It’s the new year and I believe we have all officially resumed regular programming as of this week. The new year comes with a fresh breath of reinvention and it smells like the hope for being better and doing better. However, without being intentional and mindful, our hopes and plans for reinvention end up being forgotten. On my Insta Stories sometime last year, I shared some practices that can help you keep track of your goals. One of the things I spoke about was reinventing yourself daily. This starts from the moment you wake up as mornings tend to set the tone for how the rest of your day will unfold. Starting the day mindfully with a morning routine can really help you maintain the spirit of reinvention, give you the confidence boost you need to take on the day, increase your productivity, and give you some time to spend with yourself among other juicy benefits I mentioned in this blog post.
In that post I talked about the benefits of having a morning routine, however, I never touched on some healthy habits that you can take on and add to your morning routine. Having a morning routine is clearly important, but you don’t necessarily need an elaborate routine to have a successful day. All it takes is just a few minutes where you incorporate simple, healthy habits every morning that will definitely make you feel prepared for whatever the day throws at you. Today, I’ll be sharing some healthy morning habits that anyone has time for and can easily be integrated into your morning routine.
1. Make Your Bed
I know with the experience of boarding school and just life in general while growing up, making your bed seems a lot like a chore. And while it technically is, it also happens to be a simple and tiny way to make yourself feel better at the start of the day. Why? It goes a long way in making your space less cluttered which makes your mind feel less cluttered as well. It’s also gonna serve as a mini reward at the end of the day when you slide into a freshly made bed.
2. Hydrate!
I don’t know about you, but when I wake up my mouth tends to feel dry and drinking that first glass of water slaps so hard! Your organs will thank you and besides, we all know of the countless benefits of staying hydrated. If it helps, you could keep a glass of water at your bedside table like I do to make sure you drink it first thing in the morning.
3. Stay Away From Your Phone
Reaching out to your phone (or any electronic for that matter) is the fastest way to derail yourself and get lost in a social media hole. Everytime we check our phone, especially after being away from it for a while (like when sleeping), we open the floodgates of various stimulants and stressors like news, bank balances, and other notifications that demand your attention. When we sleep, we’re generally more calm and relaxed than when we’re up. Maintaining that level of calm especially in the first hour or so of your day can go a long way in reducing your overall stress. Try putting your phone on ‘do not disturb’ mode until you get started with the day’s tasks or keeping it away such that it’s out of sight and therefore out of mind. That way, it won’t interfere with your precious morning moments.
4. Move Your Body
I’m not gonna say squeeze in time for a quick workout cause let’s face it, not everyone is a morning workout type of person. Some easy and quick body movement is all you need to get your blood flowing and feel energized as you start your day. This can look like a quick stretch, a short yoga or pilates session, a little dance party for one, a walk or if it’s your kind of thing, a morning workout. Do this with your favorite feel-good playlist or podcast and you get some bonus points and some extra good vibes to start the day.
5. Have A Yummy, Nutritious Breakfast
Start the day with a wholesome, delicious and nutritious breakfast. I’m a firm believer that just because food is good for you or nutritious doesn’t mean we have to compromise on flavor. You can start the day with something refreshing like a fruit bowl or smoothie. And if you have a long day ahead of you, start it with something protein-loaded to hold you over until lunch.
6. Visualize & Plan Your Day
Sit down and think about what you want your day to look like, what you want to achieve, and how to make your day as productive, healthy and enjoyable as possible. If you didn’t have a to-do list already, write it down so you don’t forget something you had in mind. Having things to look forward to can really help you get motivated.
Remember, everyday is a fresh start and a chance for you to evolve and keep reinventing yourself. So give yourself the chance to show up and reinvent yourself everyday! Let me know what your favorite elements in your morning routine are in the comments below.
-All the love, Wendy xx