Are you an early bird, or would you rather hit that snooze button again? Early morning starts can be difficult for many and we wouldn’t blame you for finding all those stats of a morning routine improving your motivation hard to believe. However, with scientific stats supporting the theory, it may be worth finding out to what extent a morning routine can affect your level of motivation. After all, wouldn’t it be nice not having to wake up tired after repeatedly hitting the alarm clock, leaving you rushing around trying to get ready for work? Now you will have time for a nice shower, a cup of coffee enjoyed with a quiet read, which in turn leaves you feeling more relaxed and happier.
If you can put together a perfect morning routine from the get-go, you might find that your mornings are far more relaxed and productive. While no two morning routines are alike (everyone’s morning routine does of course vary) there are always going to be some overlaps you can incorporate into your own plans. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
The key to a good morning is a good night’s sleep before. It is recommended that you get between seven and nine hours of sleep so you are well-rested and have enough energy to take on any tasks you might have for the day.
Avoid caffeine or electronic devices in the final hour before you go to bed. These will help you relax properly to be able to get ready for sleep. Read a book or listen to a podcast if you need some help getting to sleep or consider light exercise like yoga.
Skip the Snooze
Did you know that mornings are when people are the most focused? So by getting up earlier in the morning, following a routine to begin your day, and arranging the hardest tasks for the beginning of the day, you are organising your day and setting yourself up for achieving your goals.
The temptation can often to be hit snooze over and over again though, to grab a few extra minutes of precious sleep. What you should instead think about doing is setting just a few alarms and then getting up for that. Try putting the device with the alarm on the other side of the room from you. You will have no choice but to get up to go turn it off. Stay up and fight the temptation to return to bed.
The sooner you can get up, the longer you will have to start your day. Many people like to lie in bed as long as possible but that often isn’t an option. Don’t waste your time; start your day as soon as possible for the most benefit.
Exercise
Fasted exercise, or exercising before you eat, can be one of the best ways to exercise in the morning. In particular, fasted cardio could help you hit more goals than if you were to exercise later in the day. Though gentle exercise is encouraged in the evening, rigorous exercise is better in the evening.
Get your workout out of the way in the morning and get your sweat on. The rush of endorphins will soon wake you up and get you ready to take on your day.
Get a Good Breakfast
Finding the right breakfast can be very difficult, especially if you are not a fan of eating in the morning. From yoghurt and granola to eggs and bagels to more, there is plenty you can choose for a good breakfast.
If you like a coffee to help you wake up in the morning, try these speciality coffee pods that are compatible with Nespresso machines. They are great if you want to enjoy the brilliant flavour of coffee from your machine without feeling guilty about the waste you are producing.
Take Your Time
So many people rush their mornings. If we all took a little more time instead, we would probably be able to achieve so much more with our mornings. It might mean going to bed on the early side or cutting something out of your morning to give you more time.
No matter how your mornings currently look, there should be an opportunity for you to improve it. Take the time to work out what you want from your mornings and think about some of the ways you can implement these goals. If you can have good mornings, you will set yourself up for a brilliant day no matter what you might be doing. Start rethinking your mornings now; the benefits are going to be amazing!
