Master Your Morning Routine
Morning routines have had their time in the spotlight recently. From what you see on social media, it would be easy to believe that waking up at 5am, and drinking a green juice on the way to your AM spin class is the norm. However, this is definitely not the case and can be off-putting when trying to establish your own morning routine. It's important to remember that morning routines should be tailored to suit individual needs and preferences.
What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find a routine that aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Whether it's a leisurely stroll, a cozy moment with a cup of coffee, or time spent meditating, the goal is to start your day in a way that brings you joy and sets a positive tone. Embrace the uniqueness of your mornings and create a routine that genuinely resonates with you, rather than feeling pressured to conform to a societal ideal.
Creating a morning routine that suits your unique lifestyle and preferences can be a game-changer for your mental health and productivity throughout the day. In this article, we will delve into the numerous benefits of establishing a morning routine, explore the differences between early birds and night owls, and give you a tool kit, examples, and insights to help you craft a morning routine that aligns perfectly with you and your goals.
For those of you who set their alarm to the very last second, roll out of bed, and get ready in 10 minutes, you may be asking, why do I need a morning routine? Here are some reasons why:
Improved Productivity: A well-structured morning routine sets a positive tone for the day, allowing for better focus, efficiency, and goal achievement. By starting your day with intention, you can prioritise tasks, minimise distractions, and accomplish more.
Check out Adrienne Herbert's book and podcast The Power Hour. Adrienne's tips will show you how to harness the first hour of your day to help achieve your goals - whether those are writing a book, getting fit, or pursuing your passion - before the rest of the world wakes up and starts competing for your attention.
Reduce Stress: By establishing a morning routine, you eliminate the rush and chaos often associated with starting the day on a hectic note. This leads to decreased stress levels, increased resilience to daily challenges, and improved overall well-being.
Enhanced Mental Health: Engaging in activities such as meditation, exercise, or journaling in the mornings can contribute to better mental health, increased positivity, emotional clarity, and improved self-awareness throughout the day. A morning routine sets the stage for a calm and centered mind.
Physical Health Benefits: Incorporating exercise into your morning routine can boost metabolism, increase energy levels, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance overall physical well-being. It also jumpstarts your body’s natural systems, making you feel more awake and alert.
Early Birds vs. Night Owls
Not everyone thrives during the same time of day. Understanding whether you are a morning or an evening person can help you tailor your routine to match your natural energy patterns and optimise your productivity. While morning people tend to feel most alert and productive in the early hours, evening people are more inclined to experience peak energy levels in the afternoon or evening.
For morning people, tackling intellectually demanding tasks, engaging in creative pursuits, or doing focused work early in the morning may prove more fruitful. On the other hand, evening people might thrive by reserving their mornings for decompression, and low-intensity activities (such as yoga or self-reflection) and save their peak energy hours for work or creative endeavors later in the day.
Creating Your Morning Routine
Identify Your Goals: Consider what you aim to achieve by establishing a morning routine. Do you want to prioritise physical fitness, boost creativity, improve focus, enhance self-care, or foster personal growth? Setting clear goals will help shape the structure and content of your routine. If you are unsure, think about the areas of your life you would like to improve on.
For inspiration, I highly recommend the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. The book focuses on the time that we dedicate to ourselves and do what sets us on productive and meaningful days. It presents different ways to create the perfect morning routine – your Miracle Morning. Hal gives a back story of his journey and why Miracle Morning was his way to transform his life.
Set Your Alarm: Experiment with waking up at different times to determine when your energy levels are naturally highest. Aim for consistency to regulate your body's internal clock and establish a rhythm that maximizes your productivity and well-being.
Investing in a sunrise alarm clock will help with earlier starts, for people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), jet lag, or other sleep issues, sunrise alarm clocks can be especially beneficial. Most importantly, if you are setting your alarm earlier, make sure to amend your bedtime accordingly so you are getting enough restorative sleep.
Ease in Slowly: Begin your morning routine with the most important activities that are non-negotiable and contribute to your well-being. These may include hydrating, stretching, meditation, incorporating a healthy breakfast, or getting ready for the day in a way that makes you feel refreshed.
If you struggle to get out of bed, make the first activity something you enjoy and want to get out of bed for. For me, it's making a cup of tea and sitting and meditating for 10 minutes. I particularly love Bird & Blend's Morning Kick first thing in the morning.
Silence: Dedicate time to cultivate mindfulness through activities such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gratitude journaling. These practices set a positive and focused mindset, helping to minimise stress and increase mental clarity throughout the day.
Setting the mood for the first hour of your morning can really make it a time of day that you look forward to. Our Morning Yogi Bundle comes with a delicious energising essential oil blend that I love to diffuse on waking.
Get Moving: Incorporating exercise, even if it's a 15-minute routine, can boost energy levels, improve cognitive performance, uplift mood, and enhance overall well-being. Choose activities that you enjoy, such as yoga, a morning run, or an early gym session, and gradually increase the intensity as your body adapts.
Personal Growth: Reserve a portion of your morning routine for activities that stimulate personal growth and nurture your passions. This may involve reading, acquiring new skills, listening to educational podcasts, setting daily intentions, or engaging in creative pursuits. This dedicated time allows you to invest in yourself and fuel personal development. For example, you could spend some time reading a non-fiction book or listening to a podcast on your morning run.
Prioritise: While energy and willpower are often strongest in the morning, designate time to tackle your most important task or project. By accomplishing a significant goal early on, you set a positive tone for the rest of the day and create momentum for further accomplishments. If your goal is to run a half marathon, make getting out for that morning run the focus and work everything else around it. Or if you want to write a book, set the scene for an hour dedicated to writing.
Experiment and Evolve: Recognise that your morning routine isn't set in stone; it can evolve as your needs and circumstances change. Be open to experimenting with different activities, timing, and duration to find what works best for you. Regularly reassess and make adjustments to ensure your routine remains fulfilling and effective.
Establishing a morning routine tailored to your needs and preferences is a transformative practice that can lead to increased productivity, reduced stress, enhanced mental well-being, and improved physical health. By incorporating activities that align with your goals, optimising your energy patterns, and nurturing your overall well-being, you set the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling day.
Embrace the journey of crafting a morning routine that works for you, and unlock the immense benefits it can bring to every aspect of your life. Remember, your morning routine is a personal and dynamic process, so be patient, persistent, and open to fine-tuning it until it becomes an integral part of your everyday life.