If you were to look up ‘morning person’ in the dictionary, you would be like hmm…that sounds like THE opposite of Alicia. I’m barely even human before 9. I sleep through alarms, am the queen of the snooze, and have been called one or two mean names by people who have tried to wake me. It’s just not my best quality. Something I’ve been working on lately (and really, just like my whole life) is changing up my morning routine. And not only to make the process of emerging from my slumber a slightly more enjoyable experience, it’s also to better the rest of my day. After a little research, I have narrowed it down to a few simple ways we can
all give our mornings a mini makeover without over complicating things. Currently testing them all out and so far, so good!
Take Your Time
I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I’m rushing in the a.m. To try and reduce this unnecessary extra morning stress, try waking up just a few minutes earlier than you normally would. Think about how much of a difference even 15 minutes would make? AND you can use the extra mins for some of the below suggestions.
Hydrate
Sometimes Adam calls me in the middle of the day to ask how many glasses of water I’ve consumed so far and sadly, that number is often zero. This is just another shameful quality (what is this, confessional?!). I recently learned that a big glass of lemon water or hot
water with lemon first thing in the morning helps your digestive system. I’ve tried it and it honestly makes a big difference. It’s a must before your begin caffeinating and gets your daily H2O count off to a solid start!
Back To Basics
The first thing I do after pressing snooze as many times as humanly possible (my neighbours really love me…) is scroll Instagram. Then, it’s straight to the computer. All this screen time isn’t really great for the spirit, ya know? I’m now trying to take the time to sit and set goals and plan the day before even look at a computer. Plus, it’s a bonus that you get to cross off completed tasks as the day wears on.
Work It
Begin with some exercise. It’s not a revolutionary concept, and yet it can be such an internal struggle. I find getting out to the gym is good, or a little yoga at home if I’m strapped for time. Even a nice morning stroll is lovely. Either way, you get your work out over with before your day has even begun and you really set a positive tone for the remainder of it.
Nourish
I’m so bad for convincing myself that a cup of coffee is “breakfast”. We all know that it’s not and missing out on the most important meal of the day has its consequences. No skipping this one or getting a
Starbucks banana bread on-the-go (come on, we’ve all done it). Actually eat a breakfast packed with energy and protein so you can start the day strong!
Now, these all don’t necessarily have to be done at the same time. One or two of the above goes a long way! Do you have any methods of re-energizing your a.m. routine? Please do share. Oh, and all the power to you, my fellow night owls!
