What is your morning Routine? Do you even have one? Having a good morning routine to start your day can really make all the difference.  The first 10 minutes can really depict how your day goes. It is much easier to maintain having a good day than it is to create a good day from a bad start.

There are many simple things you can do to get your body and mind going in the right direction at it’s most crucial time, the morning.  Making it a daily routine will help ensure that it sticks so it is crucial to make it a habit. Remember, you can’t just do things once and expect your whole life to change. You need a morning routine. Consistency is key.

Here is an awesome list of tips to make your morning routine perfect and get your day off to a great start!

1. Do not hit the snooze button

Since this is the absolute first thing that happened this morning and almost every morning, it seem like an appropriate place to start. I’m sure many people would agree to call this their biggest struggle, but it is important to break the habit. When you are suddenly awakened in the middle of your sleep cycle, you will still feel sleepy. You may think its better to finish your sleep cycle but in reality you are starting it over. Again, your alarm will awaken you as you fall into your deep sleep and you will still feel groggy.

Try forcing yourself to actually get up when your alarm goes off, and train your brain to get your body ready for the day. I find it helpful to set a soothing, gradual alarm rather than a blaring horn. I began to realize that I would wake up feeling good rather than annoyed once I made this slight change to my morning routine. Try changing your alarm tone tonight! It’s all about baby steps, but the key is actually taking the first step.

My whole morning changed when I stopped setting the alarm on my cell phone, and bought this amazing alarm clock from Amazon! It gently wakes you up by changing the brightness gradually from 1% to 100% to simulate a sunrise. It also has awesome natural sounds to wake up to. I truly wake up feeling less hostile and way more refreshed.

2. Practice gratitude before getting out of bed

Instead of waking up wanting to go back to bed, start training your brain to immediately begin thinking positive thoughts. What are you grateful for this morning? I am always grateful to wake up to a new day. A new 24 hours to work closer to accomplishing my dreams. Praise yourself first thing in the morning and repeat positive affirmations in your head (or aloud). I love home decor with positive reminders on them, such as this beauty that hangs in our bedroom!

As my love for affirmations grew, I looked for new ways to remind myself of them throughout the day. I already place affirmations around my apartment, so I wanted them on my body as well! These affirmation “connection cuffs” are a perfect reminder of positivity throughout the day. Every time I think a negative thought, I can look down at my wrist and replace it with positive affirmations! I am in love with this concept & it has been working wonderfully.

Choose from this awesome little list of affirmations or create your own, but either way say them every morning before getting out of bed. Get your brain ready for the day the right way.

  • Today I surround myself with peaceful energy
  • I am feeling healthy and strong
  • I have all that I need to make this a great day
  • I have the knowledge to make smart decisions today
  • I am filled with gratitude for another day
  • I move through my day with consciousness, grace, and love
  • I wake up energized and excited
  • I greet everyone with ease today
  • I am happy with my life
  • I love myself
  • I will attract great opportunities
  • I attract success
  • Today I will smile whenever I can
  • I will live fully in each moment today

3. Write down what you are grateful for

Let’s just start by saying, as soon as I found out that this is what Oprah does, I suddenly HAD to do the same. Write at the top of a paper “I am grateful for…” and just let the ink flow. Like many people, I learn and retain information by doing.

I use this exact journal every morning. I am obsessed with it. Click the picture to check it out.

I love waking up to the beautiful quote on the front! It only takes a few minutes every morning to get my brain thinking in the right direction.

I like to do a task or write notes rather than read or listen to information. Writing down my positive thoughts every morning really works best at engraving positivity in my brain for the rest of the day. Adding this small yet important task to your morning routine will surely work wonders. Write down anything positive that comes to mind. Sometimes I like to write down positive experiences from the previous day, or positive things that I expect to happen in the future.  It can be as big as being grateful for a job promotion or something that seems a bit smaller, like being grateful for not hitting that one dreaded stop light on the way home from work for once.

4. Get some natural sunlight

The sunlight provides you with natural vitamins, so what better way to get the day started? This is one of the most important parts of my morning routine.  Sunlight has many health benefits, and it is recommended to get 10-15 minutes of natural sunlight each morning. Some of the benefits include:
  • Supports healthy bones
  • Boosts Metabolism
  • Eases mild depression
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Improves immunity
This morning, I decided to take my dog for a walk on the causeway near my house where we caught this amazing picture. Living by the beach definitely has many perks, but the view of the sun above the water is my absolute favorite! Being a firm believer in not missing too many sunrises or sunsets, this is the perfect place to get some natural sunlight while enjoying the amazing aesthetics that the world has to offer.

5. Stretch

One of the best feelings when I first wake up is that first morning  stretch. This is ALWAYS part of my morning routine. Letting the blood flow to your limbs and throughout all of your veins.  Aside from pure sensual satisfaction, stretching in the morning also provides many benefits. According to Livestrong.com, these benefits include fewer aches and pains due to increased blood flow, more energy, and better posture!

6. Set a Goal

Many people have goals but they never take the time to plan or write them out. In order to achieve anything, you must first make it real and write it down! Map out the road to success so you can follow the path. Don’t be another person dreams but no drive. Without hard work, a dream will merely remain a dream. Do yourself a favor and make it a goal. Get your creativity working in the morning so your mind is open throughout the day.

7. Drink a glass of warm lemon water (and honey)

After hours (hopefully 8) of sleeping, your body is deprived of water. It is crucial that you help it out by drinking a warm glass of lemon water in the morning. Why lemon water? For one, this is a great way to flush your system before you start your day. Warm water makes it easier for your body to digest and the lemon will add many health benefits which include aiding your immune system.

8. Eat a Healthy breakfast

Many people are guilty of skipping breakfast, althought they know that is it their most important meal of the day. That seems a bit absurd! The morning is the most essential time to get a good dose of your vitamins and nutrients after a long night’s sleep, with no food or water intake. Get your body going right by providing it with what it needs to successfully get through the day. Feed your body healthy foods to produce healthy thoughts. Eat good. Feel good. Look good. Think good.

Now that we covered all the basics to having an awesome morning routine, Don’t forget to check out our post on how to create an awesome night time routine as well.
The way we end our day is just as important as how we begin. When you make sure you set yourself up for success with these simple steps in the morning as well as at night, you are giving yourself the best possible shot at a great day and a great life.
Beauty & Body in Your 30s, Guides for Mastering 30