Recently when I wake up in the morning I have been feeling on top of the world. I always wake up excited for the day – so positive & optimistic about life. I have never felt better mentally. I don’t start my day with anxiety, stress, or negative thoughts, my cortisol levels are low & I just feel SO GOOD.
It’s taken me some time now to establish a morning routine that works for me & that makes me feel my best. After doing some experimenting, process of adding/eliminating, & enough practicing, I finally feel like I have my morning routine down PAT.
An important side note on myself: morning’s have NEVER been my thing!! I am not a morning person, it was definitely something I had to train myself to be. I used to be a very unpleasant person to be around in the mornings… I would spring out of bed at the sound of my alarm, have my coffee, & get on with the day. I wouldn’t even make my bed… This was not beneficial AT ALL. Throughout the day I was irritable, grumpy, & just an overall negative person. This is because the foundation of my day set the tone, the foundation of my day being a chaotic morning filled with anxiety.
After graduating university I had more time on my hands, which then led me to work on my health, mentally & physically. I knew that the way I felt on a daily basis was not healthy, & it wasn’t how I wanted to continue living. I started leaning into self-help books, podcasts, & youtube videos. This is when I learned the importance of a morning routine. I started slowly, incorporating new things over time to avoid burnout/feeling overwhelmed.
Four years later & I can confidently say that my morning routine is the golden ticket – the foundation for a successful day!
Here’s what I’ve been incorporating into my mornings to see these results:
- Get up & get moving: as SOON as I wake up, whether it’s before my alarm or when my alarm goes off, I get up. I get up, I stretch, I get my body moving, even just a quick 10 minute stretch or walk to get my body moving. But get out of bed as soon as you wake up & don’t let yourself debate it.
- Wake up to daylight: I never have my blinds shut completely, I keep them open to allow the natural sunlight in in the morings. Once I’m up, I open them completely to allow as much light in as possible.
- Hydrate: Hydrate the second you wake up!! As soon as I wake up, I drink a large glass of water to ensure my body is starting the day off hydrated. Sometimes I’ll add a squeeze of lemon & a pinch of Himalayan salt, but you can add whatever you like or nothing at all!
- Meditate: After I’ve gotten up, stretched, had my water, & brushed my teeth, I’ll listen to a 10-20 minute morning meditation. Often this will be a mediation that repeats positive affirmations & really sets the tone for the day. Starting the morning with positive thoughts has significantly improved my mood & mindset throughout the day.
- Journal: some days I’ll write for 30 minutes & other days I’ll just do a quick 5 minutes, whatever I have time for! But journaling in the morning has really helped me stay motivated & mindful throughout the day.
- No phone for the first 30 minutes of waking up: I will not look at my phone for at least the first 30 minutes of my morning. The first things that you look at in the morning really do control your entire day, so if you’re looking at your phone and it’s an instant spike in stress & cortisol, it’s not going to set you up for a great day mentally. If this means you have to plug your phone in across the room to avoid the temptation, plug your phone in across the room!!
- Sunlight & fresh air: once I have finished my morning meditation I will go outside to absorb some natural light & energy. Being outside & getting natural light and fresh air for even just 5 -10 minutes in the morning will make SUCH a difference. This will also help you sleep better at night by balancing your circadian rhythm. I know sunshine isn’t always readily available especially for those of us who live in Canada or locations with long winters. When it’s not sunny outside then I’ll turn on all of the lights in my home, your body needs light & energy & getting it first thing in the morning is essential.
- Stopped drinking coffee on an empty stomach: I have recently stopped drinking coffee right in the morning & have stopped drinking it on an empty stomach. This was a hard habit to quit but has definitely helped with controlling my cortisol & adrenaline levels, as well as my digestion & bloat throughout the day.
- Have a nourishing breakfast: I used to skip breakfast because I was never hungry in the morings, but incorporating a nourishing, savory breakfast into my routine has helped balance my blood sugars & provide me with sustainable energy for the day. Even just something small, fast, & easy! For breakfast ideas go to Food > Healthy Breakfast Recipes.
- Morning Vitamins: With my breakfast I’ll take my daily vitamins. These just help me feel good throughout the day & I can definitely notice a difference when I forget!
So, those are my morning non-negotiables for an unstoppable day! The golden ticket to a day of success! The GOAT of morning routines!!
I know it seems like a lot, & you do not have to do all of this by any means!!! But maybe start by incorporating one or two new practices into your mornings & see how you feel. It doesn’t hurt to try <3. I hope you found something useful in this post – now I would love to hear: WHAT ARE YOUR MORNING NON-NEGOTIABLES?
Sending you lots of love for an amazing day, maybe even starting with some new morning practices…
xx,
hh
Leave a Reply