Hello lovelies,
So here’s what’s up…
I have been amazed at how powerful a morning routine has been for me. Not only just a morning routine but a self-love morning routine (surprised?)! Yes, I am still focusing on my self-love endeavor, yay!
Mornings are so hard sometimes and there is nothing worse than hearing that alarm after the seventh snooze and knowing that you have about 15 minutes to get out the door. Not only does it start your day off with stress but you may not feel like you are the “best you” due to the lack of time you took to get ready.
I get it, life is hectic. My mind moves so quickly it’s hard to keep track sometimes. If it weren’t for the numerous notebooks I keep on me to make lists I would probably cease to function. Picture a cat playing with a ball of yarn and my life is the yarn- yeah messy!
The key? Self-care. Self-care allows you to function as if every day was a Friday, even on a Monday (Wahoo!). Think about it though, when we feel good, we do good. We gain the strength and motivation to tell life’s challenges to “shove it.” With all that life brings it is especially important to me that I still take the time to appreciate who I am and make that a focus for the start of every day.
My self-love routine is personalized for me and made up of things that relax me and help center me for my day. It is meant to make my life a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable!
Cozy Conscience Time: I usually try to start my morning slow. Unfortunately, that means setting my alarm about 30 minutes ahead of when I need to start getting ready but it allows me time to just lay in bed and open my eyes. This has made such a difference to my mood in itself. Being able to just sit up in bed, still cozy under the sheets, and putting on some music or just reading a few emails on my phone gives my mind time to wake up.
Reflection/Meditation: Sometimes while I’m waking up I’ll try to take some time to reflect or somewhat meditate. I don’t mean sitting cross-legged and saying “ohmmm” over and over. What I mean is just reflecting on what I want to do with my day and encouraging calm thoughts. It helps to center and focus my day on the positives.
Aromatherapy: I have been very into essential oils lately. I recently purchased an oil diffuser and some essential oils to create extra comfort. It was all very inexpensive and such a great investment. When I get up I turn on my diffuser and get a mist of scented oil that fills my room while I get ready. It’s all about getting in the right frame of mind and this just benefits me in that way. Sometimes I will mix and match natural oils for a new and surprising scent.
COFFEE!! This is a MUST! We know I’m a caffeine addict and a warm cup of coffee is what I look forward to in the morning. If not coffee, it can be green tea, a protein shake, a frozen fruit smoothie, or a full on breakfast. Whatever it is for you, make sure to savor it. I also love having cute mugs, and I don’t have a shortage. It helps make my morning special!
Prepping the Night Before: This part I do the night before, but it helps my morning run more smoothly. So, before I go to bed I usually go check the weather and check my schedule in order to decide what would be best for the next day. I will usually pick out an outfit and set it out on my dresser, including shoes and accessories. I then decide what I will do with my hair and get that set and ready too.
I also do this with food. If I need a meal for work the next day I will usually try to meal plan. I’ll pack a lunch and some snacks so I’m not grabbing junk food or spending a ton of money eating out. It is better for my health and my wallet!
Prepping for Pretty: I LOVE THIS PART!!! This is the time of my morning where I get ready for my day. I turn up the music to jam out level, keep my oil diffuser running, and of course, we can’t forget my cup of coffee! Since I did all the prep the night before it is a nice and easy process. No more “I don’t know what to wear” moments with only 20 minutes left before you need to be out the door. And…BAD HAIR DAYS NO LONGER EXIST!!
After that, I am pretty much out the door and on a great start to the rest of my day. I all around feel better, I had an enjoyable morning and I am focused and centered for the day ahead of me. I feel so much more productive and so much happier when I start my day this way.
I encourage and challenge you to try to find your self-love morning routine. It is more powerful than you think and can help reduce the stress that comes with mornings. Not only that, it also shows you care and appreciate who you are as a person! Make it unique to you and the things you love. Get ready to have a brighter, more cheerful, more productive day!
If you do decide to take on this challenge, I would love to hear what you do for your morning routine and what you gain from it!
I set similar (ish!) targets on my blog too. It’s amazing how the smallest things make such a big difference!
Author
I would agree! The small things in life should never be forgotten! Thank you for taking the time to read my post, it means so much!
Was a pleasure – I’m a new blogger too and am enjoying people’s blogs and stories ☺