Building a morning routine

I’ve never been a morning person. I’m pretty much the exact opposite of the woman who wakes up with a sunbeam gently creeping across her face, arms outstretched to welcome in the glory of a new day.

This is what my morning looks like: My alarm goes off at 07h15, I stumble out of bed, bleary-eyed, hoping to find the door to the bathroom. Make up done, I manage to say a few words to Luke, before falling face-first into a morning hug. I get dressed on autopilot, head out the door in a zombie state, lured only by the promise of coffee at my work desk. Thirty minutes and two cups of coffee later, I feel (more-or-less) ready to face the day.

But, it’s time for a change. I’ve known for a while that I haven’t been using my mornings optimally, but haven’t had the momentum to change anything. Now, working from home and starting at 09h00, I have no excuse to put this valuable time to waste. I’ve been feverishly researching variousĀ morning routinesĀ and practices, with the aim of custom-building my own. Who knows, maybe one day I too will wake up with my arms outstretched, radiating inner peace. Here are the key elements I’d like to incorporate into my morning:

Supercharge myĀ water

We all know we should drink water throughout the day, however, during my reading, it seems like your first glass of the day can benefit from a few additions. Whether it’s lemon water,Ā organic apple cider vinegarĀ or salt, there are numerous health benefits, ranging from flushing out toxins and improving digestion, to starting your metabolism and clearing your skin. I’ve got my lemons at the ready, to squeeze into 500ml of water as I wake, as well as aĀ soleĀ (sol-ay)Ā salt water solutionĀ I made with Himalayan rock salt. If nothing else, the salty sour solution should immediately wake me up. Glug, glug.

Get moving

Without a doubt the most difficult habit for me to get into, exercise is a constant battle for me. I’m generally exhausted at the end of a work day, so exercise has been a morning goal. However, in the great battle between sleep and running, sleep has always won. Running is not the only form of movement I want to focus on, but to help keep me motivated, I bought aĀ pair of happy leggingsĀ and am getting aĀ fitness watchĀ to give me the best shot at this possible.

I also want to get into some gentle stretching, foam rolling and maybe even beginner’s yoga. Just to show my body – that spends most of its time with its butt glued to a chair – some love. Because, that’s pretty much what this is all about – making the time to look after myself and show a little self love.

Eat

For someone who loves eating as much as I do, it seems silly to have to put this down as a goal, but – I really do struggle with eating in the mornings. My natural cravings are for all the wrong things – muffins, pastries and chocolate – and I’d generally rather just have coffee than force myself to eat anything savoury or substantial. Smoothies have seemed to work well-ish for me, so I want to get back into that habit. I recently discoveredĀ Wazoogles protein powderĀ – so, if that works for me in terms of not leaving me ravenous 30 minutes later and tasting decent – then I’ll be thrilled. The aim is to eat within 90 minutes of waking up.

And, really – that’s it. Three things. If I could do these more often than not, honestly, I’ll be pretty thrilled. I’d love to add something that smells really nice – whether it’s a shower or beauty product or a candle I light when I sit down to work – I’d love to have a happy scent to associate with mornings too. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments below.

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Building a morning routine