Wake up and smell the… routine?

It’s that time of the day again – light is creeping through your blinds and the birds have started choir practice right outside your window. We can’t all wake up as chirpy as they do so, let’s be honest, are you more likely to:

a) Wake up feeling empowered and ready to tackle the day ahead or;

b) Hit the snooze button several times before rolling out of bed feeling sluggish and unprepared

If the latter resonates with you then a routine may be the key to giving your morning a much-needed boost.

We have covered the benefits of a nighttime routine here, but what about the morning? Incorporating both a nighttime and morning routine may be the combination you need to get the most out of your 24 hours. This is referred to as ‘bookending’ your day and is a practice that some of the most successful of individuals swear by. A structured morning can help to ease your mental load, create discipline and provide momentum to your day.  Ultimately, it will lay the foundation for a positive and energising mindset that will continue throughout the day.

What you decide to incorporate into your morning routine is entirely your choice, and will be shaped by your individual needs. There is no right or wrong – it is simply what works for you. Some potential activities to incorporate into your morning routine may include:

• Meditation and mindfulness practice
• Stretching and exercise
• Revisiting your goals for the day
• Visualising the day ahead and scheduling tasks

The first step to creating your morning routine is to establish what works for you in terms of getting the most out of your day. For example, if you value health and fitness then setting aside half an hour each morning to be physically active and eat a balanced breakfast will nourish that need. Designing your morning into something you love will make it easier to get up every day with a more positive mindset.

Remember that it will take time to build up a morning routine that suits your lifestyle, but once you have discovered what works for you it will then be easier to maintain those habits, and they will soon become second nature. Just as we have discussed previously with the nighttime routine, it is vital that we don’t completely overhaul the structure of our morning straight away, but rather take small steps in changing our routine in order for it to be sustainable. Try to be mindful that we may not be perfect in our routine, it is inevitable that somewhere along the way something will happen that throws us off balance but that is completely okay. The next morning provides us with a new beginning – and a chance to get back on track.

Remember, how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day, so make it beautiful. Be positive. Embrace those early hours. Breathe. Nourish your needs. Smile. Boost your energy. Be inspired. These may seem like small things but they will bring BIG benefits that radiate throughout everything that you do.