What Should I Include In My Morning Routine? 5 Things
As a busy mom of three young children, I know that mornings can be chaotic and overwhelming. And even though our routine has been a little muddled with a new baby in the house, having a consistent morning routine has helped me start my day on the right foot and set the tone for a productive day ahead. I can’t wait to get back into a proper routine when we’re getting more sleep during the night!
If you’re wondering what should be included in your own morning routine, look no further. In this article, I’ll share some tips and insights on how to build a successful morning routine that works for you. (Just remember, a routine that works for me might not work for you – make sure to make the tips in this article your own!).
Whether you’re juggling work and family life or dealing with unexpected obstacles like loadshedding (insert eye roll), there are 5 things that you should consider including in your morning routine.
So grab your coffee or tea, sit back, and let’s dive into creating a morning routine that serves both you and those around you.
1. Waking Up at a Consistent Time
Waking up at the same time every day sets you up for success and consistency in your daily habits.
Our bodies have an internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, that regulates various bodily functions, including the sleep-wake cycle. When we wake up at the same time every day, our body clock becomes more synchronized, and we feel more alert and refreshed during the day.
On the other hand, irregular sleep schedules can disrupt our circadian rhythm and lead to fatigue, mood swings, and even health problems such as insomnia, depression, and obesity.
One reason why waking up at a consistent time is important is that it helps regulate the secretion of hormones such as cortisol and melatonin.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released in the morning to help us wake up and feel alert, while melatonin is a sleep hormone that is produced at night to help us fall asleep. When we wake up at a consistent time, our body knows when to release these hormones, which helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle.
However, when we wake up at different times every day, our body gets confused and may not release these hormones at the right time, leading to sleep disruptions and other health problems.
Now, you may be thinking, “Yeah, right. My body’s sleep-wake cycle is messed up anyway, I have kids!” I understand that! When you have children that still wake up in the middle of the night (numerous times, in our case), you’ll take whatever extra minutes of sleep you can get.
If you’re sleep-deprived, don’t be harsh with yourself if you don’t manage to wake up at the same time each day.
If you do manage to get up at the same time every morning but are tired from night feeds and comforting your kids, consider a midday nap to get in some extra rest!
2. Hydrating and Nourishing Your Body
Starting your day off right by hydrating and nourishing your body with a glass of water and a healthy breakfast can make all the difference in how you feel throughout the day.
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water, which means we need to constantly replenish it to function optimally. Drinking water first thing in the morning not only helps us rehydrate after a night’s sleep but also kickstarts our metabolism for the day.
Incorporating healthy food into your morning routine is just as important as staying hydrated. Eating a balanced breakfast that includes protein, whole grains, and fruits or vegetables provides our bodies with essential nutrients to fuel us for the day ahead.
Studies show that people who eat breakfast regularly have better concentration, memory, and mood compared to those who skip it.
Finding time for this crucial step in your morning routine might seem daunting at first, but there are ways to make it easier. Preparing overnight oats or smoothie bowls the night before can save time in the morning while still providing a nutritious meal.
I’ve found the following sources great for coming up with new healthy meal ideas and methods for keeping us full for longer:
Planning out meals for the week ahead of time and doing meal prep on weekends can also help ensure that you start each day with a healthy breakfast. I use my Everything Planner to do this!
Remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish; it allows you to be more present and effective in serving others throughout your day.
3. Moving Your Body
Don’t let the busyness of your day discourage you from moving your body in the morning, even just a little bit; it can boost your energy levels and improve your overall well-being.
Incorporating movement into your morning routine is an excellent way to kickstart your day and set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
Whether it’s stretching, yoga, or a quick workout session, adding some physical activity to your routine can help increase blood flow and oxygen levels while reducing stress.
I’m currently using the SWEAT app for my workouts and I can highly recommend it!
