Waking up on the wrong side of the bed lately? Here’s how to start your day right with a morning self-care routine.
Your morning sets the mood for the rest of your day. If you oversleep, skip breakfast and rush out the door, you’ll likely be grumpy. Build the ultimate morning self-care routine to make every sunrise more enjoyable. By prioritizing how you care for your mind and body, you’ll set yourself up for success.
1. Wake Up Slowly
The sound of an alarm clock isn’t just disgruntling. The intense sound triggers stress-related biological reactions like an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. It’s enough to put anyone in a bad mood. Try waking up slowly instead.
Wear a smartwatch to bed so you only wake up to its quiet vibrations on your wrist. You could try an alarm clock that slowly lights up your room. Even getting one with a slightly gentler sound will help you start each day from a grounded, peaceful place.
2. Wash Your Face
You might wash your face before bed to feel extra clean as you snuggle into your pillow. Although that’s great for falling asleep, your face still accumulates oil throughout the night. As you figure out your ultimate morning self-care routine, try reserving five minutes to wash your face after brushing your teeth. Your skin will start the day refreshed and ready to absorb your preferred products like sunscreen moisturizer or makeup.
3. Enjoy a Healthy Breakfast
A great breakfast is the solution to any bad morning. If you’re extra tired, eat a fiber-filled bowl of oatmeal for lasting energy. If you’re hungover or feeling foggy, enjoy a smoothie to increase your blood sugar and reduce your symptoms.
Your new favorite breakfast recipes could be homemade waffles you meal prepped over the weekend or a bowl of fruit with peanut butter toast. As long as your meal contains more whole ingredients than processed, your mind and body will have everything they need to start your day right.
4. Meditate for Five Minutes
Some mornings are extra stressful. If you know you’re about to have a hectic day, you’ll tackle everything with a better frame of mind by meditating. Spend five minutes taking slow, deep breaths while focusing on positive self-affirmations like:
- I can do anything.
- I will solve any problem.
- I have a supportive community ready to help me.
- I learn from my mistakes.
- I embrace opportunities to grow through challenges.
Slow breathing and positive thinking make any day easier to begin. If you find you’re enjoying your meditation routine, you could even start meditating during work breaks, lunch breaks or while you’re sitting in stand-still traffic.
5. Drink One Glass of Water
Starting your day with a glass of water ensures your body has enough H2O for things like brain functionality, blood circulation and temperature regulation. You may also feel extra refreshed if you follow your breakfast with ice-cold water. When the taste of the plain stuff gets boring, add fresh fruit juice. Something as simple as a splash of lemon juice will even freshen your breath with its natural acidic profile.
6. Clean One Place in Your Home
It’s much harder to get through the morning if you feel like you’re up against things you can’t accomplish. Give yourself a boost of encouragement by cleaning one place in your home. Whether you make your bed, put your coffee mug in the dishwasher or take your garbage out, you’ll have one accomplishment under your belt that might motivate you to tackle whatever’s next.
7. Listen to Relaxing Music
Pause that podcast episode and start a relaxing music playlist when you get in your car. Listening to music makes the body regulate hormonal and neuromodulator levels, which decreases your stress. Enjoy instrumentals, folk songs, indie guitar albums or whatever genres relax you. You’ll feel calm and prepared to handle your day by the time you reach your destination.
8. Reflect on Your Morning Routine
After trying new ideas to start your day right, reflect on how it turned out. Did your efforts feel like they supported your comprehensive well-being? Consider if a new habit added to your stress or didn’t seem to make a difference. You can always swap your habits with other ideas as you figure out what works best for you.
Begin Each Day with Your Morning Self-Care Routine
It’s always a great time to build the ultimate morning self-care routine. Reflect on the morning habits you currently have that don’t help your mindset or your physical health. Swap less enjoyable routines with alternatives like eating a healthy breakfast or waking up slowly. You’ll quickly find the best self-care habits that make every day more enjoyable.
