How to create a morning routine that makes you thrive
Is this you? You go to bed and set your alarm for an early start with only the best intentions. But when that alarm goes off your immediate thought is that you don’t want to get up, you just want to stay in bed.
What I have realised with time is that if I get out of bed straight away (when my first + only alarm goes off) within 10 minutes I am so grateful I did because it gives me the best possible chance to put my day on the road to success, productivity + mindfulness. With that, ever since building a morning routine I love and that makes me thrive, getting out of bed is for the most part quite easy to do.
Don’t get me wrong, there are days when a sleep in is absolutely necessary and learning to find balance between discipline and genuine rest is something that builds consistency in your routine and prevents the forbidden burnout that can be so common.
The goal we are aiming to set ourselves here is sticking by our word. If I tell myself I am going to wake up at 5:30, I will set my alarm and stick by that. If I know my body is feeling exhausted and I don’t have commitments holding me back from pushing my morning routine a little later, then I will allow my body to wake naturally and rest. When you stand by the promises you make to yourself, you build trust and belief within yourself. These two factors assist in building self confidence. Either way, my morning routine always consists of 4 simple steps that leave me feeling amazing.
The secret to kick starting success in your day is having a consistent and healthy morning routine. For me, it’s about getting out of bed and making a commitment to myself that I want to start my day, everyday, the best possible way.
It is easy to over complicate what a productive morning routine looks like. After years of building my ideal morning routine, I have come to the conclusion that these 4 steps allow my morning to be mindful, healthy and productive but most importantly maintainable and very much enjoyable.
HYDRATE
Get up & hydrate. On an empty stomach I squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water. It is simple and effective and that’s exactly why I love it. Warm lemon water in the morning will kick start your digestive system and is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. At times, the day ahead of you can feel quite overwhelming, warm water is actually a fantastic way calm down the nervous system.
MOVEMENT
Moving the body in the morning boosts energy, releases endorphins and ultimately starts your day off by doing something just for you. My morning movement looks different each day. Whether it is a 20 minute walk along the beach, a stretch, pilates class, or strength workout, any movement is good movement. The mental clarity I gain from my morning movement is profound, it is the ultimate mood booster! Check out my 7 day workout challenge for movement inspiration.
BALANCED BREAKFAST
Fuelling my body with a balanced breakfast in the morning is essential to kick start my metabolism and provide me with sustained energy levels throughout the day. To build a hormone balancing breakfast, pick your protein source, carb source (with fibre) and a healthy fat source. I love a delicious breaky and it’s something I look forward to each day, check out my favourite balanced breakfasts. I treat my breakfast as an opportunity to fuel and nourish my body with nutrients that leave me feeling amazing from the inside out. I love to habit stack my breakfast with journaling straight after as it is an easy way to ensure I am fitting this into my morning.
MINDFULNESS
The mental clarity that comes from mindful activities is powerful. Journaling, breathing & meditating are my favourite forms of morning mindfulness and it doesn’t have to take long! Even just five minutes of doing something mindful will improve your day. Try starting with writing 3 positive affirmations, followed by 3 things you are grateful for. Take a moment to breath and check in with your body and your breath.
So, tomorrow morning when the sound of your alarm wakes you just remember your future self will thank you. Get up, follow these 4 simple steps and take charge of your day.
With love,
Bell xx