I personally like to do my workouts in the morning because then I know I’ve done them. It reduces the chance that I make up excuses not to workout. It also lets me tick something off my to-do list, which boosts my dopamine levels.
4. Engaging in Mindfulness or Meditation
Take a few moments to engage in mindfulness or meditation, allowing yourself to clear your mind and reduce stress levels before tackling the rest of your day. This is an important step in building a healthy morning routine that sets you up for success.
Full disclosure, this is something I am NOT good at. I haven’t managed to meditate for long. It’s something I really need to practice.
However, I prefer prayer to meditation anyway. If you want to spend some time reading your Bible and praying (or even writing in a prayer journal), I think this is the best thing you can do to start your day.
Of course, a family devotion works well too if you have children.
Remember, building habits takes time and effort, but it’s worth it when you start seeing results. Incorporating mindfulness practices like meditation and devotion into your morning routine can help reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.
5. Planning for the day ahead
To make the most out of your day, it’s important to plan ahead and prioritize tasks that will have the biggest impact on achieving your goals.
One way to do this is by including planning for the day ahead in your morning routine. This can include reviewing your to-do list, checking your calendar, and setting specific goals for what you want to accomplish during the day.
By taking a few minutes each morning to plan out your day, you’ll be able to approach it with intention and purpose. You’ll know exactly what needs to be done and when, which can help reduce stress and increase productivity throughout the day.
It also allows you to make time for other important things like self-care activities or spending quality time with loved ones.
A Sample Morning Routine
Like I said, you don’t have to have the same morning routine as me. In fact, I’m not even following this routine very well at the moment because we have a baby in the house.
However, seeing an example of a morning routine might help you with creating your own. That’s why I’ve shared my ideal routine for this season of my life here.
05:00 – wake up, go to the bathroom and drink a glass of water
05:05 – 05:45 – work out (either a SWEAT workout or a walk)
05:45 – 06:00 – shower and get dressed
06:00 – 06:30 – enjoy a hot cup of coffee and make breakfast (pick ingredients from our veggie garden)
06:30 – 07:00 – have breakfast as a family and read a devotion
07:00 – 08:00 – clean the kitchen, unpack the dishwasher and tidy any areas of our home that need it before starting work in my office
10 Things To Include In Your Morning Routine
If you’re still struggling to come up with things to add to your morning routine a good, healthy and happy one, here are 10 ideas:
- Read a good book – you can even use this as an incentive to get out of bed earlier. Only let yourself read the book in the mornings. If you don’t get up, you can’t keep reading it.
- Don’t look at your phone – keep your phone in another room so you aren’t trapped into checking all your apps before you even get out of bed.
- Write in a journal – journaling can be great for your mental health, helping you to process emotions and check in with yourself
- Take a warm bath – scented candles and bubbles don’t only need to be for the evening! Spoil yourself with a warm bath in the morning (especially in winter, when it’s still dark for long) to start your day off on the right foot.
- Practice gratitude – take a moment to write down or share with your family three things you are grateful for
- Drink the good coffee – if you have a specific coffee that you love but that is maybe expensive or limited to you, let yourself have a cup only in the morning. This can also motivate you to get out of bed.
- Go for a walk – this might work better in summer, depending on where you live. Going for a walk in the morning, perhaps after breakfast, gets your heart pumping and can leave you feeling energised for the day.
- Practice a creative hobby – whether it’s drawing, crafting, painting, sewing or pottery, get your creative juices (and your inspiration for the day) flowing in the morning hours.
- Do some work – this sounds counterproductive to people who work all day. But if you’re a parent who struggles to get anything done when the kids are awake, doing some work while they are awake can make you feel less anxious during the day.
- Cuddle – if your kids wake up early, take the opportunity to spend some time cuddling in bed with them. It will fill their cup, making the day more manageable for everybody! Of course you can cuddle with your spouse as well, if that’s your situation.
I hope these ideas inspire you to create your own morning routine. It really is so worth it!
