You have a busy life. In fact, you’re so busy you probably don’t have time to even finish this article, but don’t just skim through it looking for interesting photos and headlines. That won’t help you. Having a solid morning routine will help you achieve more goals in a day and get shit done on time. Mornings can either be the most stressful part of your day or the most productive, that’s all dependent on how fast you can get out the door. These hacks will hopefully help you stay on track even on your most hectic mornings.
Stop running all around the house looking for your car keys, notebook, sunglasses and driver’s license. All that running around wastes valuable time that could be better spent enjoying your morning coffee or getting into your car faster so that you miss the traffic. Instead of hopping around your home looking for all your gadgets and must-haves, pre-pack them the night before. By pre-packing your bag the night before you prevent yourself from wasting time searching for valuable items. The most important items to pre-pack are keys, sunglasses, ID and credit card, notebook, cell phone and charger. If you use your cell phone as an alarm, don’t pack it away; you’ll remember where that is the morning, so it’s not a problem. This morning routine hack should help you stay on track during your morning rush.
It is still up for debate on exactly how long you should be awake for before your day actually beings in order to achieve maximum productivity. Most experts say one hour but I have also read articles about waking up two hours before—yikes! However, I think a good rule of thumb is to start with 30 minutes before your alarm clock usually goes off. It doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but even thirty minutes can help your morning routine go a lot smoother and help you find time in your day to get more things done. Think about it—those thirty minutes could turn into extra time putting on your make up or drinking your coffee. Finding little moments of joy in your morning routine will make it feel less stressful. Once you have mastered thirty minutes try going up to an hour, just to see if you like it. Who knows, you may become a morning person this way.
The first thing you should put in your body every morning is a big glass of water. By drinking water first thing in the morning you are rehydrating yourself after sleep and giving yourself a boost of healthy energy before you start drowning it in caffeine. Keep a glass of water beside your bed so that it is the first thing you have access to every single morning. Stay thirsty, my friends.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don’t be dumb and skip it. Coffee is not the only thing running through your body at 7am. Your morning routine should consist of a healthy morning breakfast so that you have all the energy you need to take on the day. Although your breakfast should be healthy, it should also be tasty. You’re not going to want to get up early every morning to eat egg whites—don’t be silly. Having a treat waiting for you in the kitchen can be the perfect boost you need to get your butt out of bed and start your day. Find a variety of tasty and healthy recipes to try out every single day so that you don’t get sick of having the same meal every day. I personally love having avocado toast in the mornings.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and even LinkedIn can stop your morning routine in its tracks. Although scrolling through your latest feed to find out which celebrity couple broke up last night might seem like a fun treat for yourself, you’re actually hurting yourself. Instead of filling your mind up with gossip covered screens first thing in the morning, try staying off of social media for one hour after waking up. Let your mind and brain adjust to the world without that harsh light blinding them first thing in the morning. If you are using your phone as an alarm clock, you may want to consider investing in an alarm clock; they’re like five dollars at target and will totally help you out.
Social media isn’t the only thing that could slow down your morning routine, there are distractions all around your home. Look around your house right now. Do you see five different activities or chores that need your attention? I know I do. I haven’t vacuumed all week and there is a potato chip on the floor just staring at me, waiting to be cleaned up. Don’t let yourself get sucked into any sort of distraction during your morning routine. If your house needs to be cleaned, do it later. Need to text your friend back? Call her when you’re walking. Mushrooms have gone bad? throw them out later. Stick to your planned morning routine and don’t let yourself deviate.
Putting your coffee pot on a timer is the best hack you could ever do for your morning routine. I don’t know who invented the first coffee pot with a timer on it, but thank you. This little hack has saved my life over and over again. The best part of waking up tired is knowing that there is coffee waiting for you in the kitchen. I heard a dirty little secret that some coffee machines can be put on a timer to make lattes. How freaking great is that?
I don’t recommend working out first thing in the morning if you haven’t already planned for it in your morning routine. You have lots of time to work out once you get home from work, so plan to exercise later in your day. It is important however to move your body first thing in the morning. Stretch it out or just move around in a fun way. Dancing is a good idea—this way, blood can rush through your body and you can loosen your body up from sleeping.
Journaling may seem like a morning routine time suck, but it is the best way to set your intentions for the day. Clear your mind of all the dreams you had last night and get ready for the day you’re about to have. Write down your goals, thoughts, and feelings inside a journal right when you wake up. By doing this you are getting your brain ready to complete goals and have an amazing day. Writing thigs out will make you feel more energetic and thoughtful with your actions throughout the day.
Your mom probably pre-planned your outfits before school every day when you were younger. You would wake up and find them hanging on the door for you. My mom had a fun habit of dressing me just like my older sister…until we were 16. Anyway, pre-plan your outfits every day so that your morning routine isn’t overtaken by the endless amount of clothing options you have. Here is the real hack, don’t just lay out your clothes, lay out everything that will touch your body. Socks, underwear, shoes, and purses can all be pre-planned with your outfit and ready to go first thing in the morning.
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