With the New Year upon us, a lot of people are re-evaluating their current habits and routines to see where there are opportunities to improve. A big routine that I amped up in 2018 was my morning routine. As a creature of habit, I’ve always had something that I did every single morning, but it was me mindlessly moving through it, not giving myself whatever it was that I needed to take on the day. So, after reading everything from The Miracle Morning, to My Morning Routine, a website that is specifically designed to map out the mornings of successful entrepreneurs, I came up with my own. I want to state before getting into the details, my personal belief for morning routines is that it is an extremely personal thing, and should be adapted to what works best for you. The primary goal being, what can I do first thing in the morning to fill up my cup to prepare to have my best day yet!

1. Starting the night before

I go to bed at the same time every night. Now if you’re reading this and below the age of 27, come back in 5 years, LOL. I used to see this statement and be like, ummm … so you’re boring. I don’t think I’m boring now, but it has certainly helped my sleeping patterns by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. I don’t set a timer or anything, but my personal alarm clock does start to dose off around 10:45pm at night, and awakes at 6:00am.

2. Wake with the right mindset

I used to wake up and immediately, I mean before even stepping foot out of bed, run through my to do list stressing about what the day would bring. How freakin unhealthy to set yourself up for such a stressful day?! This behavior does drift back into my mornings from time to time, but I immediately bash it, by repeating the following: “Everything that is mine by diving right, comes to me in perfect order today.” I love this statement as it relieves my expectations, and just allows me to be.

Photo by Melissa Walker Horn on Unsplash

3. Drink a big glass of lemon water and take vitamins

I’ve heard hot or luke warm water is better, but for me, the cold lemon water wakes me up and gets me going. Then I take down my daily vitamins, from a daily, to B12, magnesium, and some hair and nail nutrients. I’m dedicated to taking these every day, as I watch my 88 year old grandfather do so for majority of his life and he is still working, and isn’t on medication. Um, I’ll take that trade off for 30 seconds of swallowing.

4. Meditate

This one is probably the toughest one on the list. I heard once that you should meditate an hour each day, and if you think you don’t have time to do that, meditate for two hours. I love this phrase, as it is totally true. Whenever I think I don’t need to do it, or that I don’t have time, I actually need it more than ever. I’ve started small at 10 minutes with a guided voice, and now am working to do it on my own for 15 minutes, increasing 5 minutes every 3 months until I reach an hour.

5. Brew a delicious coffee and read affirmations

I made the smart decision to purchase a Nespresso in 2018, and it has completely changed my life. I get to enjoy a frothy, strong brew every morning, and it always feels like a treat. In the 60 seconds or so it takes to brew, I read my 21 daily affirmations. Again, whenever I think I don’t need to read these, I need them more than ever. You are the thinker of your thoughts, and you have the ability to mold what these are. Affirmations makes you to repeatedly say positive statements until you begin to believe them.

6. Write 5 gratitudes from the day before

To ensure I stay present throughout the day versus just blindly moving from task to task, I think throughout the day what I would include in my morning gratitude. It also allows me to reflect that next morning, and start the day with a full heart, feeling blessed for the incredible life I have, even on tough days.

7. Check email for 30 minutes

I know this is a no no, but for me it works. As I mentioned above, I think a morning routine should be designed to your specific needs. If I don’t check it, I think about checking it, so what’s the point in waiting. This also helps me setup my to do list for the day, since as a real estate agent, each day is different. Let’s say I have plans to write blog posts and film videos, but then my client emails and wants to preview properties, I have to adapt and switch things up. Getting after it first thing creates priorities which schedules out the rest of the day.

8. Exercise

The BEST part of my routine is working out because of the way it makes me feel during and afterward. I generally alternate between running to the ocean or hot yoga. When I run, its not only free, but is a residential streak leading to the ocean that spans 1.5 miles each way, with a 10 minute stretch once I get there. I still cannot believe I live here (legit say this every day), and seeing the ocean every morning is such a special thing. I’ll often sit for a few minutes in quiet to enjoy the waves crashing on the shore. While running, I’ll listen to one of my favorite podcasts (Super Soul Sunday, Masterclass, Mind Your Business) or a recent Audible download.

9. Get ready!

Lastly, I’ll pop into the shower and get ready in whatever that looks like for the day. Since I have to dress up and wear makeup, do my hair often, on days where I’m not planning on seeing other agents or clients, I take a day off on getting all done up. Feels nice to let my skin breathe and lounge in comfortable yoga pants.

Phew! Writing this out made it seem like a lot, but all in all it is roughly 2 hours in total. I’m hoping this inspires you to create your own routine that works best for you. In today’s society, I don’t think we take enough time for ourselves, which can lead to burnout, overwhelm, and not working to your full potential. Your body and your soul need attention, just like you have to feed yourself every few hours or shower every day. Why not make this a non-negotiable?

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