Routines make me happy. Having a routine that you stick to make the day get off to a good start and can give you a fresh perspective for the day ahead.
Schedules are great, there is no doubt that they have their place. Just ask my girls, when you have 16 kids schedules are must for certain times of the day. They also can be the cause of a bit of stress.
Routines are a rhythm; those little things each day that you do the same way.
Even if things don’t happen at the exact same time every day a routine makes life flow more smoothly. Days, when I don’t at least try to follow my routine, my days don’t go nearly as well as the days I follow through with them.
Routines bring comfort and a sense of peace even on the hard days.
6 Tips to Start Your Day Right
1. Get up with your alarm
The “just five more minutes” trap can be disastrous. Five more minutes can easily turn into an extra half hour if you are not careful. I speak from experience.
If you allow yourself to drift off to sleep again you feel more groggy than you would have if you had gotten out of bed with the first alarm. The result? Your morning routine may be rushed or thrown off.
Once you get into a routine, your body may start to wake up naturally when you need to. The only problem? Getting up and forgetting to turn off the alarm. You might have some unhappy people in your life if you do…
Think about what type of sleeper you are. Are you a light sleeper or a deep sleeper? If you are a light sleeper a soft and soothing alarm might be perfect. This is also great for highly sensitive people.
If you are a deep sleeper maybe you need a loud alarm that goes off more than once.
2. Make time for God
Making time for God first thing in the morning is something that I can not emphasize more. A few minutes before the feet of our Father is key no matter how rested or tired we are.
In some stages of life, it has been a quick prayer while I start getting ready and practicing a verse. I’ve had other times in life where I was able to sit down a spend a good chunk of time with my Heavenly Papa first off. Embrace each season as it comes.
Once Mare from Just Making Noise’s mom told me something I have never forgotten. She told that before I even got out of bed to pray that God would help me to respond well and not react poorly to the situations of the day.
This short prayer is always a good reminder at the start of the day, especially on those days when from the moment you wake up your day is not what you planned.
3. Do your hair
Who would think that a simple act of pulling your hair back would make a difference? Mama’s this one is for you. (Or work at home ladies as well.)
When you aren’t going out and know that the kids don’t care, it’s easy to just embrace the bed head. Take a couple of minutes to throw your hair in a ponytail, you might be surprised at the difference it makes.
I have found that as long as my hair is pulled back in a ponytail or up in a bun (normally with a Flexi Clip) that I feel more put together. I can focus on what I need to do and proceed with the day. Later on, I throw on clothes or shower but that simple act of getting my hair out of my face is a lifesaver!
4. Have something to drink
Not only is starting your day with a warm beverage soothing but it also can refresh your body from it’s overnight fast. Reaching for coffee or tea is pretty standard. Yet, choosing to start your day with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar is a better choice.
Starting your day with water helps flush out the toxins, while the lemon juice or apple cider vinegar helps balance your body’s pH.
Even though I enjoy my coffee and tea I have noticed the benefit of starting my day this way. I love to wrap my hands around my mug and savor the moment.
Once I am done with my warm vanilla lemonade, I make a batch of coffee in my french press or make myself a cup of tea. If I’m in the mood I might make a mug of my “frothy coffee”.
5. Stretch
Take a few minutes to stretch each morning and loosen those joints that became stiff overnight. It can also help wake you up a bit!
6. Eat a Good Breakfast
Protein is a must in the morning! It gives your body full that will keep you going.
Skipping breakfast or just having a piece of toast will leave you hungry later on or make your body think that it is starved once lunchtime rolls around.
If you are short on inspiration for breakfast foods, Beth of Red and Honey’s book The Breakfast Revolution is jam-packed with amazing meals, all of which are gluten-free! I haven’t tried a recipe that I didn’t like in it!
What is your morning routine? Are there things you can think of to add to mine?
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