I don’t know about you but I love getting up early and making a start with my morning routine.
Ensuring I have enough time in the morning to get up, exercise, get ready, eat my breakfast, and prepare for my day before I’m at my desk makes me feel focused mentally and physically.
At the time of writing this blog we are all going through an unprecedented time where we’ve been advised to stay at home to avoid the spread of Covid-19. This has meant more and more of us are now having to work at home.
Having spoken with a couple of people about this new way of working, both said how important it has been to implement some sort of routine into their morning. I couldn’t agree more. It is so important to create routines but even more important to stick to them.
If you sit down and plan out how you want your morning routine to look I can honestly say it will make such a difference to your day. Sticking to a routine will make a positive impact on you, your family and the way you feel.
There are many ways to improve your morning routine – here are the ones I use:
1 | Get up early
To make the most of your new morning routine, you need to start getting up early. Decide what time you want to get up (I advise before 7am) and set your alarm on repeat for that time Monday to Friday.
If you’re a snoozer then put your phone on the other side of the room, or in your office where you’ll need to get out of bed to turn it off…. and that doesn’t mean you can get back into bed!!
2 | Drink water
If you’ve slept for 8 hours, that’s 8 hours your body has been without water. Having a drink when you first wake up, whether it’s a glass of water or a hot tea with lemon will rehydrate you, instantly making you feel more awake.
3 | Make your bed
A small task but a good one to complete. As soon as you get out of bed, pull the covers back and make your bed look tidy, start the day as you mean to go on.
4 | Exercise
This might not work for everyone and I’ll admit that I don’t always exercise first thing (I sometimes wait until mid morning, it’s all dependent on how busy I am and how early I need to start work).
Exercising first thing really does set you up for the day. It doesn’t need to be too strenuous and could include 10 minutes of meditation, a 20 minute HIIT workout , 30 minutes of yoga or a dog walk – whatever works best for you.
All gyms are currently closed in the UK so I’ve been doing a 20 minute HIIT workout in my front room with Joe Wicks. He’s got 2 series of his #7daysweatchallenge on YouTube and they are great.
Most episodes include 20 different exercises – working for 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest and it’s easy to fly through 20 minutes and feel great at the end.
Exercise has such a positive effect on your mindset whilst also improving energy levels, positivity and productivity. It’s a huge part of my morning routine.
5 | Have a shower and get ready
It can be so easy to turn into a slob when working from home, lounging around in joggers, PJ’s or gym wear. I would highly recommend having a shower, either after your morning or mid morning exercise.
I always feel so much more professional when I’m properly dressed, have put some make up on and styled my hair. With video calling becoming more and more popular this is a good reason to make an effort.
Getting showered and ready in the morning revitalises you and is an important part of your morning routine.
6 | Eat breakfast
Eating a healthy balanced breakfast kick starts your metabolism, gets the brain functioning and also helps to balance energy levels. You will need a good breakfast after your exercise session too so why not introduce some protein powder into your porridge or make some protein pancakes.
If you’re not really a breakfast lover or don’t have time to sit and eat breakfast then why not make a protein shake or eat some fruit.
When I worked in an office I would always make my overnight oats the night before and take them to work in a Tupperware container to eat at my desk after the gym. So tasty topped with blueberries, banana and honey.
7 | Plan your day
Whether this forms part of your nightly routine or your morning routine it’s super important to plan your day and have a clear picture for what you need to do.
I use a daily planner and tend to add tasks throughout the day for the following day but always sit and do an overview of my inboxes whilst I’m eating my breakfast so I know what is urgent and needs my attention first thing and what can wait until later in the day.
8 | Listen to an audiobook / podcast
Listening to a business audiobook whilst you are getting ready, eating breakfast or out on your morning walk is a great way to utilise your time whilst also learning and developing your skills.
There are so many audiobooks and podcasts to choose from nowadays but two of my favourites are Holly Bray’s Blog it Boss it Radio and Janet Murray’s Podcast.
Both are so full of value and I have learnt so much from both of them and always try to listen when I can, whether that’s in the morning when i’m getting ready or when I’m out walking my dog.
9 | Start a gratitude journal
At the beginning of this year I decided to start a gratitude journal. Every morning when I sit down at my desk, I write down 3 things I’m grateful for.
Whether it’s being grateful for a good sleep, feeling happy or grateful for last night’s Facetime call with my parents, I write it down.
In my journal I also write an affirmation every day. This can be anything from “I’m going to grow my business this year and earn £4,000 a month” to “I am so proud of myself and can achieve anything I set my mind to”.
Start believing in yourself, think positively and amazing things will happen 🙌🏻
10 | Schedule time for social media
I always use the first half an hour of my working day (around 8:30/9:30) to check through my social media and prepare my posts (which have already been planned out).
LinkedIn and Instagram are my main platforms and I like to have a scroll through, respond to messages and notifications and engage with my network.
I will then leave social media until lunch time when I check it again. It is important to avoid checking your phone throughout the day as it can be very distracting and lead you down several rabbit holes once you start looking!
Making a few simple changes to your morning routine means you can start your day feeling focused, energised and motivated.
Once you have your morning routine mastered why not introduce some time management tips to really organise your day. My blog Time Management tips that actually get you results will help you to get started.
Good luck x
