5 tips to creating a morning routine

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a morning person; but that’s not to say that I’ve never had a lazy, unproductive morning. I’ve had a few of those too, and on those days, that lazy mindset and sluggish feeling tends to stick with me for the entire day.

I strongly believe that a good morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day. Waking up with the sun while the rest of the world is still asleep can help you feel like the most productive version of yourself.

So, here are five of my top tips and tricks to creating a healthy morning routine.

1. Set your alarm for the same time

A good routine needs consistency, and to achieve this, you should aim to have the same amount of time each morning to get your tasks done. Before you ask, there’s no magic time that you should set your alarm for – it’s all about trial and error. Find what works best for you, and then stick to it every weekday (and weekends too, if you can)!

I tend to spring out of bed between 6:45-7:00 am every single day. This gives me time to walk the dogs, complete a workout, have my morning coffee, and get all my morning tasks done.

2. Stop the bedroom scrolling

Hands up if you wake up and immediately reach for your phone to scroll through Facebook or Instagram? I used to be guilty of doing this.

Not only would my eyes get a horrible shock from the screen brightness, but I would scroll past things that I didn’t want to see, especially not first thing in the morning. It would shift my positive morning mindset into the negative, so I put a stop to it, and I recommend that you do too.

It’s a hard habit to break, but it makes a world of difference if you can simply hold off at least until you’re up and out of bed.

3. Drink your water

If you’re looking for something to wake you up, try drinking two glasses of water first thing in the morning. I do this every day with cold water. It wakes me up quicker than any amount of coffee ever has (although I do still love my coffee afterwards). Drinking water first thing in the morning hydrates your body, can increase alertness and can improve your metabolism. It’s a small step that provides big benefits.

4. Move your body

I’m a morning exerciser. I find that working out first thing allows me to give everything to my workout and lets me focus on the rest of my tasks for the remainder of the day. It also gives me an incredible endorphin rush, so I start my day on a high.

In my opinion, 20-30 minutes of medium-high intensity exercise is all you need to achieve results. If working out first thing isn’t for you, try to head outside for a 30-minute walk to get your body moving and enjoy the fresh air.

5. Nourish your body

This tends to be the highlight of my morning routine. Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day. I usually sit down with my breakfast and write out my to-do list for the day. Some of my go-to healthy brekky meals are:

• Omelettes

• Avocado wholegrain toast with poached eggs

• Yoghurt, fruit and muesli

• Porridge with honey

Related article: Try this gut-healing chia and cinnamon oats recipe

There you have it; five simple steps to forming a healthy morning routine that will set your mind and body up for a happy and productive day.

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Please note: The tips throughout this article serve as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been given by your medical practitioner. 

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