When I was working, I had a daily routine that would help me get ready for the day. Some days were rougher than others. Because I have children and they had to get up to start their day as well, there would be a lot of rushing around and my little list of things to do in my morning routine would fall apart fairly quickly.

If your days were anything like mine before our current situation (Corona Virus), you need time to revamp your morning routine to help you slow things down and still get things done. A good morning routine can increase productivity, positivity, health and it can reduce stresses throughout the day.

Now, making a morning routine can be difficult, although a lot of us have more time to really think of a routine that can work for our families once this “season” in our lives is over. Difficult, for sure, but it will definitely be worth it. If you are not a morning person, it can give you something to look forward to in the morning and make it easier for you to get things moving.

I have found that starting off my morning more organized helps to build my confidence that the rest of my day will be a bit smoother, minus the surprises, of course. Productive morning routines can guarantee a much more efficient morning and bring about a better attitude for a positive rest of the day.

So here is my morning routine..

•  Drink a glass of water! I don’t feel right if I don’t start my day off with a glass of water. I keep a glass by my bed to remind me that I need to keep hydrated. I am not going to beat you over the head with the benefits of water but please know that in the morning, it gives our metabolism a boost, it gets our energy levels up after a good night’s sleep and it gets our bowels moving. They say 64 oz of water throughout the day will keep you hydrated and healthy. When I had a trainer, she always told me to drink half of my body weight in water a day. Are you not a water drinker? Add a little fruit or veggies to your water for a refreshing detox water. My favorite detox water is 8 oz alkaline water with lemon, cucumber, and mint…so refreshing!
• Move that body! I drink some water and then I get a morning stretch or workout in. It really does give me a boost of energy to get things going. That morning stretch or workout is going to get our metabolism going and increase circulation and flexibility. I don’t know if you are old enough to wake up stiff but it is starting to happen to your girl and I don’t like it!! I also read somewhere that working out in the morning helps to improve sleep and this may lead to weight loss. Being at home right now, we all need something to help us keep the scale from tipping.
•  Might sound crazy but make your bed….I know that I am not always in the mood to make my bed, especially now because I am taking naps, but I make my bed. It makes me feel like I have already accomplished something at the start of my day and makes my room look more inviting. It has become a habit, although I do admit that these days I may not pull the comforter up but I do fix my sheets and pillows.
• Meditate. When I know that I have a full day ahead, I can wake up stressed about the day. A couple of years ago, I was curious about mindfulness and meditation and decided to add it to my day and it has made a world of difference in how I handle my experiences. There are meditiation apps out there to help you learn how to meditate if you don’t feel you can just stop everything and be quiet and still on your own. Start off by putting on some spa music or just sit still. Set a timer…5 minutes to start off, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Continue concentrating on your breathing alone until the timer goes off. I think too much so I do use the meditation app because a soft voice is there to make me stop thinking and get back to my breath. Meditation calms your mind and helps you to get through stressful situations from a more thoughtful perspective for the rest of the day.
• Gratitude Journaling. I always start my day out praying and thanking God for the opportunity to see another day and live out my purpose. Along with that, I want that positive vibe to be with me throughout my day so I write in my gratitude journal (I have a few journals). Starting that day out with a grateful heart helps you to carry that sweetness through the rest of your day. Take a few minutes to just write down 3-5 things that you are grateful everyday. They don’t even have to be anything major. It can be the green grass, or birds singing outside of your window. When you have had a rough day and you go back to look at what you wrote, you will be able to discover your thought patterns and build some self-awareness.

I also listen to podcasts or sermons in the morning while I have a small breakfast. I may do some reading, as well as my morning beauty routine (that’s for another post).

It will definitely take some time to get your routine down but I am telling you, it will be worth the effort. Even the people around you will notice! I am reading books from powerful entrepreneurs and leaders and they all wake up early and have a morning routine they live by. Most successful people have morning and evening routines that they practice faithfully.

We have to ease into our new routine and add and take away until you find what works for us. Remember that the idea of a routine is to reduce stress, not add to it. It all starts with a plan. Our nighttime routine can also help improve our morning routine. We will talk about that one in our next post.

Don’t beat yourself up…habits take time to develop and form.

So why not give it a try?