If you’re feeling overwhelmed, overworked and undervalued, it may be time to take matters into your own hands and begin establishing a self-care morning routine.
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be difficult to make time for ourselves, but trust us when we say that carving out this little bit of “me time” is essential for success. Doing so not only helps you tackle the day ahead with more focus and determination but also brings peace of mind in knowing that you made an intentional effort to prioritize yourself before all else!
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In This Post
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care is becoming more and more popular, as more people start recognising the importance of taking some time for themselves. But what exactly is self-care?
In its simplest terms, self-care means being intentional in taking care of your mental and physical health by engaging in activities that make you feel good. It can be anything from getting regular exercise to taking soothing baths or spending some quality time with friends, essentially anything that helps you re-energize and replenish yourself.
Everyone’s concept of self-care will look different and is rooted in their own individual needs, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find something that works for you!
If you are struggling with self-care and what it involves then read more about the 8 types of self-care and why they are important.
Why You Should Have Self-Care Morning Routine?
A self-care morning routine can be a powerful way to help you start your day feeling invigorated and energized. Even a few simple activities can have a big impact on your productivity, mental health, and overall well-being.
Not only do simple things like drinking lots of water, grounding yourself, and writing in your journal, help centre you for the day ahead, but it can also give you some much-needed alone time to decompress from the hustle and bustle of life.
For those who are just getting started on their self-care journey, creating a simple morning ritual is the ideal place to start. It’s small enough that it’s manageable to fit into any schedule, yet complete enough that it feels significant and effective.
Try adding your favourite activity or a calming activity such as meditation or stretching each morning to help reinvigorate you before beginning the work day. You’d be surprised at how much this little extra effort can make all the difference in how your day goes!
My Self-Care Morning Routine!
Below is the self-care morning routine that I try to keep to each morning. I can’t say that I stick to this completely, however on the days I do, I find that I am a lot happier, less stressed and more prepared for the day ahead.
1. Wake Up Early
I used to be someone who pressed snooze 20 times before I eventually dragged myself out of bed, then proceed to rush around getting ready before arriving at work just about on time. By 10 am I would already be stressed as hell and all the work pressures would be piling on top of me like heavy bricks! I would often find myself feeling rundown, demotivated and uninspired.
I decided that I needed to look after myself better and slow things down a little. One of the best ways of doing this was by getting up earlier!
I started to set my alarm on my phone half an hour earlier and placed it out of reach. This way when it when off I had to get out of bed to turn it off! This also helped me get a better night’s sleep as I wasn’t constantly tempted to scroll for hours through social media whilst in bed!
Getting out of bed earlier gives us time to wake up and get ourselves ready for the day without getting stressed in the process. It also gives us extra time to fit in some self-care activities to help focus the mind for the day ahead.
2. Make The Bed
Making a bed may seem like a trivial thing to do but research suggests that those who get up early and make their bed straight away feel more motivated throughout the day.
Some of the most successful people in the world recommend making the bed. Famous Naval Seal Admiral William McRaven gave this important bit of advice in a keynote speech at the University of Texas at Austin’s 2014 commencement ceremony. He told graduates to always make their beds stating, “It will give you a small sense of pride. And it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed,”
If you are someone that doesn’t make their bed every day, try it for a week and see how it changes your perspective in the morning. I know for me it definitely makes me feel more motivated and organised.
3. Do Some Exercise
We all know how important exercise can be in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When we exercise our brain produces those feel-good hormones which make us feel happier and lift our mood. exercise also improves blood flow around the body providing our cells and organs with more oxygen, thus giving us more energy.
However, exercising in the morning has its own benefits. Morning exercise will give you an extra glow, burn extra fat and boost your metabolism. You don’t necessarily have to do a full workout but just spending time doing some stretches or yoga will make you feel so much more energetic and ready for the day ahead.
4. Hydrate
Getting enough water is extremely important for our health! Water helps maintain internal body temperature, lubricates joints, protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues and is beneficial to a healthy digestive system.
By drinking enough water we are also keeping our bodies hydrated and refreshed. Staying hydrated is also important for our brain and cognitive ability. If you want to keep the mind focused then hydration is the key!
When we sleep our bodies are slowly become dehydrated, the reason why we usually wake up feeling lethargic. By drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning we are replacing those lost fluids, hydrating the body ready for the day ahead.
If you are not a great fan of drinking water, why not fill up a bottle the night before and add some sliced fruit and pop it in the fridge for a refreshing fruit infusion come morning?
