5 STEPS TO A BETTER MORNING
It's the end of the week which means tomorrow is the start of a brand new one and almost my favourite day. I've always loved Mondays, the feeling of getting a clean slate for the week and the perfect time to implement a few good habits. My mornings are also very sacred to me, if there's anything I don't like feeling, it's rushed and disorganised. So I have come up with the 5 things that help me have a better morning, which leads to a better day and an overall better week. Stay tuned!
5 STEPS TO A BETTER MORNING
1. WAKE UP EARLIER
I'm going to be completely honest here, I am not the best at waking up to my first alarm.. or my second.. or even the third. Don't be surprised if you catch me hitting snooze for even forty five minutes in the morning. What can I say? I love my sleep. It's awful I know but over time I have set my alarm WAY earlier than need be, which now to me sounds a little pointless. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if for once I actually got up when my alarm was set for? Is there anyone else out there who struggles with this? There are a few things I could do.
First of all go to bed earlier, not an easy thing to do but even aiming for an hour earlier has made a huge difference. Second, prepare as much as possible the night before, your lunch, your outfit, do it because it works. Third, keep your phone on the other side of your bedroom. It makes you physically go to it in the morning; once your feet hit the floor you're half way there. Having this extra time in the mornings has helped me accomplish the other 4 things on my list in a calmer and more efficient way.
2. SKINCARE
I can't say it enough, take care of your skin! Not only is it the largest organ in the body, but also the first thing you are showing the world when you walk out the door, your FACE. Overtime my skin has had its' ups and downs, and maintaining it has been no walk in the park let me tell ya! Since I was 16 I have struggled with acne on my face and body (post coming soon) and have found few products that actually work for me and my specific needs. One thing is for sure, I cleanse, tone and moisturise each day and when I apply make up I always prime my face. Having a solid skincare routine is crucial to a better morning and overall less stressful day.
3. DRINK WATER
You guys, water is life!! Literally. I did a quick little google search and learnt that our bodies are composed of sixty percent water, that's over half. Drinking water is extremely important for keeping my skin healthy, my body energised and keep me alert throughout the day. I learned from one of my favourite women, Rachel Hollis, you need to be drinking half your weight in ounces of water per day! So if you weigh 150 lbs, that's 75 ounces which converts to 2.2 litres. First thing in the morning, even before my morning coffee I fill up my bottle and chug a whole lot of water. I even set a reminder on my phone so that I don't forget. The best thing about this tip, it's FREE! Try it out and see for yourself.
4. MOVE YOUR BODY
This has probably been the most difficult one for me. I strive so hard to be a morning person, but let me be honest with you it does not come naturally. Moving your body can be whatever helps YOU feel alive, whether that means heading out for a run, going to an early class or going for a swim. If you live in a pretty rainy place like I do, I either like to head to the gym and take a class on my days off or when I have work, do a quick at home yoga sesh. It is quiet, calm, and gives me the chance to stretch out my body for the day. I take 20-30 min (yes that means setting my alarm even earlier), and centre myself on the mat. Mentally this has helped me become calmer and more aligned with my thoughts and emotions through the day.
5. JOURNAL
Write down in a journal not only your to-do list for the day but what kind of day would you like to have. How do you want to set yourself up for it? What are you grateful for? I always write down something I am grateful for, something specific that I get to do that day. Then at the end of the day you can revisit this and write done something that happened and you are grateful for it. Thats the beauty of gratitude, it works both ways. I also write down 3 affirmations. 3 things that describe who I am, who I want to be, or what I can do on that day. Set yourself up for mentally practising gratitude and set yourself up for success.
So that pretty much sums it up. Let me know in the comments below if you've tried one or all of these tips and how they've helped you in the morning.
Remember, you got this!
Julie xx
5 STEPS TO A BETTER MORNING
1. WAKE UP EARLIER
I'm going to be completely honest here, I am not the best at waking up to my first alarm.. or my second.. or even the third. Don't be surprised if you catch me hitting snooze for even forty five minutes in the morning. What can I say? I love my sleep. It's awful I know but over time I have set my alarm WAY earlier than need be, which now to me sounds a little pointless. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if for once I actually got up when my alarm was set for? Is there anyone else out there who struggles with this? There are a few things I could do.
First of all go to bed earlier, not an easy thing to do but even aiming for an hour earlier has made a huge difference. Second, prepare as much as possible the night before, your lunch, your outfit, do it because it works. Third, keep your phone on the other side of your bedroom. It makes you physically go to it in the morning; once your feet hit the floor you're half way there. Having this extra time in the mornings has helped me accomplish the other 4 things on my list in a calmer and more efficient way.
2. SKINCARE
I can't say it enough, take care of your skin! Not only is it the largest organ in the body, but also the first thing you are showing the world when you walk out the door, your FACE. Overtime my skin has had its' ups and downs, and maintaining it has been no walk in the park let me tell ya! Since I was 16 I have struggled with acne on my face and body (post coming soon) and have found few products that actually work for me and my specific needs. One thing is for sure, I cleanse, tone and moisturise each day and when I apply make up I always prime my face. Having a solid skincare routine is crucial to a better morning and overall less stressful day.
3. DRINK WATER
You guys, water is life!! Literally. I did a quick little google search and learnt that our bodies are composed of sixty percent water, that's over half. Drinking water is extremely important for keeping my skin healthy, my body energised and keep me alert throughout the day. I learned from one of my favourite women, Rachel Hollis, you need to be drinking half your weight in ounces of water per day! So if you weigh 150 lbs, that's 75 ounces which converts to 2.2 litres. First thing in the morning, even before my morning coffee I fill up my bottle and chug a whole lot of water. I even set a reminder on my phone so that I don't forget. The best thing about this tip, it's FREE! Try it out and see for yourself.
4. MOVE YOUR BODY
This has probably been the most difficult one for me. I strive so hard to be a morning person, but let me be honest with you it does not come naturally. Moving your body can be whatever helps YOU feel alive, whether that means heading out for a run, going to an early class or going for a swim. If you live in a pretty rainy place like I do, I either like to head to the gym and take a class on my days off or when I have work, do a quick at home yoga sesh. It is quiet, calm, and gives me the chance to stretch out my body for the day. I take 20-30 min (yes that means setting my alarm even earlier), and centre myself on the mat. Mentally this has helped me become calmer and more aligned with my thoughts and emotions through the day.
5. JOURNAL
Write down in a journal not only your to-do list for the day but what kind of day would you like to have. How do you want to set yourself up for it? What are you grateful for? I always write down something I am grateful for, something specific that I get to do that day. Then at the end of the day you can revisit this and write done something that happened and you are grateful for it. Thats the beauty of gratitude, it works both ways. I also write down 3 affirmations. 3 things that describe who I am, who I want to be, or what I can do on that day. Set yourself up for mentally practising gratitude and set yourself up for success.
So that pretty much sums it up. Let me know in the comments below if you've tried one or all of these tips and how they've helped you in the morning.
Remember, you got this!
Julie xx
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