Morning Glory: Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Mornings

When you hear the sound of your alarm in the morning, how do you respond? Do you automatically hit the snooze button, or is it the classic, “five more minutes” chant? Not everyone is a morning person, however, there are significant steps you can take to improve your morning routine and set the tone for your day. You may be thinking, “I don’t have time in the morning to have a full routine.” This is why the morning, really starts with the night before.

The Night Before:

Planning your day the night before is key. My suggestion is to make a list, you can jot this down on paper or even write down your goals for the day on your phone. It wouldn’t be realistic that say you could achieve all your goals in one day, life is constantly throwing curveballs at us. However, setting small intentions for each day can serve as a great motivator.

The night before doesn’t stop here, there are more small steps that you can take to improve your morning. It is important to ask yourself a few questions, “Do I want to do takeout lunch, or do I want to bring my own?’ or “What is the weather going to be like?” If you decide that you want to pick up your lunch, then I suggest preparing by only putting a certain amount of money in your wallet the night before so that you can budget yourself when it comes to lunchtime. However, if you decide to pack your lunch, prepare and pack it the night before. Packing your lunch, or even your lunch money, can save you so much time in the morning.

Now, remember we asked ourselves what the weather will be like? This is so you can plan your outfit the night before. If you’re anything like me, you need to have a full runway show of about six different outfits until you can choose your favorite. Picking out an outfit the night before has been one of the most helpful tips I've utilized ... or else, my floors would look like a ​Forever 21​ on Black Friday.

Snooze or Choose:

The battle between the “snooze or choose” can get pretty difficult. Choosing to wake up at the first alarm is a skill I’ve yet to master, but I have found a way around it. A key trick that I have mastered is purposely setting your alarm five minutes before the actual wake-up time and setting one for the wake-up actual time as well. This way, you can snooze or choose. At the first alarm, you can hit snooze; however, it is starting to wake your body up and once the next alarm hits, you are ready to start your day.

Hydrate and Stretch:

It is so important to hydrate throughout the day, so why wouldn’t you start at the beginning? Once you are finally adjusted to being alive, grab a glass of water and get ready to stretch. I recommend searching for some morning stretches on Pinterest. I have found that performing a couple stretches when I wake up has increased my productivity because I can get in touch with my body and listen to the stresses that are asking to be fixed. If yoga isn’t your cup of tea, then I would suggest finding a five-minute morning workout routine that suits you.

Breakfast:

Breakfast is extremely important. If you want to have a productive day, you need to fuel your body. So, have a short stack of pancakes with scrambled eggs and sausage on the side. (Wait, is that just me?) I know it's not always feasible to have a large breakfast; however, even a granola bar or some toast will give your body the energy you need to have a successful day.

Take a Moment for Yourself:

Once you have gotten dressed and you are ready for the day, give yourself a moment of tranquility. Whether it be looking at a motivational quote, focusing on breathing, or even listening to your favorite song in the car, be there for yourself. Tapping into yourself and your needs is an important skill that I am still trying to master. Sometimes, we are always on the go and don’t take a minute to check in with ourselves. Self-love is one of the hardest things to achieve; however, taking these few moments to yourself is another step of the way.

I hope you find these tips helpful in establishing your morning routine. A great day starts with a great mindset. Also, don’t forget to choose instead of snooze.