Times have changed and we’ve been forced to shake up our routines. What better time than now to create new and improved health habits. Whether you’re working from home, your bed or the couch (no judgements here!), let’s set you up for success.
September is known for being the month where we fall back into our usual routines. Our routines this year will look a little different from last years, but, have no fear, they will make you far more productive, motivated and give you the energy you need to kickstart your busy day!
The Elements of Creating a Morning Routine:
Step One: Write out your goals
Studies have show that those who write their goals down on paper are ten times more likely to achieve them. Ten times! Start by writing out your goals every morning and then break them down into daily activities you can be doing that will lead you to accomplishing them. Performing this brainstorming session will help you create and more importantly, maintain your morning routine, because it is engineered to helping you reach your goals!
Step Two: The first 30 minutes of the day
The first thirty minutes of your day should be dedicated to you. Whether you need to wake up a little earlier, ask your partner to take care of the kids or fill one of your dogs toys with peanut butter to keep them busy - carve it out! Having 30 minutes to yourself before your work day starts, will allow you to get into the best headspace before you kick into working mode. These 30 minutes can be used for anything you like; reading, yoga, exercise, journaling, meditation… etc. I personally start my day with 30 minutes of reading (usually business or personal growth books), followed by writing out my goals, reviewing the plans for my day in my Google calendar and creating my to-do list based on my priorities, before starting my work day. Having these elements in place, whatever you choose to do, will help you see the bigger vision towards what you are working on. So often we can swept up in the to-do’s and busy work that we enter into robot mode and get lost in the land of busyness. Your morning routine will start your day from a place of calmness, deliberateness and purposefulness. When you know you are in control of your time, actions and mind, it is easier to get to work, get work done faster and with little to no distractions.
Step Three: Look the part
I’m not saying you need to part ways with your Lulus, but I do recommend taking a few minutes to wash up, put on a nice top and give your teeth a quick brush. Our self-image is extremely important to our work ethic. The better we feel about ourselves, the more we feel like we are doing valuable and good work! Think back to the last time you tried to have a productive workday after rolling out of bed, checking social media, grabbing an extra large coffee because you're exhausted from last night’s Netflix binge and worked in your pajamas… didn’t go so well eh? Taking 5 minutes to shower, pop on a nice top and brush your hair, will boost your confidence and self-esteem leading to increased levels of motivation and energy for the day ahead.
Step Four: Fuel before you work
You’ve created the perfect morning routine: goal review, read, stretch, shower and now you’re ready to fuel. Eating is so much more than cramming a muffin or bagel in your mouth and running out of the door. Eating is fueling, and you are doing superhero worthy work each and everyday - so let’s do it right! Breakfast is an extremely important meal of the day. What time you eat though, that’s up to you. Whether you’re following intermittent fasting, intuitive eating or find yourself hungry first thing in the morning, the most important part is that when you do choose to eat your first meal, that it is a healthy one! Smoothies, eggs and overnight oats are three of my favourite easy to make breakfasts. Regardless of the recipe, make sure you have your macronutrients; proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as your micronutrients. The protein and fat from your breakfast is going to keep your fuller for longer, which means that your energy levels will stay consistent, as will your blood sugar! One of my favourite smoothies to have for breakfast is my Brain Boosting Green Smoothie. If you’re new to green smoothies, trust me, they taste better than they look!
Find more of Lindsay's healthy and delicious breakfast recipe ideas here.
Tying It All Together
At first glance, creating a four-step morning routine might sound daunting - don’t let it be! Each and everyday we have an opportunity to create our day by design. Sure kids, pets and partners sometimes throw us off our schedule, but if we have time carved out for ourselves first thing in the morning, our to-do list placed beside us and a body filled with nutritious foods - getting back to work and working productively has never been easier. Don’t wait until tomorrow or when things start to feel or look easier, start now. Design how you want your days to look, how you to feel and determine the projects you want to dedicate your time and energy to. With all that is going on in the world right now, now, more than ever, we need people who are passionate about their work and are rays of sunshine for the rest of the world. So go forth, make, create and maintain your new morning routine.
“How you wake up each day and your morning routine (or lack thereof) dramatically affects your levels of success in every single area of your life. Focused, productive, successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days - which inevitably create a successful life - in the same way that unfocused, unproductive, and mediocre mornings generate unfocused, unproductive, and mediocre days, and ultimately a mediocre quality of life. By simply changing the way you wake up in the morning, you can transform any area of your life, faster than you ever thought possible.” - Hal Erod, Author of Miracle Mornings, the 6 Habits That Will Change Your Life Before 8 am"
By Lindsay Mustard, RHN