Ideas for morning routines

There’s a lot of talk these days about routines for the day that lead to an outcome; like to be more productive, to be healthier, or to sleep better, for example. I’m no expert in any of those, but I am very good (probably too good) at making routines that I stick with. Lots of people fell into routines during the last few months, but maybe they are no longer working for you, or you want to see a different outcome. Maybe you planned to add new habits at New year, but never made the changes. Well, it is spring, so why not start fresh now?I thought I’d share a few ideas for a morning routine that you can try too. You can take bits that you like, or maybe get some inspiration for your own ideas.

6:30- wake up. This is easier now that it is starting to get light around this time, so I tend to naturally start waking up (it was a lot harder in the winter)! Try to not use social media, or check work e-mails on your phone right away; it is the worst start to the day possible if you see an email or post that upsets you.

7 am- dog walk. After giving the monkeys their breakfast, I take Suzi for a walk. She enjoys this very much, and so do I. It is such a pleasant time to be outside, and it is quiet without other dogs so she can go off-lead. It is a nice way to begin the day with some gentle exercise.

7:30 am- sun salutations. I always used to do these, but they slipped off my radar over the years. I’ve started again and highly recommend you do too. They are fast, and just ten or so will get your body woken up, stretched and ready for the day. If you would prefer, you can do some other sort of yoga. I like sun salutations because they are energetic (I do more relaxing yoga later). If you are unsure, do read my post about how to do sun salutations. 

8:15 am- bike ride/ jog. I head out for my main chunk of exercise, either a 45 minute bike ride or a half hour jog. I do this no matter the weather, and enjoy the time for my own thoughts, to clear my head and really focus on the day ahead. This is a quiet time of day, and the sun is still low so you don’t get too warm.

9:30 am- breakfast. I am a big breakfast fan; I know not everyone enjoys eating first thing or has the time, but it is important to have something, or you will likely not have the energy you need for the day. If time is an issue, consider a smoothie, or a shake. I like using the plant based protein powder from Garden of Life, it is the quickest meal ever, so no excuses. I also enjoy oatmeal; balanced and can be eaten warm, cold, and with hundreds of different toppings.

10:30 am- breathing and yoga. I try to do 108 breaths every morning. These are breaths you take in and out using your stomach, not shallow ones through your throat. And for yoga, I just do some simple poses and stretching, which I find useful after the walks and runs. Again, check out this post for some ideas!

Prune has nailed stretching 

And that’s it! The timings are just as a guideline, you can easily condense these down so that everything can be done much sooner, or stretch them out, if you want!

Let me know in the comments if you try any of these, or if you already have some go-to routines that you enjoy. Also, did you enjoy this post, and would more like these be of interest to anyone? Would really love any feedback! xx