5 Ways to Revamp Your Morning Routine

It’s time to give your morning a makeover.
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I’m not a morning person. I am (without doubt) a midday and late night person. Early just isn’t my favorite time of day. That being said, I’ve realised that there are benefits to be reaped from waking up a little earlier than necessary.

I’m talking things like being able to enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the table, and getting stuff done before everyone else wakes up – it has it’s benefits, this whole waking up early thing.

Here are five ways to improve your morning routine:

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Wake up 30 minutes earlier

I know, I know, a whole 30 minutes?! Hear me out. When time is short in the morning, one of the following things is bound to happen; I skip breakfast, I eat a crappy breakfast, I forget something, I end up wearing clothes that could have needed an iron. Giving myself a couple extra minutes gives me more time to get organised – which just helps my day get off to the best start.

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Be intentional

On Saturdays, my morning routine is as follows; wake up, grab iPhone, waste an hour or two catching up on Youtube videos I haven’t watched during the week, scroll through Instagram for a half hour, and then get out of bed to feed myself. That’s a whole lot of wasted time. Here’s the thing though. I only do that on Saturdays. It’s the one day of the week where I don’t need to rush out of bed to get anywhere or do anything. I plan my time so that I have time to waste. On weekdays, I don’t have that luxury. There used to be a time where I’d get up and scroll through Instagram for ‘five minutes’, but those five minutes always turned into 20, which meant I had 15 less minutes to get all my crap together. Be intentional about your time in the morning. Don’t let it slip away. Account for those first few minutes when you’re still sleepy. Get out of bed and go the bathroom, get your coffee brewing, drink a glass of water, and then tackle the slightly more complicated tasks.

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Get some fresh air

There’s something about getting outside before everyone else and working up a sweat. I don’t enjoy the waking up early part, but the fresh air hitting your face, and the time alone with your thoughts – that’s worth waking up early for. Plus, by the time you get back you feel energised and ready to take on the world – what better way could there be to start the day?

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Make a game plan

Mark Sisson has a quote I love about morning routines. He says ‘Drive your day, or your day will drive you. Direct, or you’ll be put in a constant position to react.’

Waking up early allows you to get your day in the right order. What do you want to happen, when do you want it to happen, who do you want it to happen with? I like the idea of using the first few minutes of my day to get situated – to figure out what my schedule is for the day, reschedule anything that doesn’t work, make sure I’m on top of all the logistics. It gives me the opportunity to kind of get ahead of myself to make sure my day run smoothly.

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Have some me time

And all the parents said? Seriously though, ‘me-time’ can easily become a myth when you’re a parent. When you’re a parent, it’s easy for your morning hours to be dictated by when your kids wake up and wake you up. They demand all your attention until you get them off to school, and once that’s done you’re off to work.

If you’re waking up a little earlier, you get the chance to start the day with a little peace and quiet. You get the chance to do something for yourself, like shower uninterrupted, or even better, eat your food without someone picking at it. You can reclaim those minutes as something for yourself – which will likely put you in a better place when it comes to taking care of your kids.

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More on morning routines:
Huffington Post
Health
Buffer
Fast Company

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/Femi, The Girl Who Hates Working Out

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