Sweat & Smiles: Simple Tips for a Better Morning Routine
By Melissa Romano on November 05, 2016 from Sweat & Smiles
- Ditch the snooze button. You might be screaming ‘YOU SAID SIMPLE’. It really is simple when you don’t give yourself another option. The good news here is, if you are hitting the snooze button five times and still making it where you need to go on time then you need to set your alarm for LATER. Yea, I said it. Don’t disturb your sleep unnecessarily. Get some rest, friend.
- Ditch the cell phone. There is probably a simple existing habit (like turning the alarm off) to remind you not to start scrolling. So instead of saying “I will not waste time on my cell phone in the morning”, say “I will not use my phone for at least (X amount of time you need to get ready) after I turn the alarm off.” This tip is trifold because “ditching the phone” also means plugging it in to charge in another room so that you have to physically get out of bed to turn your alarm off. AND plugging your phone in away from your bed gives you an opportunity to power down and get a more restful sleep.
- Do something you like. Didn’t think that would make the list did you? For me, this could be as simple as coffee or as complex as meditation. The key is to start with something and build from there. It used to just be a simple cup of coffee. I set my coffee pot (am I the only one still using a regular old coffee pot?) brew time for the same time as my alarm. It’s like a little added bonus for getting out of bed! Now I’ve added dry brushing to my morning routine, it takes me about two minutes and just taking that short amount of time to do something nice for myself has given me a huge boost for the day.
- Commit to things you’re comfortable with. I have a small child so saying I’m going to go workout every morning only sets me up for failure. I also don’t particularly LIKE getting up super early every day, so I commit myself to three mornings a week. This means if I do nothing else I’ll at least have gotten in adequate workout time for the week. This also gives me four other days a week that I can try something new, go run outside with the stroller, get to workout with friends who have different schedules, break up a workout throughout the day, or take a day off (gasp).
- Try different things. Don’t get so stuck on your very first idea, or even on a specific time you feel seems more “respectable”. Go into this with the intention of finding what works best for you and keep trying until you’ve found the best fit. It doesn't have to be a 45 minute power packed routine that involves you standing on your head, drinking a green smoothie and meditating for 20 minutes; it could be as simple as saying I just want to relax a little bit more and spend less time getting ready and finding ways to make that happen.