Set yourself up for success –

Creating a great morning routine

The morning is a very powerful time. Your overall mood and morning routine can set the tone for the rest of your day. The 30 minutes immediately after waking is crucial. It is believed that this half an hour period will determine the energy with which you move through the rest of the day, be that positive or negative. For example, a morning routine of meditation, mindfulness or exercise in this period can have a huge impact on your day.

Based on the above, it is well worth putting some thought into how you can start each day in a way that benefits you, your work, your health and your relationships with others. Let’s talk about how you can establish a morning routine, personal to you, to help you have a great day!

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating the perfect morning. It is a form of self-care, so what you do will need to be specific to your own personality and lifestyle. Think about what helps you to feel relaxed, positive, at ease and ready to deal with the day ahead. The ideal scenario is to go to bed looking forward to your little morning routine.

Here are some of our top suggestions to get your started:

Ritual

Rituals are often associated religion or spirituality, but in fact this can mean any series of actions carried out in the same order and the same way each time. If you’re someone who appreciates the comfort of a set routine, it’s a great idea to create small rituals which over time become important to you. If you’re a coffee drinker, it’s nice to have a specific cup for your first coffee of the day. Set it on the side with a spoon before you go to bed, ready for when you wake up. Concentrate and try to enjoy the process of preparing your coffee. When you drink it, try to savour each sip mindfully. You can do this with a range of everyday tasks and rather than these things feeling mundane, they will become precious and reassuring.

Gratitude

If you’re prone to negative thinking, deliberate efforts to think of positive memories and emotions can help alter your mind-set long term. A good way to start is be making a list of things you are grateful for. You could write a new one each day, or re-read a list you’ve compiled. This may feel like a strange thing to do initially, but it’s a great trick for starting your day with a feeling of positivity and purpose, enabling you to tackle any challenges in more optimistic and confident way.

To get started, perhaps reflect for a moment about the things in your life for which you are most thankful. This could be family, friends, your comfy bed, your home, your health. Whatever it is, try to be clear and specific. Write the top 3 things down and try to think of new ones each day. You’ll be amazed how many things there are to be grateful for!

Meditation or Mindful Breathing

Meditation is an incredible tool which we can all use to improve our mental and emotional health. With science on our side, we have become more aware than ever of the many benefits of mindfulness and meditation.

Such benefits include:

  • Reducing stress
  • Controlling anxiety
  • Improving emotional health
  • Enhancing self-awareness
  • Feeling more connected
  • Lengthening your attention span
  • Can reduce blood pressure

Practising meditation, or any form of mindful breathing, will help you to relax before you officially start the day ahead. This also enables energy restoration and as a result, makes you better equipped for the day. We suggest about ten minutes if possible. However, even just a few minutes can help to improve your mental and emotional state.

For help getting started see our previous blog post: Seven Easy Steps to Meditation

Exercise

Exercise is an excellent way to start the day with a bang! An early morning rush of endorphins and increased blood flow will help you feel energised and clears your mind ready for a busy, productive day. Building 15 – 20 minutes of exercise into your morning routine is a fantastic way to get you off to a winning start.

Nourishment

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Throughout the night, when you are presumably not eating, your body has an opportunity to recover, process food and remove toxins. First thing in the morning, you have the opportunity to help your body be as balanced and efficient as possible by choosing nourishing foods.

Research shows that people who eat a healthy breakfast have increased energy levels, higher consumption of important vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients. They are also more likely to within their ideal weight range compare to those who skip breakfast. Another crucial benefit is that it kick-starts your metabolism, helping you to burn more calories throughout the course of the day.

Set yourself up for the day by eating a nourishing breakfast. Your body and mind will thank you.