Even if you wouldn’t call yourself a “morning person,” the wee hours before the day begins can serve as a great opportunity for self-care, wellness, creativity, reflection, and productivity. It is important to set yourself up for success in the morning by setting a routine and doing what you do when your first wake up. You don’t have to scroll through TikTok and hit snooze. Instead, try these 12 things when you wake up.
FYI, you don’t need to check every item off the list every day to be considered “healthy” (no one has time for that!). The goal is to offer inspiration for you to prioritize your health, turn happiness into a routine, and make the most of your mornings—whatever that looks like to you. These 12 tips can be used to inspire you to try new things or modify your morning routine. But most importantly, use them to make your mornings work for YOU (yes, even before 8.30 a.m.).
1. Take a large glass water
Water is the best thing you can do to your body. Especially after sleeping all night, it’s important to rehydrate as soon as you wake up as a part of your morning routine to feel more energized. Make it a goal to drink a big glass of water in the morning right after you get out of bed (or before—no judgment). To avoid feeling tired or sluggish, make it part of your morning routine to drink water as soon as you wake up.
2. Establish a skincare routine that you will stick to
So you work out, eat well, and drink water, but don’t forget to take care of your skin too. A quick routine is all you need. However, if you have more time or want to indulge in extra pampering, apply a facial mask or massage with oil while you brush your teeth. You’ll be taking care of your skin for the long term while reaping serious instant-glow benefits for the rest of the day. And remember that it’s not just the skin above your neckline that’s important. Take care of the rest of your body with hydrating body lotion or oil, and apply the same care as you would to your face on your neck and décolletage.
3. Set your alarm for a few extra minutes before you really need it
You might consider getting up earlier if your mornings feel chaotic. This will allow you to have a slower, more calm start to your day. You might not have the control you want over your mornings due to child care or work hours. However, waking up 10-15 min earlier than you need will help you feel more in charge and calm throughout your day. You won’t regret the extra time you get to sleep, whether you spend it meditating, using a luxurious skincare routine, listening to the sound of your coffee brewing, or simply enjoying the peaceful sounds of your coffee being brewed.
4. Don’t look at your phone
We need to have a conversation if you check your email or respond to text messages as the first thing after your alarm goes off. You’re starting Your day off reacting to what others need from you instead of giving yourself time to focus on what you need. Allow yourself to be fully present and not fall prey to a reactive response mode to all your notifications and alerts. Stay off social media, don’t check your email, and ignore text message alerts for at least 30 minutes after waking up.
5. Make your bed
Not only will it feel good to get into a made bed later at night, but it’s also important for the success of your day. It’s a small win to make your bed early in the morning before you have a cup or coffee. This subconsciously will help you to achieve thousands more small wins throughout your day. Plus, Gretchen Rubin found in her research that it’s the easiest and most common daily habit you can do to boost happiness.
6. You can take 15-30 minutes to do some work for yourself
Maybe you’re used to getting straight to work tasks or your to-do list, and you tell yourself you’ll meditate, move your body, or sit and read later in the day, but how often does that really happen? Place “me time” at the top of your to-do list instead of hoping you’ll have time later by setting aside 15-30 minutes every morning to do something just for you. Write, draw, paint, listen to your favorite playlist, practice French—whatever it is, make sure it’s something you’re excited to do. You can also meditate or journal for a few minutes before you start your day.
7. Connect with someone you love
We’re all about some alone time, but connecting with the people you love is a crucial part of your self-care routine too. Connecting with your loved ones first thing in the morning will give you the warmth and fuzzy feelings you need to get through the day and remind you that the point of life and love is to have fun. You can take a moment to hug your dog, give a kiss to your mom, pet your roommate, or write a thankyou note to a coworker. It only takes 60 seconds to check-in and connect with the people you care about most.
8. Make a healthy breakfast (or eat it)
PSA to those of you who say they don’t have time to eat breakfast. Breakfast is a great way to get more nutrients in your body and give your body the energy it needs to get through the rest of the day. If you don’t feel like eating when you first wake up, no worries. You can always eat something later in the morning when you are hungry—just try not to skip straight to lunch altogether. Are you unsure what to make? These breakfast bowls, healthy options, and sweet or salty options will help you make the right choice. Preparing your breakfast the night ahead can make your mornings a lot more manageable.
9. Clean one area in your home
Ugh, we get it. Who wants to do chores in the middle of a long work day? We’re not suggesting you pull out the mop bucket or deep clean an entire room first thing in the morning (we can’t all be Monica Gellar!). In just 15 minutes, you can make a big difference by washing the dishes, wiping the counters and loading the dishwasher. You’ll be able to enjoy your day and feel less scattered when your space is clean. Plus, you won’t be pushing off more chores to do later.
10. Prep lunch or dinner
It takes thought and preparation to eat healthy. If you wait until you’re starving to think about your next meal, you’re more likely to go get fast food or heat up something from the freezer. If you only have a minute, plan what you’re going to eat for the rest of the day, much like you plan out your calendar and to-do list. It can either be a recipe based on what you’re craving or what you’re going to order from the restaurant down the road. Start chopping vegetables or adding ingredients to your instant pot if you have 10-20 minutes. It will save you time later and ensure you’re making the healthiest decisions possible.
11. Make a to-do list
It’s easy to start the day with your head swimming with everything you need to do. Take a deep breath, then start writing. It will be easier to concentrate on one task and feel less overwhelmed if you write everything down on paper. Don’t forget to also prioritize life goals. Of course, you’ll always have to do the mundane house chores or tedious tasks, but figure out where you can outsource those items and prioritize what will get you closer to your goals first.
12. Move your body
In addition to making you feel accomplished, adding a workout into your morning routine will make your body feel more awake, productive, and energized throughout the day. But don’t worry: If you don’t have the time (or energy) to go on a run, do a fitness class, or get to the gym before 8 a.m., you don’t need a full workout to reap the benefits. You can go for a walk to get outdoors, do a quick yoga sequence to move your body, and stretch to warm up. It doesn’t matter what kind of movement you prefer in the morning, it will help you get up and keep your energy levels high all day.
Source: The Every Girl
