Its the first month of 2022! I don’t know about you, but with the fresh start of a new year, I find that it is a great time to revisit those important habits and routines. Oftentimes, we start off the new year with tons of hope, goals, and wishes, but whether or not we achieve them can sometimes be a struggle. Let’s start by just setting a morning routine.
With the “that girl” trend that began in 2021, its important to remember that not everyone needs to (or wants to) wake up at 5 am. Your morning routine should be focused uniquely on you and take into consideration what your goals are!
1. Waking Up
This may seem pretty self-explanatory. But what is really important is what you do immediately after you wake up. This one action single-handedly sets the tone for the day ahead. Keeping this in mind, it may not be the best option to scroll through your notifications first thing in the morning. The best way to ensure that you are using your morning in a mindful way is by being prepared the night before. Maybe you set your alarm and put your phone across the room, where you can’t immediately access it. This way, you can remind yourself to stretch and allow your body to truly wake up.
2. Make your bed
Now, I don’t intend to sound like your parents, but making your bed can actually have a lot of benefits for you. Once you’ve made your bed, you’ve already achieved one task for the day. This can help you fully get into the mindset of being productive. Not only this, but coming home to a bed that is made can definitely make you feel a lot better.
3. Get a little sunshine
Sunshine is super great in the morning. You get a little shot of Vitamin D, and of course it can help you wake up so that you don’t crawl into bed again (I may or may not do this).
4. A Healthy breakfast
What you eat in the morning can really have an impact on you. Not just this, but making sure you actually have breakfast is important. It kick-starts your metabolism, and gives you the energy to focus throughout the day. Furthermore, make sure to plan a meal that is packed with vitamins and nutrients, and includes health foods such as grains, dairy, and fruits.
As for the rest of your morning routine, I would take a look at Sleep Doctor, Michael Breus’ book, “The Power of When” which discusses an individuals biological predisposition to being either a “morning person” or a “night owl” or anything in between. Based on these chronotypes, he has designed a morning routine that is designed to fit you best and help you make the most of your time.
If you want to find out what your chronotype is, take his official test here. Then you can take a look at the ideal morning routine for your type, here.
Let me know if you try updating your morning routine!