5 easy steps to a healthy morning routine
Developing a morning routine you can actually stick to every morning is hard. It can be exhausting waking up in the morning with a million things to do, trust me, I get it. But developing a routine can actually help you reach your goals and feel less stressed! Yes, getting up and moving can help you! The hardest part is just starting. But, with these 5 steps, it will be easy to finally start a routine you love AND that you can stick to.
In this blog post I will be sharing with you the 5 easy steps to start a healthy morning routine and stick to it. In this post I will be covering:
The benefits of developing a routine in the morning
The importance of drinking water first thing in the morning
The benefits of a healthy breakfast to start the day
The benefits of exercise in the morning
How self-care in your day is essential to your mental health
How gratitude makes the biggest difference in your daily routine
So, if you are struggling with sticking to a healthy routine in the morning, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and never feeling like you have enough time for yourself during the day, you are in the right place!
The Benefits of Developing a Routine in the Morning
So, what exactly is a morning routine? Well, it is exactly as it sounds. It is a daily routine of small micro habits you do every morning to help you take care of yourself and set yourself up for success! The best part about it? You don’t have to do it at the same time every morning. For example, I work as a breakfast server during the week and I have to be up at 5:30am, so most mornings I am going through my routine before the sun even gets up. But, on the weekends I let myself sleep until 9, 10am sometimes and I am still able to do that same routine.
Your days might look different, but that does not have to stop you from developing healthy habits and a routine that sets you up for a great day. Starting your day off on the right track can make all the difference moving through the week. A routine doesn’t have to feel like pressure, it is essentially small little habits that make your day go by smoothly and efficiently.
STEP #1 Drinking Water as soon as you wake up!
We’ve all heard the water gods saying water is the answer to all your problems. Well, they are kind of right. Drinking water first thing in the morning is essential for good gut health and proper digestion. It kick starts your metabolism for the day and hydrates your body after a night of rest. Considering the human body is made up of 60% water, it is crucial we make sure we are properly hydrating our bodies.
I always make sure to drink water before I have my morning coffee to rehydrate after a good night’s sleep, and so the first thing going in my body in the morning isn’t caffeine ( as much as I want it to be most mornings). If you are feeling extra exciting, you can also squeeze lemon juice in your water to add an extra immunity boost of vitamin C. Lemon juice also aids in digestion and is a great addition to the beginning of your day!
Step #2 Consume a Healthy Breakfast in the Morning
Eating breakfast in the morning is an important essential to the perfect morning routine. Think of food as fuel. When you get in your car, you need a full tank to get to your destination successfully. Well, that is how food acts for our bodies. We need a balanced breakfast in the morning to give us energy to seize the day! So now the question is, what exactly should we be eating in the morning?
As a person who studied nutrition and health science in school, I learned the best thing to eat in the morning and throughout the day to stay full and energized is protein. Eating protein in the morning can have several can have several benefits for your health and overall wellness:
Satiety: Eating a breakfast rich in protein can help you feel fuller longer, which reduces the urge to snack throughout th3e day.
Blood Sugar Levels: A balanced breakfast that has protein, fats, and carbs helps stabilize blood sugar levels in the morning.
Energy Levels: Fueling your body with non-processed food will give your body the proper energy it needs to move throughout the day.
Muscle Health: Eating a breakfast full of protein, carbs and fats contributes to muscle repair and supporting your metabolism.
Incorporating a protein your morning routine can be a simple yet effective way to support your overall health and well-being. 🌞
Step #3 MOVE YOUR BODY
Exercising first thing in the morning has many health benefits including improved sleep, better focus throughout the day and kick-starting your metabolism.
Now, every person has different schedules and circumstances. There is no “perfect” time to workout, as long as you can consistently build exercise into your daily routine. Whether it be a walk, a stretch session or a high intensity workout in the gym, our bodies need movement to properly function.
Some potential benefits of exercise in the morning include:
Increased Alertness: Our cortisol hormone is what keeps us awake and alert. It typically increases in the morning time and slowly decreases throughout the day, so the best time energy-wise to get moving is first thing!
Increased Energy: Regular exercise is beneficial to increased energy, alertness, and less fatigue.
Supports Weight Loss: Exercise in the morning has been shown to increase your likelihood to work out during the day.
Decreased Stress: Exercising in the morning has shown to lower blood pressure and is a great way to get endorphins in first thing!
Step #4 Self Care
The infamous saying is true, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Many of us are guilty of letting everyday stressors like work, having no time to complete our tasks, cooking, cleaning, taking care of our families and balancing our relationships get in the way of carving out quality time with ourselves. This is what leads us to burn out and developing unhealthy habits.
There are many different rituals we can do to take care of ourselves. Here are a few ideas you can implement into your morning routine to set you up for success:
Journaling
Make yourself a cup of tea
Read a fantasy or romance novel
Run a hot bubble bath with Epsom salts
Treat yourself to a glass of wine and a nice view
Try yoga
Do a pilates video at home
Try a new recipe just for fun
Go on a solo date
Call a friend or loved one
Send out letters of gratitude
Leave yourself a note of encouragement
Do a face mask
Go for a run outside
Play with your dog or cat
The list goes on! Its all about doing something that brings you peace and joy, and spending quality time with yourself. Next time you find yourself burnt out from work or school, try doing one of these rituals to come back home to yourself.
Step #5 GRATITUDE
Taking a moment each morning to soak in all the blessings in your life may seem like something small, but it actually has the ability to shift your whole life. Noticing the little things to be grateful for each day can brighten your outlook on life, boost your mood, and allow you to be more positive overall. There are several benefits gratitude has on not only our mental health, but our physical wellness as well. Some of these benefits include:
Increased Patience: Expressing gratitude regularly can increase your patience and self-control. Research has also shown that it reduces impulsivity.
Increased Self-Esteem: Having gratitude for each thing in your life can help you see your own worth and importance and allow you to value yourself and others around you.
Lowered Blood Pressure and Inflammation: Expressing gratitude helps reduce stress and allows us to feel connected to others.
A Sense of Purpose- Having an appreciation for life can lead us to our higher purpose and give us the motivation to do better for ourselves and others.
Feeling More Present- Feeling grateful for the little things in life allows us to be mindful of everything around us and more in the moment.
These are just some of the benefits a grateful heart can bring us. Increasing our gratefulness can only bring us MORE love, joy, peace, and contentment. There is no harm in stepping back for a moment and appreciating all the good in the world. A positive outlook on life can really impact your entire life.
So, there ya have it! My easy 5 step routine to a healthy morning and a happy life! Next time you are looking to switch up your routine, try these 5 steps to set your days up for success, I promise you won’t regret it!
Xoxo,
Hailey
