Do you have a morning routine? I always thrive best when I’m working to a set routine, as a creature of habit I always like to know what I’m doing and when, perhaps that’s a bit OCD, but you know!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could start each and every day on a positive vibe? A brand new morning sets the tone for the rest of your day and having a routine in place that encourages happiness and mindfulness is useful for creating a wonderful energy to see you through the day. Perhaps you’re not a morning person and your alarm clock fills you with dread, a morning routine that is centred around self care will help ease you into your day.
I’m pretty precious about my morning self care routine because I know how great it makes me feel and even thinking about printing it out to stick to my notice board in my office. Slowing things down and making self care a priority in the mornings means that I have more energy in my day for other things because I’ve taken some time for myself, rather than just rushing straight into the day.
Obviously, I’m far from perfect and implementing these self care practices into my routine has taken lots of practise before they became a habit. However, I really am thankful that I dedicated the time to find a slower and loving routine that worked for me and it feels good to start each morning with these rituals.
Get Up Early
Yes, I’m one of those annoying early risers that actually likes waking up in the morning. I always get up an hour earlier before anyone else in my house to take pleasure in a silent house and the calm before Aiden wakes up. My productivity is the greatest in the morning, hence my need to wake up earlier to make the most of it. I’m going to give the Miracle Morning App a try soon because it sounds like my bag!
Rising earlier has so many advantages and I love that smug feeling of knowing that I’ve got loads done before the day officially starts.
Stay Off Social Media
This was a massive one for me. I began to get really concerned about how connected I was to social media towards the end of last year. The urge to check my phone as soon as I woke was quite irksome and I knew that something had to change. The overwhelm of it all became a headache, so I turned off the notifications off all the social media apps on my phone and instantly felt better. There is nothing beneficial in checking my social media first thing and now I have more space in my morning for more gentle rituals that are more life enriching.
Think About Today’s Intentions
So what do I do now that I’m not attached to my phone so early in the morning? Before getting up I lie quietly in bed and set my intentions for the day. This can actually be an empowering experience, it always makes me feel excited when I have an awesome day planned. I always make sure that my intentions have a positive spin on them to start the day on the right foot.
Meditate
With the help of some guided meditations by using apps like Insight Timer and Calm, this is something that I’m becoming better at. It’s still a work in progress but making time in my morning to meditate gives me a feeling of calm and focuses my thoughts on the day ahead. Plus, it’s seriously relaxing and helps to create a calming morning routine.
Warm Water With Lemon Elixir
Every morning without fail, before I eat or drink anything I make myself a glass of warm water and lemon. I mix boiled water from the kettle with some cold water and add a slice of lemon. This has been a morning ritual for so long now that I don’t even have to think about it. This magic morning elixir helps to flush out any toxins and can help to ease and digestive discomfort. I love it!
A Satisfying Breakfast
I don’t know how people who don’t eat breakfast do it. Starting the day with a satisfying breakfast is a massive part of my day and I doubt I could function properly without it. Fuelling yourself with a nourishing breakfast is very important and whatever it is you like to eat in the morning try to make it an enjoyable mindful experience everyday.
An important point to remember is to make your routine flexible. I know it’s a cliché, but life does get in the way sometimes, so there may be periods where you can only do parts of you morning self care rituals, but that’s OK. As a mum of an energetic toddler, I have to change things around a lot. Not so long a go the thought of not being able to complete something would have left me feeling like a failure. I’m much kinder to myself now and realise that there are times where my energy is needed more elsewhere and to just let it go, which itself is also a massive act of self care and love.
I don’t really have a routine during the week. I get up at 6.45 and have to leave at 7.15 so I just get my stuff together and go. And on weekends my routine is all based around my daughter. Haha.
I love getting up early, especially for an early shift. It means if i start at 7am i am normally finished by 1, which means i got the whole day ahead of me x
I agree my productivity is always best in the morning as well as even though I am tired it does boost my productivity levels x
I wish I could get up earlier than I do, but I’m really not a morning person! I do try and ensure I get a good breakfast every morning though x
I adore self-care blogs, it really makes me look at my own life more and makes me want to try and change things up. I started meditating last week and its helped me so much with feeling relaxed x
I think it is so good to have a morning routine that focuses on self-care as it can really center you for the rest of the day and have such a positive effect on your life. Taking care of yourself first will benefit your family and your job or business as well, as you will have more energy and ability to focus on those things.
My mummy’s morning ritual consists of getting everyone to school and work on time! She would need to wake up at 4am to get some meditation in 😉 Sounds like you have a blissful routine in place
I have a similar post coming up and my morning is pretty similar. Doing some sun salutations every morning makes such a difference to me.
I keep meaning to try and meditate in the morning but I just can’t seem to settle my brain when I know I have lots of things I could be doing!
Since my Daughter became ill, our morning routines have gone out the window really, I am always the first one awake and I get up and feed the animals and prepare myself for the day I can’t plan just have to go with the flow x
Routines are always great as they get you in a set mood. I love my morning routine too and also rise early to get that hour me time for my self.
I think that hardest thing there for me is to stay off social media but then that is where my work is based so I have no choice.
I have been starting to try and get up earlier than I need to before work so I have time to relax and have a proper breakfast, that’s probably as far as my self care routine goes x
I love all these tips especially the one about staying off of Social Media. I do struggle to have breakfast in the morning though as I am a bit of a night owl who struggles with early starts!
Loved reading this and it has inspired me. I do lots of morning rituals but I do find I check my phone and going to follow in your footsteps and leave it turned off svd not rush to my phone. I have recently taken to drinking slices of ginger in hot water with lime and I love this. Just had a huge bout of bronchitis and this has helped massively X
I am going to try your advice of staying off social media in the mornings. I’m so not a morning person! xxx
I keep buying lemons to have lemon water in the morning and when I do it is so refreshing, great start to the day!
My life is no longer ruled by an alarm clock and I can literally get up when I please. As the days get longer I get up earlier but I still love the feeling when I wake of knowing that I can stay between the sheets for as long as I want.
I love your morning rituals, I agree, a great start to the day makes a massive difference. You have prompted me to think about what I should be doing every morning.
I like getting up early its great to have more time to do more things. I also like reading a little bit with some peppermint tea
I love being organised and productive! Getting up early and having a plan is key! L x
I’m so bad, when I get up the first thing I do before anything else is check social media!
I wish I could be more organized like this in the morning. Every morning I find myself sleeping through my alarm and then rushing me and my son to get ready for school and work.
A morning routine may help you feel less rushed in the mornings.