Good Morning Sunshine!
There's a difference between saying Good Morning, and actually having a good morning.
I don’t know about you.. but I have never been a morning person. Doesn’t matter what time I wake up, the Snooze button is hit at least twice, and I always have to muster up the courage to throw my cozy sheets off, and get out of bed!
I’m always looking for areas of improvement in my day, and this is definitely one of them. So I developed a new strategy for my mornings.. and it all starts with a solid routine and developing healthy habits, or rituals if you will; and I have to say, this has done wonders for my mental state. These simple things give me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from the get-go, and sets the tone for the remainder of the day!
"If you win the morning, you win the day." - Tim Ferriss
Step by Step - A Routine for a Mindful & Efficient Morning
Step 1: This is a given, but start with A Good Night’s Sleep! Between seven to nine hours is optimal for adults. I know some of you night owls or early risers say your five hour sleep is enough, but if you listen to what the experts say, you need more time for your body to rest and rejuvenate!
Step 2: As soon as you open your eyes, DO NOT press Snooze!! It's a proven fact, hitting the snooze button will probably make you feel foggy and more tired. And regularly relying on it to sneak in more Zzz's will mess with your body's internal clock, which can actually deprive you of sleep and set you up for some major health problems down the line.
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney
Step 3: Five Minutes of Meditation - Practice Gratitude. You can do this in the shower, sitting on your bed, a comfortable position on the floor - whatever works! Some people find it hard to have moments of silence without thoughts running through their minds, so even a guided meditation or a soothing playlist works as well! Some mornings, if I am feeling like a stretch, I’ll extended my five minutes to 15, and accompany my affirmations with some light stretching.
Step 4: Make Your Bed, even if it means throwing on all those tedious decorative pillows. It starts your day off right, with a feeling of accomplishment. It leads to better productivity throughout the day. It lowers your stress levels and improves your mood. It helps form good habits. And naturally, it just looks and feels better!
Then the obvious, you get ready for your day.. shower, brush your teeth, do you hair, get dressed up.. the works! We won’t even make this one a step.
Step 5: Treat Yourself! Every single morning try to do one thing that makes you happy - even in the simplest ways. For me, this is enjoying my coffee in silence. Listening to the Keurig brew, the fresh coffee smell, the taste and experience that accompanies this simple pleasure is my gift in the a.m! If I’m feeling a cheat day, the next best thing is food! Pancakes or waffles with fresh fruit and an overload of syrup - a must!
There you have it - my morning in a nutshell! Nothing too crazy, but enough to keep me accountable and committed. It has done wonders for me and hopefully you will be able to find a routine that helps you conquer your day! Have a Good Morning!
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