Why We Love a Morning Routine
How many times did you hit “snooze” this morning?
Maybe it was once, or twice, or…..we’ll stop counting.
The struggle is real in the morning! If you are struggling with inflammation, do you feel tired when you wake up? Does your body hurt? If the answer is yes, we feel you. Inflammation aside, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the morning with all of the looming to-do’s on your list.
Eating a nourishing breakfast or fitting in a workout isn’t exactly top of mind.
We get it.
However, we have some good news for you.
Mornings can actually be the best part of your day. Whether you have determined you’re a “morning person” or not, your morning sets up your entire day.
Let’s say that again. Your morning sets up your entire day.
We are big believers in a morning routine. However, just like all things in wellness, there is no “one size fits all” formula to feeling your best in the morning. A morning routine also doesn’t have to be completely strict and regimented. In fact, a sustainable routine is one that allows for flexibility and grace. The important thing is that you fill your “morning cup” (coffee aside!) with something that aids productivity every single day.
Scientific research has shown that a morning routine has the power to increase energy and confidence, help start your day off with clarity, aid productivity, allow you to create priorities and honor them, and in the realm of wellness, help you develop and stick to your healthy habits. An effective morning routine can become the reliable tool in your life you may feel you’re missing.
If you are someone who has tried this practice before and didn’t feel it was sustainable, we encourage you to dig deeper. Find your why. What is the root of your desire for creating a morning routine? It’s important to connect with this reason and pull strength from it. If your overall goal is to lower inflammation and you are seeking this from your morning routine, ask yourself, “how will I feel when I lower my inflammation?” Perhaps your answer looks something like, “I will have more energy, I will feel good in my skin, and I will show up even better for the loved ones in my life.” These are the reasons that will motivate you to keep coming back to your new habits.
Like anything in your health journey, creating a morning routine doesn’t happen overnight. So we encourage you to start small.
Personally, we have found these things help us keep coming back to our morning routines:
Name your alarm with a mantra. This will create a consistent association with waking up. For example, “I will feel good today” or “Early mornings give me balance in my life.”
Hydrate, first thing. When we wake up, we are like dehydrated flowers! Drinking water first thing allows us to bloom and replenish what we’ve lost overnight. Hydration will also give your brain that little boost to wake up!
Move your body in some form. Any form of movement encourages blood flow and circulation, both which can help your productivity and brain function all day. This could look like a 10-minute walk around the block, a 15-minute yoga flow on your favorite fitness app, or a 5-minute workout with Mel C! Check out the latest HERE.
Source fresh air. Studies have shown fresh air boosts your mood, increases energy, and even can help improve digestion by increasing the flow of oxygen!
Eat a nourishing breakfast. There are many trends out there that discourage you from eating breakfast. However, we are big breakfast believers! More importantly, we are believers in listening to your body and fueling it when it is asking for energy. Breakfast fuels your empty tank. Like the morning routine, eating nourishing foods within a couple of hours of waking encourages you to make nourishing choices for the rest of the day.
Release and acknowledge your thoughts. Putting your thoughts on paper releases the weight of any negative thoughts on your mind – thoughts that you could be carrying with you and not even realizing it. We love to carve some time out in the morning to simply release what might be holding you back.
Practice the act of being still. Even if this is sitting with your eyes closed for 2 minutes, this practice of being still will attract more focus and clarity in your day.
Wishing you all beautiful mornings!
In love and wellness,
Mel and Mel
Want to learn even more about the morning routine WITH us? We are hosting our first ever LIVE virtual Master Class all about the morning routine! (Playback option will be offered).
April 22nd, 9am pst / 12pm est.
Sign up HERE!
