Nayana McGee
Crafting the perfect morning routine seems to be creeping to the top of more and more people’s to-do lists. Social media users everywhere are defenceless against the incessant wave of influencers guilt-tripping us into living Instagram-worthy lives. Their current torture is trying to convince us that we can maintain a glamorous morning routine, which will instantly fix all of our problems.
So, we scramble to imitate their effortless schedule. We drink the hot lemon water and make the muesli from scratch. We run a morning 10k, drink cold whipped coffee and take more supplements than we can fit in our medicine cabinets. Until, inevitably, we collapse from burnout.
Exhausted, defeated and full of shame that we couldn’t in fact, have it all. The it-girls of Instagram may insist that three hours of Pilates is achievable before seven thirty in the morning. But most of us struggle to simply get out of bed without hitting the snooze button.
For the early birds and the slow starters alike, here are five no-nonsense steps to creating a morning routine you won’t absolutely hate.
1. Early To Bed = Early To Rise
Looking for a morning routine you can stick to? The simplest solution is to get to bed earlier the night before. Getting to sleep even an hour earlier can decrease the risks of physical and mental health issues, as well as increasing productivity levels the following day. A good sleeping routine is the most important element of creating healthy morning habits.
“There’s nothing better than waking up to the sun shining in through your bedroom window”
You can implement changes to your sleep gradually, going to bed fifteen minutes earlier every few nights until you reach your desired bedtime. Turning off your main lights and using lamps an hour before bed can also make it easier to fall asleep.
2. You Snooze, You Lose
Abusers of the snooze button will find this one a challenge. But getting up and out of bed as quickly as possible is going to make your mornings so much easier. Snoozing your alarm is a one-way ticket to a groggy, lethargic morning, which leads to bad habits for the rest of the day. It has negative effects on your energy levels by interrupting the REM stage of your sleep cycle, which impacts your concentration and mental focus.
Getting out of bed when your alarm first rings has a plethora of benefits, including enhanced focus, better mood, more motivation and increased productivity levels. Practice getting up on the first sound of your alarm — even if you have to crawl out of bed.
@jaituas Realistic morning routine, trying to find a routine before classes start🫶. #college #student #dormlife
3. Wake Up With The Sun
There’s nothing better than waking up to the sun shining in through your bedroom window. Not only is it good for the soul, it’s also great for your brain. Introducing daylight to our bodies early in the morning helps our inner clock signal to our brain that it’s time to switch on and start working.
Early morning daylight exposure puts us in a better mood throughout the day by increasing our serotonin and vitamin D levels, which can help us avoid fatigue and depression. Opening your curtains as soon as you get out of bed is a great way to start introducing natural daylight exposure in the mornings. You can build up to having your morning coffee outside or taking a walk to work.
On darker winter mornings, switching your lights on as soon as possible can help to mimic the effects of daylight exposure, although it won’t provide the same benefits.
4. If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail
Behold, the magic of the daily planner. This simple little tool can transform the lives of the perpetually unorganised and scatter-brained alike.
When we wake up with a huge list of things to do, it’s easy to start feeling stressed and overwhelmed from the get-go. Each task becomes more daunting than the one before, making us more anxious and forgetful.
“Give yourself a chance at success by setting smart, achievable goals you can perfect over time”
Taking five minutes in the morning to write out your to-do list for the day can improve focus and mental clarity. It also increases your productivity levels and provides great stress relief.
If money is tight and you can’t afford to splurge on a fancy planner, use the notes app on your phone to get everything jotted down.
5. Don’t Stop Moving
There’s a reason that we stretch instinctively upon waking. After spending eight hours lying down, your body is desperate for movement. Stretching switches on our parasympathetic nervous system, shifting our bodies into a state of calm. Pairing stretching with deep breathing exercises helps to regulate our body’s response to stress, reducing the effects of our ‘fight or flight’ response and promoting relaxation.
It’s no surprise stretching works wonders for your body. Gentle stretches improve our blood circulation, which delivers oxygen to our muscles and brains. This enhances cognitive function and mental alertness, filling us with energy. Five minutes of daily stretches reduces muscle pain and soreness, setting you up for a productive day.
Start Your Morning Routine Now!
It’s far easier to stick at a few small habits, rather than bombard yourself with endless tasks to complete. Give yourself a chance at success by setting smart, achievable goals you can perfect over time. Gradually implement these five morning habits to watch your body become energised and your mind become focused. Before you know it, you’ll be winning at life so hard that the it-girls will be asking you for your morning routine.
Featured image courtesy of bruce mars on Unsplash No changes made to image. Image license here.
