Do feel like you need a major change in your life? Like, literally, your life is depending on it? Read on and see how to transform your life with these 5 steps in your morning routine.
I have never considered myself a morning person. In fact, I’ve always told myself this exact story , so of course I believed it for most of my life. I have worked as a Nurse for the last 21 years and have always had to be clocked in by 7am. I knew I was in for a very long, stressful day, so I wanted to get as much sleep as I could. Sleeping as late as possible, I would skip breakfast, rush to work and arrive at the time clock at 6:59. On my off days, I did much of the same thing, slept until time to get the kiddos up, and then rushed them to school, setting the tone for the day. I didn’t have a clear plan. Although as a working mother of 3 very active kids, I had no choice but to get stuff done. But it was messy, chaotic and frankly caused unnecessary stress on myself and my family, while being way less productive than I should have been.
Having a morning routine allows you to set intentions for the day, making your day more productive and ultimately increasing your sense of well-being.
The best morning routine is the one that fits your needs and lifestyle. It’s easier than you may think, so the best thing you can do is to create something you can stick to.
Let’s first begin with how this going to make a positive impact on your day? on your week? on your life? Okay, that’s a great question! Let’s get into it!
One of my goals for this year was to develop a morning routine that was simple and something I knew I could stick to. I needed a transformation in my life and I learned this was a very effective way to get it! So I created a simple routine that has quite honestly changed my life in a very positive way. This was my why, and yours may be different. Maybe you just want to minimize mental fatigue. Having a morning routine can decrease decision making and save brain power for other things in your day.
Transform your life with these steps in your morning routine
The first thing I had to do was stop telling myself the story that I wasn’t a morning person. Once I got rid of that limiting belief, I was able to move forward.
Here’s my current morning routine . I am always open to updating it as I grow and reflect on what is working and what can be better.
- Drink a full glass of cold water. I do this as soon as I wake up. Sometimes I add lemon to help with detoxifying. The cold water wakes me up and rehydration is essential after a night’s sleep. It also kicks my metabolism into gear, which at my age is very important.
- Morning pages. Journaling is a practice that I have incorporated into my life since 2017. It’s very transforming and also is very individualized. I like to write a stream of consciousness every morning, writing anything and everything that comes to mind. I literally just write, not worrying about grammar or punctuation. This is where I get a lot of great ideas and have even healed many wounds! There are also many wonderful journaling prompts and even courses to write about a current problem, getting clear on a specific goal, or even having a spiritual practice if that’s for you. I recommend Lavendaire at https://www.lavendaire.com as she talks a lot about creating your dream life through journaling. If you are really wanting to put in some deep soul work and have a new found love for journaling, I would recommend Liz White at https://offers.lizwhite.co/transformational-journaling/. Be ready to up level your life with this transformational journaling course. This is not your 13 year old self writing in Dear Diary, this is life-changing. I also like to journal at least 3 things I am grateful for. Having gratitude will increase positivity and your overall happiness and satisfaction. Even if you are grateful for the notebook you are writing in, showing gratitude will enhance positive emotions and can even increase your health!
- Meditation. This has changed my life. The science behind meditation or some type of mindfulness practice is astounding. Sometimes I do a guided meditation and other days, I meditate on a specific concern so I can go within to follow my intuition. You may not have any specific problem to meditate on, but just the calmness that comes from meditating can increase your focus and stress levels for the day. Many amazing athletes and successful public figures meditate daily for these reasons. Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Clint Eastwood, and Kobe Bryant are all well known people that practice meditation.
- Yoga/Stretching. Again, depending on how much time I have in the mornings and what day of the week it is, I incorporate some type of stretching to maintain or increase flexibility and even prevent injuries. Plus, I feel amazing after doing yoga or even a 10 min stretch session.
- I glance at my planner and pick my top 3 must do’s for the day and add a daily mantra or affirmation. Sometimes, my mantras are on repeat and sometimes I switch it up. These are daily words, phrases, or sounds that offer encouragement, motivation, and increase concentration. I like to say my daily affirmation to myself while I’m doing my hair and makeup and then throughout the day especially if I am at a difficult or stressful point in my day. One of my favs is “I fully love and accept myself”.
I am always striving to be my best self and if you’re like me, this can be very challenging and even seem impossible at times. So, creating a morning routine to inspire, motivate and set me up for a successful day is where it’s at. This not only makes the most of my day , but also my life. My exact routine may not work for you specifically, so I encourage you to create your own and experiment with what resonates with you. In the end, we are all just trying to be our best selves, and this is one step closer to being just that.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” ~Walt Disney