You know how you have one thing planned, and something else happens that changes those plans? Well, that’s what happened to me this morning. I had one post all planned and outlined to write this morning, and then… well, now I’m writing about something else, and that is 3 steps to setting up the perfect morning routine.
Yesterday was challenging. I had a rough night too, and I literally was fully justified in staying in bed and sleeping off my pity party this morning…
But I didn’t…
I got up and started dragging myself through my morning routine. I even did my stretches in my kitchen because that is my “happy place” and I thought I should give myself the extra boost! You know what? By the time I was done I felt soooo much better mentally and went into my stretches and rotation exercises determined and came out happy, motivated and energized! NOW I’m ready for today!
A normal morning routine is healthy and good for you in soooo many ways… don’t let what knocks you down keep you from the one thing that will keep holding you up!
So today, I want to tackle 3 Steps to Setting Up the Perfect Morning Routine…
Step #1 – Track your Time
See how much time you actually HAVE for a morning routine… and trust me, EVERYONE has the time for a morning routine… even if it means waking up a little earlier than normal to get a good start to your day.
Also something to keep in mind is that the amount of time you need for your routine will vary by your situation and the other people in your household. A busy mom of 4 may only get fifteen to twenty minutes, while a single college student may get an hour.
Deciding how much time you actually have for your routine will REALLY help in setting it up, so you won’t try to plan too much for the amount of time you actually have in the morning. Trying to squeeze it all in will just create stress first thing! So DON’T! lol!
Step #2 – Prioritize Your Morning Routine for YOU!
The main purpose of a morning routine is to help you get ready mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually for the day. Your morning routine is about YOU and what YOU need to put YOU in the proper mindset and motivation for the day.
For example: I need ORDER at the start of my day to keep me going! So my morning routine includes the same set of things, in the same order, to help me mentally prepare for the day.
On the other hand, another woman near and dear to me needs QUIET at the start of her day. Her morning routine means waking up 30 minutes before she knows her kids will be up so she has time to do her reading and prayers without being interrupted.
Yet another friend has to have NATURE at the start of the morning. As soon as they get out of bed, they fix their morning coffee and a huge, warm blanket and heads out to the porch to bask in the sweetness of nature before waking the husband and kids and starting the day.
So figure out what it is that motivates you, gives you energy and puts you in the right mindset to tackle your day, and start from there!
Step #3 – Create Your Plan of Action
After you have figured out your morning priority, it is time to make a plan of action! It can be as complicated or as simple as you like, but let me give you a quick tip:
Starting out more simply and gradually adding things you are able to include is MUCH easier then making a huge routine and having to cut things out of it.
So firstly, figure out what you have to do to get physically ready for the day… and do that FIRST. It wakes up your mind and prepares you mentally and physically for whatever comes next.
Choose the routine that caters best to you! From the most basic morning hygene routine to an entire shower, makeup and dress up!
THEN decide what you need to do to get mentally, emotionally and spiritually ready for the day.
It can be coffee curled up on the couch with soft music.
A quick workout routine with pep music.
Writing affirmations or thankfulness journaling.
Reading…
you name it!
And that’s a wrap!
As you can see… it’s really not that complicated! I PROMISE that after a couple weeks of following a morning routine, it feels like your entire LIFE gets an uplift!
Now, if you’re like me, you like to see examples to get an idea of what you’re doing! So I’ve included my personal morning routine for inspiration.
Here’s my morning routine
(Let me interject here… I generally make my bed VERY first thing! As soon as both my husband and I are out of it.)
First I take care of me physically. (5-10 minutes)
- Oil pulling, brush teeth
- Body Brushing
- Fix hair
- Get Dressed
- Drink a BIG glass of water
- Do my stretches and Rotation exercises
Then I take care of me emotionally and spiritually. (10-20 minutes)
- Reading (I read with my husband, so it takes a little longer; but it is part of his morning routine too, so it counts!)
- Prayer Journaling
- Making my day’s To-Do list and meal plan
THEN… and only then, do I focus on morning chores and breakfast.
This may seem like a lot, but something to keep in mind is that when you first start out it may take a little longer to you settle into your routine. Now I can have my routine finished in about 45 minutes to an hour! (Generally I also include some household chores in my personal morning routine).
I imagine after I have kids this will change significantly! lol! But the basics of the first two portions will more than likely remain the same.
Having a morning routine is literally a LIFE SAVER!! If you don’t have one, now is the time to establish one! If you already have one, don’t be afraid to re-evaluate and change things up to cater more specifically to you and your needs.
What are some of your favorite morning routines? Comment below and share what gets YOU going in the morning!
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