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I am so excited to share with everyone the steps I took to create a morning routine that has positively change my life.

I can honestly say that by making small changes and following the below steps I am 90% happier, more productive and overall just feel good.

Anyone can apply these steps to create a morning routine to change their life just like I did.

It’s not hard but it will take some motivation and time to get it together.

My Morning Routine Experience

Before I created my daily routine I was waking up between 7 and 7:30 AM.

I rushed around the house feeling stressed and not having a clue what to wear.

I was getting to work between 9 and 9:30 and coming home around 6. 

I was pressing the snooze button EVERY DAY.

I was oversleeping on my days off or lounging in bed for a few hours after waking up.

I felt like I had no time to do the things I needed and wanted to do. 

Most importantly, I was absolutely MISERABLE.

I hate waking up and getting my day started. 

I felt unmotivated and fatigued. 

Then one day I decided enough was enough and started to get up earlier and create a morning routine.

Fast forward to now and I wake between 6:10 and 6:25 on workdays. I also wake up around 7 on weekends. 

I now get to work around 8:10 every day. 

Most of the time I wake up on my own WITHOUT AN ALARM!

I am excited to get up, start my day and go to work or get things done at home.

I get just the right amount of sleep and feel motivated and energized.

Seriously, adding a healthy morning routine has been LIFE-CHANGING!

I feel like a new person.

Why You Should Create a Morning Routine

If my experience wasn’t enough to convince you that having a morning routine is going to change your overall happiness and life, then keep reading below for more valid points. 

Great Way to Practice Self-Care

One of my goals for 2020 is to focus on self-care. Therefore, my whole morning routine encompasses self-care. I am able to physically, mentally, and emotionally work on myself during my morning routine.

Reduces Stress

Once you have a routine set up and in place, the stress just goes away. No more rushing or worrying about if you have time to do this or that. Your routine will make mornings a breeze.

Productivity

I truly believe that having a morning routine creates a positive mindset and that a positive mindset increases productivity. From perfecting my routine I am able to get things done in a timely manner and prioritize what’s important to me.

Good Start to the Day

You really have to do it to experience it, but having a morning routine and starting off your day in a great mood just makes that mood continue throughout your day. It may take some getting used to but once you get in your groove you’ll look forward to your AM time and ACTUALLY want to get out of bed. 

Morning Routine Tips

These are the biggest takeaways from creating a great morning routine.

Don’t snooze your alarm

If you struggle with this try setting your alarm or phone across the room or even in another room if you can still hear it.

Having to consistently get out of bed to hit the snooze will wake you up and prevent you from going back to sleep. 

Drink water first thing…better yet add lemon

If you feel groggy and sleepy in the morning it’s probably not because you need to get more sleep, but more likely because you are dehydrated and need water. 

Try drinking a full glass of water in the morning to keep your hydrated and help wake you up.

You can add lemon to your water which has numerous health benefits including aiding in digestion, anti-inflammatory properties, and a good dose of vitamin C.

You can learn more about the health benefits here.

Prepare the Night Before

This has been HUGE in helping me have a successful morning. Get your meals prepped and ready the night before, lay out your outfit and have everything you need to take with you for the day by the door. 

I even have my medication, probiotics, and skincare products sitting out on the bathroom counter so I don’t have to search around for them or forget to take them.

Don’t Go Straight to Your Phone

Heading straight to my phone to read, check my blog or social media or watch youtube videos is what had me sitting in bed for an hour or two on my days off. 

A phone is a huge distraction for getting up and out of bed. 

My suggestion would be to wait until you are eating breakfast or have downtime to check your phone. 

How To Create a Morning Routine

And now we can get to the good part…how to create an epic morning routine of your own.

If you need an example of what a morning routine looks like, you can click HERE to take a look at what my morning work and weekend routines look like. 

Start Small 

If you completely change what you do in the morning all at once you may feel overwhelmed and give up.

Start smalling by adding one part of your routine at a time. 

For example, I chose to try to wake up earlier first, so I woke up 10 minutes earlier than I normally did for a few weeks.

Then once I had made that a habit, I set my alarm earlier for another 10 minutes and continued the process.

Make a list of what you want to get done

This is where you’ll want to plan out your ideal morning. 

List the non-negotiables like drinking the lemon water we mentioned earlier, taking a shower, brushing your teeth and getting dressed.

Then make a list of the things you would like to do in the morning.

This can include other forms of self-care like yoga, meditation, journaling, or positive affirmations.

If you need some additional self-care ideas to check out my self-care idea blog post.

Time Each Activity

Next, you will time each of the activities you want to do in the morning.

For example, I give myself 10 minutes to get out of bed, drink water, take my medications and brush my teeth. 

This is also where you want to see how much time you have to work with. 

You may need two hours before work to get in the activities you want to accomplish and therefore will need to plan to wake up at an appropriate time. 

Don’t forget to factor your commute so you leave in ample time and can avoid being late.

Set Priorities

Once you figure out the timing you can prioritize what is most important to you after your non-negotiables. 

For example, getting 10 minutes of yoga during my morning is the highest priority after my non-negotiables. 

Organize

You know what is important to you, what you want to accomplish and how much time each task takes. Now you will want to organize them into a routine that makes sense for you. 

If you want to work out in the morning then it would make sense to get up, get your water, work out, then shower and get ready. 

Set Your Alarm

At this point, you will have a morning routine set up and know exactly what time you need to get everything accomplished. 

Now all you have to do is set your alarm. I still set two alarms 5 minutes apart in case I am in a deep sleep and don’t hear the first one. 

Prep the Night Before

Don’t forget to prepare in advance the night before to make your morning easier and hassle-free. 

Track Your Habits

Start tracking your progress in a journal, planner or self-care worksheet. 

Conclusion

You have all the tips and tools on how to create a morning routine that will change your life. All you have to do is apply the steps and get started! 

Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get to do everything on your list at first. Believe me, I am still struggling with getting 10 minutes of yoga and it rarely happens. This is something I am still working on but even just doing my non-negotiables and being prepared have GREATLY changed my life. 

Let me know how your progress goes in the comments below!

Until next time,

Rachel 

RELATED: MY MORNING ROUTINE FOR A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE DAY

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