morning begins unorganized, hurried, and happens without paying attention to yourself – the rest of your day (and life!) tend to feel the same way.
It is time to reclaim your morning and start the day on YOUR terms. Not only will these habits improve your mindset, but trickle into every aspect of your life to create more success in everything you do.
Start with these five-morning habits for a beautiful day:
As a women’s health & wellness coach, a registered nurse, and a busy mom myself, I’ve found the following morning habits have made a large difference in my life. The way you begin your day will have an impact – either positive or negative – on the rest of your day.
1. Set Up For Success
Set an intention with yourself. Really get clear on WHY you want to start the day in a healthy, mindful way. Having a reason behind your habits will make them stick. The night before, take out your clothes for the next day. This can include both work clothes and movement clothes.
Setting up for success also includes giving yourself a regular bedtime that allows for 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. [unless you are a new parent! If that is the case, know that it is just a season and will change faster than you know it}.
2. Make Your Bed
“Messy bed, messy head.” Making your bed improves your outer organizational skills and preps your mind for an organized day. I like to repeat this simple mantra. A simple way to inspire you and make your bed feel enjoyable is to find some throw pillows that you love! Adding beauty to your space will also cultivate joy first thing in the morning.
3. Begin with Gratitude
I love to begin my day with just five minutes of gratitude. Starting the day with three things you are thankful for shifts your mindset to that of gratitude and abundance. Setting an intention for the day will set you up for success. A gratitude journal helps to rewire our subconscious thoughts from a negative perspective to a positive one.
4. Hydrate
Get into the habit of starting each day with a glass of water. (better yet, add lemon to it!) When we wake up after a night’s sleep without eating or drinking for 8-12 hours, our body needs hydration. To break your fast, start with the basics. Water for hydration!
5. Morning Movement & Mindfulness
It is easy to get wrapped up in the momentum of our lives and our never-ending to-do lists. Adding in movement and mindfulness (better yet, combine the two!!!) will reduce stress, increase mental clarity, and will jump-start your productivity. This doesn’t have to be an hour-long workout. Start small, with just 5-8 minutes, and go from there. I personally love to start my morning with yoga and mindfulness.
All-in-all, this process can take as little as 20 minutes to as long as 60. Experiment to find what fits best into your season of life.
Whatever you decide to incorporate into your morning routine, strive for consistency. Start with baby steps, and just add one small habit at a time.
Again, go back to step #1. Allowing yourself adequate rest and sleep will help this process flow easily for you. Before you know it, these routines will become second nature! Give yourself grace as you experiment with these new habits, and know that you are doing your best!
