Create a Morning Routine That Lasts

Creating a morning routine can be an empowering way to start your day. I’m sharing some ideas for you to start building yours!

Are you the type of person that wakes up in the morning and immediately reaches for your phone? You find yourself scrolling through missed emails, social media notifications, and texts. Instantly, you’re overwhelmed and jump out of bed only to rush through your entire morning.

If this scenario sounds familiar, chances are you could benefit from a sustainable (yet simple) morning routine. I’ll show you how!

WHY A MORNING ROUTINE MATTERS

What’s the purpose of a morning routine? Simply put, I believe that a morning routine ensures that we consider our self-care needs and make them a priority.

Setting aside five to fifteen minutes (or more, depending on your schedule) each morning for some you time can help you to feel more grounded, less anxious, and more level-headed as you enter your day.

Keep in mind that creating a morning routine matters because it allows you to practice habits that are important to your overall wellbeing. A consistent routine can help the rest of your day run smoother, as you might feel better equipped to handle what the day throws at you. For me, I know I am a lot less reactive when I’ve meditated and spent some time just breathing before my day begins.

HOW TO GET STARTED

The first step of creating a morning routine is identifying what a realistic amount of time is for you. Morning routines can vary greatly depending on the number of animals, kids, and humans with which you share space. For example, having a 90-minute morning ritual isn’t going to be that sustainable if you have two toddlers and three dogs. Then again, maybe it is!

My point is: pick a time limit that works for you and your unique life.

From there, focus on how you want to feel for the rest of your day. I think this is a very important – and often overlooked – part of creating a morning routine that lasts. All too often we find ourselves trying new things because we saw someone else doing it on social media or heard about it from a friend. While we can pick up some great ideas from others, we have to make sure these new habits are realistic for us and how we desire to feel.

If you crave to feel more grounded, make sure to meditate in the morning. Do you desire more energy? Maybe consider a light morning workout to get your blood pumping.

Here are some morning routine ideas to consider:

• Make your bed upon rising
• Begin a meditation practice
• Practice dry brushing before your shower
• Drink a glass of water before you pick-up your phone
• Create a skincare routine
• Take your dogs (or yourself!) for a walk
• Eat a nourishing and balanced breakfast
• Do a few simple yoga poses or stretches

AN EXAMPLE: MY MORNING ROUTINE

I’ll be the first to tell you: my routine isn’t the same every morning.

There are days when sh*t hits the fan and I have to drop everything and go. On the other hand, there are days when I have more time freedom and can add in a few more morning rituals.

That being said, there are a few non-negotiable morning routines I always complete (yes, in this order):

• Take my temperature with Daysy (I use the BBT method for tracking fertility)
• Drink a glass of water
• Make the bed
• Brush my teeth
• Complete my skincare regimen
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Meditate
• Check my phone (I sleep with my phone downstairs!)

Read next: Setting Boundaries with Technology

If I find I have more time, I add in a few other morning routine rituals, like:

• Dry brush
• Walk the dogs for 30 minutes
• Clean up clothes
• Complete a yoga class

HOW TO MAKE IT LAST

Let’s face it, keeping a morning routine means sticking to new habits. I don’t share this to make you scared, but rather to shed light on how you can make your morning routine more sustainable. I believe that mindset is so important when it comes to setting habits – we honestly have to be committed and think that we are worthy enough of feeling good.

There are some tricks to help habits stick including: starting small, keeping it consistent, and committing to a set time frame (like thirty days, for example).

For a deeper and more scientific look at setting habits, head to this article that shares the science behind setting habits and making them stick.

Also, it’s important to be patient with yourself as you go about the process of creating a morning routine. I find that most people tend to throw in the towel if they stray from their routine for a day or so. If you find yourself in that spot, remember why you started and pick back up again.