A morning routine has long been the foundation of wellness. It makes a noticeable difference in your health, (I’ve certainly felt an even bigger difference when I skip it). Establishing morning habits prioritizes your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Mornings always feel like a fresh start. Why not make it a good one! Here are 6 small habits to help start your day.
Although, I don’t always get up super early, I do enjoy the mornings. I look forward to the small habits I’ve created to help ease my body and prepare my mind for the rest of the day. It’s the simple, little things we do each day that support our wellbeing and can set the tone for the rest of the day. Here are 6 small habits to help start your day.
“If you try to establish and accomplish the first routine of the day. It will give you a small sense of reward, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”
1. MAKE THE BED
I never used to be the type of person who made the bed every day, but I decided to give it a try. At first, it was simply nice to see my bed made. Then I decided to keep the rest of my room clean. I began to realize how much the practice grounded me and served as a guide to developing other good habits. Turns out, it made all the difference.
Of course, some of us think making the bed feels like a chore, but it can also be a tiny way to make ourselves feel good. It goes a long way in making your space (and mind) less cluttered and encourages good sleeping habits (who doesn’t want to crawl into a freshly made bed at the end of the day?)
2. DELAY CHECKING YOUR PHONE
Every time we wake up from sleep, we automatically grab our phones to catch up on what we’ve missed. We invite a flood of stimulation into our brain space. Our tiny device invites potential stressors with notifications from text, social media, news, emails, etc., all demanding your attention. Once we check our phones, we’re plugged in for the rest of the day. Why not delay this task just a little bit?
The moment you wake up from sleep, you’re in a relaxed state. Wouldn’t it be great to maintain that calmness as long as possible? Our bodies should reduce mental and emotional stress in the morning. It would help us manage other stressors we confront later in the day.
Plus, reaching for your phone first thing hinders your whole morning routine. Who hasn’t lost themselves during endless scrolling and streaming before even getting out of bed?
3. FULL BODY STRETCH
It doesn’t have to be a full-on one-hour morning routine. Many can enjoy a good stretch in the morning. If you are lying in the same position all night, your muscles tend to tighten up. Our bodies naturally stretch when we wake up to loosen up our stiffened muscles and joints from hours of sleep. A good stretch definitely feels nice! Stretching improves circulation, energizes the body, and aids in mobility. In the morning, you might be stiff and not properly warmed up. Of course, stretch well to avoid injuries. This stretching sequence is a good place to start.
4. DRINK SOME WATER
There are loads of information available to support the benefits of drinking water. It’s essential to stay hydrated throughout the day, and having a glass of water first thing in the morning gets the whole process going. Many of us will notice that going without a glass of water for long periods, you will feel overwhelmingly thirsty. Making a habit of drinking the first glass in the morning can help motivate you to continue the process throughout the day. Some people even go as far as setting a glass of water on their bedside table for the night. Since it’s summertime, I prefer a nice cold water all the way. I make sure to fill my mason jar with water and place it in the fridge before bed, so it’s just how I like it in the morning. I even add fresh lemon slices, which help with digestion. Do whatever works for you.
5. EAT A SIMPLE BREAKFAST
At the start of your day, there is no better habit than having a nourishing and energizing breakfast. Keep these 3 things in mind for the best breakfast: fat, fiber, and protein. These 3 elements help balance our blood sugar, maintain energy throughout the day, and help manage cravings. A bowl of sugary cereal, pop tart, or donut isn’t going to set you up for a balanced day. Maybe consider foods like eggs, avocados, yogurt, nuts, seeds, spinach, and bell peppers with scrambled eggs or a smoothie. Check out this breakfast recipe for inspiration!
6. WRITE OR REVIEW YOUR TO-DO LIST
This is one of the greatest habits I have ever created for myself. It’s become my habit to always have a simple plan to focus on during the day and often at night to prep me for the next day. I prefer to write my to-do list at night to clear my mind before rest. In the mornings, I review my to-do list and make adjustments. I usually have one master list of things I’d like to complete and pull from the master list 3 or 4 items to complete for the day. If there is something I didn’t get done the day before, I simply add it to the daily to-do list. This helps keep us organized, on track, and less overwhelmed for the day ahead. Check out this video for other tips!
A morning routine might involve creativity and maneuvering to implement (such as waking up a little earlier, involve your children and husband somehow, or remove technology distractions). There is no such thing as a perfect routine. Start with small habits and make adjustments as needed. Everyone’s ideal morning routine will be different. Experiment with what works for you, and remember that consistency is key. The purpose is to have a refresh and calm morning that will motivate you for the rest of the day.
Have you done any of these tips? What’s your favorite part about your morning routine? Comment below!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more here.
LIKE | COMMENT | SHARE | SUBSCRIBE
I agree on all points. It took me until about my (now grown) daughter was 6 years old to appreciate making the bed everyday. I like giving my sheets a quick linen spray, and then making my bed. Of course I only have one blanket to simplify this process. I’m still bad with checking my phone only because the apps I use (i.e., my Fitbit, and my blood sugar meter) are the first things I look at. One I’m checking to see how many hours I’ve sleep (because I have ongoing trouble there), and I’m checking my blood sugar.
But again this is a great routine.
Hey. I understand the convenient of apps. I listen to a morning devotional from ABIDE app and have it set near my stomach so the baby can listen, too. I’m learning to intentionally delay scrolling on social media or streaming videos so I can settle into a quiet morning. I think this is where we all become easily distracted by the temptation to scroll media. I’m guilty.