The Slow Wake-Up Morning Routine

When it comes to morning routines, everyone’s life and schedule are different. What works for some may not work for you. It is best to incorporate what works best for your lifestyle. Your schedule may also be different each day. So you may need a different routine on different days. I prefer the slow wake-up routine.

My mornings used to be jam-packed with things to do. They were very busy and I always felt rushed. There are so many articles on how to accomplish x amount of things before 8am. Well, let me tell you why I stopped doing that and what I do instead.

How many times have you had a huge list of things to do in the morning, but you felt so overwhelmed that you probably didn’t even do half of that list? Yeah, me too. Let’s be realistic. You aren’t going to do 20 things by 8am. When I tried the “that girl” morning routine, I always felt rushed. Busy mornings left me feeling overwhelmed which actually caused me to be more stressed.

I now have a new approach to mornings. I no longer hit the ground running. I have started a “slow wakeup” routine and it has changed my life. I am not a morning person. I do not like loud noises and chaos first thing in the morning. I like to be silent and just sit for a moment. I love my new quiet morning time. Since slowing down in the mornings, I have noticed a huge improvement in my mood. I always remember this quote: “How you start your day, sets the tone for the day”. So if you spend your morning rushing and trying to do 50 million things, you are more likely to be stressed all day. But if you start your day relaxed, you will be more calm throughout the day.

So what is a Slow Wakeup?

The first rule of thumb is to wake up early, and NEVER hit snooze. When your alarm goes off, get up. If you hit snooze and go back to sleep, even for just 5 minutes, this will leave your body feeling more tired, even if you got 8 hours of sleep. Snoozing your alarm causes more harm than good.

Simply waking up 30 minutes early will give your body time to relax and slowly wake up. You don’t have to get up several hours early. Just 30-60 minutes. And the #1 rule: DO NOT OPEN YOUR PHONE first thing in the morning. This is bad for your health and will be a distraction. If you start your day with opening emails and Facebook, you will go on a downward spiral and not do your morning self improvement routine. You will accomplish nothing!

When I wake up, I’m always dying of thirst. So I keep a water bottle by my bed. As soon as I wake up I drink the water, then I have to pee. I know many people have this urge. When I wake up, I start my Keurig and then go to the bathroom. By the time I’m done peeing, washing my face, and brushing my teeth, my coffee is done. I love coffee. And I love to sit and relax while I enjoy my coffee. I hate rushing and drinking it on the go. So I grab my coffee and sit down. At this time I take 3 deep breaths and think of 3 things that I am grateful for. This relaxes the body and mind.

Then I get out my to-do list that I made the night before. I review it and see what needs to be done that day. This way I know what to expect and how to approach my day accordingly. This should only take a few minutes since I made the list the night before. So technically, I start my day the night before. Before I go to bed, I review my schedule and make a to-do list for the next day. I also pick out my clothes and pack my lunch before bed.

Here is my morning must-do list. These things must be done, in this order.

• Make coffee and go to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and wash my face while coffee is brewing. (This step is always the first thing that I do).
• Take 3 deep breaths and think of 3 things I am grateful for. Sometimes I write these in my gratitude journal. And I drink my coffee while I do these things. (This is always 2nd).
• Check my schedule and to-do list for the day. (This is always 3rd). This way I know what my main priority is for the day.

The next few things that I do, are flexible.

• Exercise
• Shower and get Dressed
• Eat Breakfast
• Clean

Want to know a secret when it comes to the rest of my morning list? I do not do them in the same order every day. My mood changes from day to do. So I look at my list and do whatever I feel like doing first. Some days I exercise, shower then eat breakfast. Some days I wake up hungry so I eat breakfast first. Some days I may not do them at all. Like exercise for example. Some days I have everything done by 8am, and some days 10. Doing these in a different order makes me feel like I have freedom. I am not just going through the motions. It is okay to be flexible with your routine.

Did you know that you do not have to Exercise for 30 minutes and clean for 30 minutes to feel accomplished? Even if you only spend 5 minutes doing each of these things, the simple art of being able to check them off your list makes you feel like you have accomplished something and will boost your mood.

Exercise

Shower and get dressed

After I exercise, I take a shower. Sometimes it is a quick one just to wash my body. Other times it is a longer one where I wash my hair and shave my legs. This just all depends on what I have to do that day. After I shower, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Did you know that the simple act of getting dressed does something for your mental state? If you sit around in pajamas all day, you don’t feel like doing anything. But if you actually put some clothes on, your body realizes that you have stuff to do and you will feel more energetic.

The behavioral act of getting dressed can have a significantly positive impact on our mood, confidence and behaviors, according to Sheva Assar, a licensed clinical psychologist in Orange County, California. She believes the act of getting dressed up first thing in the morning may “increase our motivation to do other things throughout the day, to experience more energy and to want to do more things.” (Huffpost: how getting dressed Affects your mood)

Breakfast

“Breakfast is often called ‘the most important meal of the day’, and for a good reason. Breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health. Many studies have shown the health benefits of eating breakfast. It improves your energy levels and ability to concentrate in the short term, and can help with better weight management, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the long term.” (Betterhealthchannel)

With that being said, it is best not to skip breakfast. I may not always eat a super healthy meal. But I always eat something. Sometimes just a banana and yogurt, other times a sausage egg and cheese muffin. yum!

Clean

I know everyone hates to do this. But I promise that it does not take as long as you think it does if you just do it. I know I sound like your mom lol. But it is true. Cleaning often takes longer than it should because we do not want to do it, so we procrastinate and essentially drag it out. There are so many benefits to having a clean home and environment. It does wonders for your physical and mental health. You can read this article on Forbes.com for more info on some of those benefits. Every morning I spend just 5-10 minutes tidying up my house. I do not spend hours doing this first thing in the morning. I may sweep and mop, or do the dishes in the sink from last night’s dinner. Or maybe I have laundry that needs to be done. I can throw a load in then go do something else. Make cleaning in the morning part of your morning routine. Make it a game so that it is fun. While my oatmeal is in the microwave, I try to tidy up the living room before the microwave beeps. Listen to music while you clean. If you don’t want to wake the kids, get some headphones. Whatever works for you and motivates you to do it.

Now that my morning routine is done I can get my day started

Now it is time to tackle the day. I can go to the store, run errands, go to appointments, take the kids to school, or do whatever I need to do that day. Want in on another secret? Do the Hardest thing first! “If you climb a mountain, then climbing a hill will be easy after that”. Once you do the thing that you are least looking forward to or the most time-consuming thing, the rest of the things on your list will be a breeze!

Conclusion

When it comes to morning routines, there are 3 things you should NOT do. Jeopardize your sleep, hit snooze, and check your phone. I repeat, DO NOT OPEN YOUR PHONE first thing in the morning.

The first thing that you should always do is wake up early. Then make coffee or warm tea while you do your bathroom routine (pee, brush teeth and hair, wash face). Then take 3 deep breaths and think of 3 things you are grateful for. Write them in your gratitude journal while you drink your tea or coffee. Then check your to-do list and schedule. Make a plan for the time. Know how much time you will have.

After doing the mandatory things, do the other self-improvement items on your list. Exercise, Shower and get dressed, Eat breakfast, and clean. Remember: You can do these things in any order you like. You can do them for 5 minutes each or 30 minutes. Just as long as you do them.

Now you know how I spend my mornings and I hope this helps someone create their own morning routine. Remember to wake up slowly and enjoy that coffee. Listen to those birds chirping. Enjoy your mornings again!