5. Have A Healthy Breakfast
Breakfast is well known to be the most important meal of the day. However, I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve skipped this and had breakfast on the go instead!
Having a nutritious breakfast in the morning tells our body that there are plenty of calories to be had throughout the day. However, by skipping breakfast and having a quick snack you are telling your body that it needs to conserve not burn those calories. You are essentially putting your body into starvation mode!
Missing breakfast also makes us more likely to consume unhealthy snacks in turn contributing to feeling bloated, sluggish and possibly future ill health.
Take time in the morning to have a healthy nutritious breakfast. If you do need to have a quick breakfast on the go try choosing healthy options such as:
- A protein bar and yoghurt or a glass of milk.
- High-fibre toast or bagel with a tablespoon of peanut butter.
- Low-fat protein shake with fresh/frozen fruit.
6. Shower
For most people getting a shower is one of the first things to do in the morning. However, how many of us are guilty of not bothering on our days off or waiting till lunchtime before we even bother?
Even on your days off make the effort to get up and shower, you’ll feel so much more productive and less likely to waste the day away. Make a point of getting showered each morning and spend a few extra minutes popping on a hair treatment or face mask. These little extra steps will make us feel so much more refreshed and feel better about ourselves.
If you want to take your shower to the next level why not give yourself a quick blast of cold water? The effect of cold water on the body increases metabolism and a stronger immune system. Cold showers can also create a sense of invigoration and alertness, which may prompt a person to be more physically active. I have tried this a few times but I’m not sure it’s something I enjoy or feel the benefit of just yet!
7. Style Hair
I don’t know about you but I feel so much better with freshly washed and styled hair. Use the extra time you have in the morning to wash and style your hair.
You don’t have to go all out with a big bouncy blow-dry. Not unless you want to of course. However, just washing and styling hair into a simple bun or ponytail is enough to make you feel better about yourself.
8. Dress To Impress YOU!
Dress to impress YOU! Each morning make an effort to dress in a way that makes you feel good and confident in yourself. Even if you are having a lazy day off, at least try to wear clean comfortable clothes rather than sticking to your PJs.
In the workplace, observe the dress code and aim to dress just a bit better than that. Not enough so that you stand out, but enough so that you look very crisp and fresh compared to the rest of the crowd. This will do wonders for how people will view you professionally in turn increasing your confidence.
Of course, we shouldn’t try and dress for other people, however not dressing appropriately, especially in the workplace, can have a detrimental effect on how we are treated. It can also affect our career promotion depending on the business we are working in.
Ultimately if we are happy and secure in our appearance, it can shine through giving us the confidence that we are ready to tackle anything that is put in front of us!
9. Tidy/load Dishwasher
There is nothing worse than coming home after a stressful day at work and walking into a cluttered messy home. It’s not gonna help you relax and unwind, is it? Clutter can also offer distractions and without realising it, can make us less productive.
Spend a little time in the morning to tidy up, take out the bins and load the dishwasher. These jobs don’t take up much time but they will have a positive impact on your life. Knowing you are coming home to a place of tranquillity, that you can just walk through the door and relax is such a good feeling!
10. Set 3 Affirmations For The Day.
Affirmations are positive statements that can help you challenge and overcome negative thoughts and behaviours.
Daily affirmations are to the mind what exercise is to the body. Repeating affirmations helps to reprogram the unconscious mind for success by eliminating negative and limiting beliefs.
At first, I was a little sceptical about using affirmations, however over time they have helped me have a more positive mindset and believe in myself more.
There are several ways to use affirmations. You can say them out loud in front of a mirror, write them down in a journal or repeat them in your head like a mantra during meditation. What’s important is that you find affirmations that resonate with you.
Examples of positive affirmations:
- I will be kind to myself today
- Today I will be present in every moment
- I will be true to myself and my Today
- Today is full of endless opportunities
- I will celebrate my small wins
- I choose to be happy
Final Thoughts:
Having a self-care morning routine doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s just about making small changes that make a big impact. Just the simple task of waking up earlier than normal gives you the time to have a stressless morning routine that can set you up perfectly for the rest of the day.
In reality, how your day goes is largely dependent on the first few moments when you wake up. Make the day count with some or all of these ideas or change it up with what works best for you!
Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to read and make it to the end! I have lots of exciting new content coming in the next few weeks so make sure you pop back to catch up!
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