6 tips for the every-day person.
Ladies! I have read and watched so many “morning routines” from various bloggers and social media influencers. But pretty much all of them are like a thousand steps and hours long. Hence why I’m here getting ready to tell you about mine! I work a full time corporate career and have an elementary-school aged child, so my mornings (just so we’re on the same page, I’m talking primarily weekday mornings :-)) are always time sensitive. And if I’m being completely honest, often rushed and chaotic. At this point in my life I simply just don’t have the extra time or desire to wake up much earlier than I already do.
With that being said, a few months ago I started to incorporate a couple of new habits into my routine, which have really helped with my overall mood in general. Not to mention I have fewer and fewer days that feel so chaotic.
I should mention, too, that I am not a laid back person when it comes to time management. As much as I want to be, I’m just not. If I’m running late, or if there’s even a possibility that I’ll be late, it’s like this weight comes over me and I feel anxious and overwhelmed. Ridiculous, I know, but what can I say, I like to be in control. Don’t worry, it’s something I’m actively working on.
So let’s jump right in to my current routine…
First thing’s first, sleep. Make sleep a priority. I’ll probably end up doing an entire post on sleep habits alone, because I truly feel that sleep is critical to so many other aspects of your life and health. Aim for 6-8 hours every night. If you’re super disciplined, take it a step further and go to sleep and wake up at exactly the same time each day. But if you’re like me, not super disciplined yet and taking life as it comes at you, aim for the 6-8 hours.
I’ve mentioned before that I love yoga. I’ve gotten back into the habit of practicing at the studio at least once a week and at home anytime I can fit it in. And no, I’m not saying I do a whole yoga routine every morning, but I have found that a few minutes of stretching right before bed and when I wake up has really made a difference in the way I feel. My full time job is primarily sedentary, so I often have stiffness in my lower back and hips. Stretching before bed really helps loosen everything up which seems to help my quality of sleep, and stretching when I wake up makes me feel limber and ready to move. It sounds like a hassle at first, but I literally only spend like 5 minutes.
Next would be goals and visualization, which I also went over in 8 Ways to Bring Positivity Back Into Your Life. I group these together, but lately they actually happen at separate times in my routine. While I’m stretching, in my still dark, cool bedroom, I close my eyes and think about my goals. This is quick and easy because I go over them every day, so essentially there’s no “think” time. Then I use the 5ish minutes to specifically focus on one or two of those goals and visualize myself doing exactly what I need to do to achieve them. Then later in the morning, once I’m at work, I start my day there by physically writing (as in pen & paper) the goals down. Since beginning this practice I find myself referring back to them throughout the day, particularly on days when I’m struggling to stay motivated. It’s a constant reminder of why I push myself, why I put up with craziness, why I do what I do.
Alright, I know I skipped ahead there on the writing of the goals, but let’s go back to what happens pre-workday.
After I’ve gotten ready, I’m usually in the kitchen, yelling to my son to finish up whatever he’s doing, and packing our bags. This is when I make myself a nice hot to-go-mug of chai tea. Again, if I’m being completely truthful, sometimes I run though Starbucks for their Chair Tea Latte, but I’ve finally come up with the perfect “recipe” to make it at home. Which saves me time and definitely money. I’ll share my recipe (which is dairy free) and some chai tea benefits here. It’s also great iced or chilled, if you prefer to make a large batch and keep it in the fridge for the week or drink it later in the day. I choose to drink mine hot & in the morning because it’s comforting on these cold, early mornings, and I tend to struggle with iron absorption, which can be exacerbated by drinking tea too close to meals.
Lastly, to start my day off right, I listen to some type of productive media in the morning. Whether it be a podcast that gets me inspired, music that gets me motivated, or an audio book that gets me educated. I have about a 45 minute commute once I leave the house, so it’s a great time for me to fit in something for me before going to work for 8-9 hours. Let me know if you’re interested in knowing what I’m currently listening to!
So to sum it up, I get a solid 6-8 hours of sleep, stretch for about 5 minutes while practicing imagery, make myself some chai tea, listen to something productive and write down my goals. I honestly feel that incorporating these few steps into my daily routine has made a huge impact on my mindset and my overall productivity. My days don’t feel like they run away from me and I move through them with definite intention.
I also want to point out that my routine does not involve any social media or screen time. Every once in a while I might check my email or take a peek at Pintrest as I sit on the toilet, but nothing that brings negativity or tempts me to compare myself to other people. I typically hold off on any social media until later in the morning, at the earliest.
Have you started incorporating any new practices into your morning routine? Let me know what they are and how they’re working out for you!
