Words that I used to live by religiously. I still drink coffee, of course!! But, I’ve switched up my morning routine a little to gain more optimal results. Here’s what I’ve found to be useful in getting the most out of your day.
Three things to do every morning (even on weekends) as soon as you get up:
- Drink water
- Write down three things you’re grateful for
- Make your bed
These are tools to get your day off on the right foot. Routine has proven to be a great way to achieve success or even just to set up your day to be a great one. These things motivate you to get schtuff done! I could have had five but I’m a baby steps kind of girl. Instead, I’ve created a two-parter. This is part one.
Having a routine can be so helpful when your schedule is hectic. It may not seem like it at first, but it makes life more manageable. If you’re like me, keeping all the things I need to do and then making room for new things that come up all in my head is SUPER overwhelming. In fact, if I don’t create a plan, ask for help, or divide things up into manageable amounts I spiral into anxiety mode. It just becomes too much.
Full disclosure, I actually sought out a program to help me “learn” how to build routines and get myself organized. I have always considered myself pretty organized, however, when the to-do’s start to multiply at a consistent rate or something in my life changes, it all suddenly comes crashing down around me. So my first step to achieving a routine so I could be more productive and use my time wisely was to accept and get help.
The program I started helped me create a morning routine and an evening routine. The person who runs the program, who I secretly admire and look up to as a mentor (even though she isn’t), is the owner of the yoga studio I practice at and who also runs the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course I’m taking there. She is awe-inspiring when it comes to being organized and extremely good at time management. It’s always good to surround yourself around those you have achieved what you aspire to achieve. It motivates you and you can learn a lot.
In creating a morning and evening routine, I am able to start my day off ready to take on whatever life has in store for me. The evening routine helps me to establish good end-of-day habits that allow me to get a better night’s sleep, which is vital to having a healthy life and accomplishing all those things on your to-do list.
“Routine can set you free.” –Sheryl Garratt
thecreativelife.net
One thing about routines though, and I have a tough time with this, is being flexible within your routine. My secret mentor (as I like to call her) shared an article with me called, “Find a Routine that is Baggy Enough to live in.” This quote has been used by many as a title for their articles on routines, but the original came from writer, Matt Haig. One such article was written by Sheryl Garratt on her website, thecreativelife.net. She begins her article by saying, “Routine can set you free.” It seems like a contradiction, but routines don’t have to be strict. Garratt explains, “It’s there to support you, to be a soft place to land when life inevitably goes off the rails.”
I must admit, I have not yet mastered that fine balance between a strict routine and no routine. The concept of a ‘baggy’ routine seems to be the middle ground and it definitely takes some practice to achieve.
“Routines don’t need to be rigid, and freedom doesn’t need to be unproductive” -Heather Grant
medium.com
Heather Grant’s article of the same title, on medium.com, says, “We need a routine that helps promote healthy habits but, unlike a worn-once-and-never-again body-con, it leaves little more room for being human. Like an oversized t-shirt, your routine should be something that brings comfort to your day but is also baggy enough to dance around your kitchen in or snuggle up and cry when you need to.”
Starting a routine can be hard. A routine after all is a series of habits done regularly, and we all know habits are hard to start and maintain. So, how to begin?
Baby steps. The three things to do in the morning that I’ve listed don’t have to be started all at once. Try starting one thing new at a time. Drinking water when you wake up is a good first task. WebMD states that drinking water when you wake up is the best time because it hydrates your body and helps it recover from fasting the entire time you’re asleep. Because you’re not eating or drinking during the many hours of sleep your stomach is empty and you’re dehydrated when you first wake up. Drinking in the morning helps your body recover. Medinenet.com notes that it’s a Japanese tradition of drinking water on an empty stomach for good health because your body absorbs water faster when your stomach is empty. Not to mention the considerable side effects of dehydration.
There are many benefits like better skin, stronger hair, improved metabolism, increased energy, boosted immune system, flushing out toxins, and decreased heartburn and headaches. It can also help your mood and give you the energy to take on what lies ahead in your day.
One easy way to start is to put a glass of water by your bed when you go to sleep the night before. This can be helpful if your throat gets dry and you need a sip during the night too. Don’t like the water? Add flavor to it. There are several products out there now that either flavor your water or water that already comes flavored. A lot of them pretty healthy and even add vitamins. If you’re not into the added sugar, you can add more natural options like lemon or mint, or berries. Anything to diffuse the situation. (wink) EatingWell.com writes that coffee and tea adds toward your water intake, but I would look into whether that’s on its own (black) or with milk/cream and sugar.
Don’t despair if it takes a while to get started or stay consistent. All you need is the promise to yourself that you’re going to follow through and try again tomorrow if it doesn’t go to your (baggy) plan.
Sheryl Garratt mentioned a “Reset Routine.” “For times when deadlines, travel, illness, or all the other stuff of life gets in the way. Develop a routine that gets all your basic needs covered and gets you back on track quickly. Mine is on my phone, and I tick each item off as I do them, until I’m back into flow.” She says that your reset routine offers a soft place to land when the gas tank is empty.
Give it try. Start with water. Once you’ve got that down go on to gratitude, and so on. You’ll be grateful you did.
The worst that can happen is you get into the habit of achieving goals and create the best chance of success in all you do.
A xo
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