Snooze.
One more time – snooze.
Ok just one more – snooze.
Oh shit I’m late..
Sounds familiar?
Hectic mornings are considered normal, but having a slower morning definitely feels better. A solid morning routine will actually help you move closer to your health and fitness goals. Consistency is key for you! With that being said, here are 5 small things you can add to your daily morning routine to help set you up for success the rest of the day!
- Drink a big glass of water first thing upon waking up.
For me, I keep a water bottle on my bedside table and when I wake up that is the first thing I reach for. I drink the entire thing, then get up and begin my morning. After a good night’s sleep, your body is dehydrated from going hours without water, so by drinking water right away, it will help wake your body up, cleanse toxins from your body, and get your digestion system moving. Pro tip: add lemon.
- Do a few gentle stretches.
This doesn’t have to be complicated, just get your body moving and your blood flowing. Do whatever stretches feel good to help wake your body up and get your blood circulating. Personally, I like to do a few shoulder & hamstring stretches, and just roll the stiffness out of my muscles. This habit also helps wake you up if you aren’t much of a morning person!
- Make time for breakfast.
Even if the rest of your morning is hectic, taking a few minutes to actually sit down and eat breakfast, rather than just grabbing a muesli bar as you run out the door will help you feel relaxed, and give you a solid beginning to your day. If I only have 10 minutes, I sit down and have a quick breakfast and it helps me feel calmer as I start my day, no matter how busy I am! Eating breakfast also kickstarts your metabolism, which will help you have less cravings throughout the day!
- Hold back on technology.
I just started doing this, but it has been transformative for me and my mental clarity. Essentially, I avoid going on my email, checking Facebook or any other social media first thing in the morning. This small chunk of time just gives me the space to have a good, positive start to my morning without being bombarded with a million social media notifications! I actually start my day with journaling. Or it may be just a few minutes of what you will do and how your day will go. Try it out and see the difference in how you feel beginning your day without plugging in to your technology right away! It will help you feel calmer and more relaxed starting your day on your terms, rather than what’s happening online.
- Schedule your workout!
Every Sunday I take time out to look at my week, and schedule when I will be working out. I then review it each morning according to work and appts. I treat it the same way as I would a doctor’s appointment-I can’t break it! Taking five minutes in the morning to find where your workout will fit into your day will help you get into the right mindset, and it will also help you stay on track with your fitness. Scheduling it and stick to your commitment.
Add these five habits into your morning routine! Overall, it shouldn’t add more than 20 minutes or so to your routine, and the benefits of adding them outweighs the extra 20 minutes of sleep! Try it out this week, and let me know your thoughts.