Morning Routines to start your day with less stress
Morning routines honestly, rarely happen right now for me. But when each baby ages out of nursing in the morning, I do try to inject a few little things into my morning to set the tone for the rest of the day. Routine or not, those first few minutes of your day determine the general direction of your day. Of course, you can change that direction at any time - but why not start on a positive path?
If you have the time - it’s great to choose an activity that will not only energize you but will calm your mind as well. I say “activity” lightly. Creating your own relaxing and healthy morning routine is easier said than done, believe me I don’t wake up gracefully at 6am everyday and prance around my home with a cup of coffee. However, I have noticed such a difference in my stress levels if I choose to prioritize myself and some kind of routine or half routine in the morning.
Here’s an example of a quick routine that you can try:
1. Look at your phone only for the time. For as long as you can :) Did you know we can actually feel more anxious, stressed and less positive with those constant notifications coming in right when you wake up? If you keep your phone off or in another room in the house in the morning you have more time to focus on you instead of worrying about getting back to emails. Once you put the thought of “to dos” in your head - it is hard to get them out. Out of sight out of mind - as long as you can in the AM!
2. Drink lots of water. We all know how important water is for our bodies, but after sleeping for those 7-9 hours (okay, maybe 6 sometimes) through the night, our bodies are waking up very dehydrated. If you have the time - adding half of a fresh squeezed lemon to your room temp or warm water will help to stimulate a cleansing as well as digestion for the day.
3. Wash your face or shower in cold water. I know, a cold shower doesn’t always sound relaxing but it does give you a quick energy boost that you might need in the morning! Even if I just have a splash of cold water while doing my skincare routine, I instantly feel refreshed and more alert.
4. Meditate, exercise, do yoga or stretch. Set aside 5 minutes to sit quietly in meditation, or if that’s not your thing, get down on the floor with the kids and do a couple of stretches or a quick work out. There are amazing benefits that come from daily practice of meditation and/or movement. It’s an instant focus on your mind and body which sets you up for the day ahead. My thing (when we don’t have a little babe!) is to do a 20-30 minute work out followed by 5 minutes in silence letting thoughts pass through.
5. Prep for breakfast the night before. My brain does not like to make decisions in the morning while we are working to get the kids’ lunches packed and get them out the door to school. Having some go-to breakfast items ready to go is very helpful to getting some nourishment in
Some of my go tos that can be somewhat ready in advance are
Overnight Oats (top with fruit and nuts before serving)
Pancakes/Waffles (toast and top with peanut butter before serving)
Smoothies (can make packs of frozen ingredients that you just add milk to and blend)
Egg bites (bake in advance and then just heat up! Serve with toast or fruit)
Avocado toast (make an avocado mash in advance, add a lot of lemon juice and cover the top layer with saran wrap to prevent browning - serve with toasted bread in the morning)
Do you have any morning routines that help you start your day right? If so, make sure to let me know in the comments below! I’m always so intrigued to see what others do in the morning and how it works for them.