The Benefits of a Morning Routine
How—and why—establishing a morning routine can vastly improve your day.
Do you feel like you start your days feeling rushed? Too much to do with too little time? You’re not alone. Our lives and schedules have become packed with activities and to-do lists.
The key to staying on track is creating a routine. Routines play an important role in how well we function. And one of the best places to start is the morning!
Here are a few benefits of implementing a morning routine:
- Increased positivity. Starting your day with activities that help you feel balanced or accomplished puts you in a more positive mood that can be carried on into the day.
- Better productivity. Having a routine makes you more efficient. This is crucial for someone with a busy schedule. Starting your day in an organized way allows you to prioritize what is most important and get more done.
- Reduced stress. A set routine can reduce uncertainty, provide you with more structure and an increased sense of control. This can help reduce anxiety and stress.
- Improved self-care or physical health. A morning routine that consists of activities like a nourishing meal, a mindfulness activity or exercise can improve your overall well-being.
Think of a morning routine as an opportunity to start your day with activities (or tranquility) that you need to focus for the day ahead. Let’s take a look at steps you can take to create your own personalized morning routine.
To start, create a list of everything you need or want to get done each morning, both in your home life and at work.
Next, group activities in an order that seem the most natural. For example, if exercise, showering and brushing your teeth are on your list, you’ll probably want to exercise before you shower and brush your teeth while you’re already in the bathroom.
Now it’s time to get specific. Take your ordered, grouped activities and get as specific as you want. Allocate how much team each activity takes and consider what time you need to get up in order to accomplish the activities before you’re needed elsewhere.
Finally, try it out and adapt as necessary. Start with a week making tweaks as you go. After a few weeks, assess your morning routine and determine what’s working and what can be improved. Note how this new routine makes you feel. If you find you’re more stressed, then your routine will need some adjusting. The purpose of a morning routine is to make life easier, allow you to be more productive and have the energy you need for the remainder of the day.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas:
- Hydrate with water
- Journal or meditate for 10 minutes
- Get some sunlight
- Do a few stretches
- Take a 20 minute walk or lift some weights
- Enjoy a nourishing breakfast
- Savor a cup of tea or coffee in a quiet space
Remember, what works for one person may not work for another, so it’s important that your routine is designed to suit you, your lifestyle and goals. Also, be realistic. If this is new to you, set yourself up for success but starting small and build from there.
Creating a morning routine that works for you takes some experimentation, but the benefits are well worth the effort. You’ll start seeing the positive effects in no time!
Krissy Nevero is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach based in Sonoma, California. To learn more about Krissy and her services, please visit her website: www.regainhealthcoaching.com