Are you trying to build a morning routine and curious to know what others are doing? I am here to share mine with you.
I love routines. My brain operates that way. I strive to think less about what I’m doing next and let things flow naturally, out of habit. Being a morning person has naturally made me even more invested in building up my morning routine. There are some things that if I don’t do in the morning, I will never do throughout the day… and I’ve come to understand that if it’s not done in flow and sequence with other things, it will become a tough task.
If a morning routine sounds like a tough task, try reading Atomic Habits. It’s a very interesting book on a number of accounts, but it really teaches you the power of stacking micro habits that ultimately lead to big changes in your life.
One more disclosure, I try to maintain this routine four days a week as I work insane hours and different shifts the rest of the week. This has worked for me, I am sure you will find something that works for you too.
Are you interested in learning about a simple & effective morning routine? I’m here to share with you my tried & true morning routine.
#1 SKIP THE SNOOZE
I have worked quite a bit on my habit of snoozing. I can’t say I’ve reached my goal. My life is just too busy at the moment between my full time job, school, and hobbies that I have no interest in dropping (blogging, hello?). But I now make a decision when my alarm goes off, either I wake up and soldier through that initial sleepy phase or I sleep. There won’t be endless snoozing for over an hour. I have rarely shut off my alarm and that’s because I really enjoy the early morning hours, so the thought alone helps me get up. I usually set my alarm at 7:30 am, get up to brush my teeth and change out of my PJs.
#2 WATER
I drink so much water throughout the day, so the thought of not drinking any for at least eight hours while I’m asleep sounds like a lot. I drink 1 cup while standing in the kitchen as I prepare my coffee.
#3 COFFEE & CREATINE
I love coffee. I at least have two cups a day, sometimes three, which is an improvement from four. It’s been almost 5 weeks now that I have been adding creatine* to my morning coffee very regularly. Creatine helps build muscle mass, this has been studied and proven with 3-5 gr a day. The data isn’t clear on the cognitive benefits, but studies are in the works. I have personally noticed a change in my muscle mass after taking just 1 scoop (5 gr) with my morning coffee. I often add another scoop in my afternoon coffee hoping for cognitive benefits (don’t judge me, more is more). I use this brand because it dissolves so well and I can’t taste it – two very important features of a supplement. I also like to make sure it doesn’t contain other ingredients.
*Please note that this is not medical advice. I am not your health care provider, nor am I serving as one when I share what my beliefs and routines are.
#4 HEAT PADS FOR EYES
As I am preparing my coffee, I stick those eye pads* in the microwave. Once everything is ready, I head to my living room couch. I put those eye pads on and I sip on my coffee – it’s an art to drink something while your eyes are covered but you quickly get a hang of it. I find this very relaxing but this is also proven to be beneficial for those with dry eyes.
*Please note that this is not medical advice. I am not your health care provider, nor am I serving as one when I share what my beliefs and routines are.
#5 RED LIGHT MASK
It’s been 3 weeks now that I’ve added my red light therapy mask* to my morning routine and I love it. First, I kind of started noticing small changes already (impressive)… second, it’s so practical and the battery goes a long way. I can still drink my coffee with a straw and scroll through my phone, so it doesn’t feel like forced meditation. I will be reporting back with before and after photos after 8 weeks of regular use.
*Please note that this is not medical advice. I am not your health care provider, nor am I serving as one when I share what my beliefs and routines are.
#6 GUA SHA
Sometimes, like once or twice a week I will have enough time to do some gua sha after my red light mask. I apply seabuckthorn oil and then lightly apply pressure and gua sha my entire face with this stone I bought many years ago. Unfortunately, this isn’t a habit I have always kept up with, and I am working hard on making time for this in the morning.
#7 FRESH AIR
I have my living room window open and I sometimes stand up just to look outside as I’m sipping on coffee, have my red light mask on, or doing my gua sha. But most importantly, I change into my work out clothes and I go outside every morning. I walk a good 15 mins before getting to my work out class. I sometimes hope that a studio would open up closer to me, but honestly this walk is so important and I make every effort to enjoy it.
#8 WORKING OUT
This is the OG morning routine, it’s always been there after coffee. The rest were slowly added.
I always start my day with a work out at Pure Barre. If you follow me on Instagram you know I post my pre-work out snapshot every day. I love my PB studio, variety of classes, and it’s been something I’ve been doing for many years. This isn’t an ad, just like to share that it worked for me, maybe you can give it a try if you’re looking for a workout routine or try to find something you enjoy. We don’t need to feel miserable just to work out.
Are you interested in learning about a simple & effective morning routine? I’m here to share with you my tried & true morning routine.
As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this content interested you, you might want to follow my Instagram account @girlontheues
See you next time,
Girl on the Upper East Side
Xx
If this interests you, you might enjoy reading my blog post on my wind down routine, how to keep your New Year resolutions, and how to manage stress during the holiday season.
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