Mornings and I haven’t always gotten along. As I struggled with my insomnia, mornings felt like this painful thing… all I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep if I could. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I take after my dad and grandpa more. It’s time to admit that I’m more productive in the mornings and that my day generally goes better if I wake up early. That doesn’t mean I don’t fully enjoy and appreciate sleeping in. It’s just that I’ve learned to embrace being a morning person. And with that comes starting a new habit: my morning self care routine.
How I’ve Created a Morning Self Care Routine to Jumpstart My Day
Wake up at the same time every day.
This ‘rule’ is very, very hard for me. Like I mentioned before, my insomnia has dictated my schedule for so long. Typically, if I couldn’t sleep I’d allow myself to sleep in. This could mean getting up at 10, 12, or even later in the day. Often, that meant I was way behind in work. By the time I got to my desk, everyone else had been working for at least 3 hours — and that’s not to mention east coast people!
With Tami’s help and some self-awareness, I realized that 7:30 am is the best time for me to get up. I can still get my 9-10 hours of sleep at night, but don’t feel like I’m waking up ridiculously early. I have also realized that it captures when my brain is feeling most refreshed and productive.
Take 5 minutes to meditate.
It can feel so daunting to reserve quiet time for myself during the rush of the mornings — and I don’t even have kids to get out the door! Usually I feel rushed to jump into work immediately, respond to emails, etc. But here’s the thing: it will all be there in 5 minutes. So instead, I use one of my favorite meditation apps to take 5 minutes to myself each morning.
Eat breakfast — and not just coffee!
I have always been weird about breakfast. My stomach has never felt ready for food in the mornings for some reason. I’m not totally clear on why, but food never sounds appetizing. Yet I always need coffee! So what usually happens is that I’ll have coffee, no food, and I’ll end up feeling terrible. I know I need to eat, it’s just a matter of what I eat…
To encourage myself to eat breakfast, I’ve stocked the fridge and pantry. Breakfast doesn’t have to be something traditional either. I’ve had success in doing breakfast tacos or tostadas with a fried egg, pickled onions, and chimichurri. And the days when I do eat breakfast? I notice a world of difference.
Write in my journal.
Are you sick of hearing about my The Five Minute Journal yet??? I’ve talked about it ad nauseam, but this post is a great refresher in case you’ve missed it. Another key part of my new morning self care routine is to take another 5 minutes after meditating to write in my journal. I especially love the prompt about what I’m grateful for that morning. Considering gratitude is such an impactful way to start the day.
Move your body.
This doesn’t mean that I necessarily have to workout every morning. Rather, it’s a matter of moving my body in some way each day. For me, I’ve decided that on the days I don’t do a traditional exercise workout, I’ll take the dogs for a walk. According to Tami, it doesn’t have to be anything huge… just something to get your body moving, your blood pumping, and your heart rate up a bit.
All of these things may sound so simple and basic to many of you. And they actually are! But they are things that I’ve really struggled with. Getting my morning self care routine on lock has and will continue to help me get through the day with energy, while feeling grounded. Also, putting it all into this post will hopefully hold me accountable and inspire me to stick to the plan.
I’d love to know what you do every morning for your self care ritual. Let me know in the comments!
P.S. you can find even more self care and wellness tips here, including:
