6 Simple Ways to Make Your Morning Routine Better
Whatever your morning routine is, it matters. ~Kelsey Testa
What do you do when you first wake up? Are you the person who continually hits the snooze button? Do those early PT mornings make you cringe? Or maybe you check your phone and scroll through your social media. No shame in that military spouse game! Whatever your morning routine is, it matters.
The routine you complete each morning sets the tone for your day. When used properly, the right actions matched with the perfect blend of consistency can majorly impact your life. Research has shown that people who construct their goals in concrete terms are fifty percent more likely to feel confident in attaining their goals, and thirty-two percent more likely to feel a sense of control over their lives.
Additional studies have shown that people with a sense of control are significantly more likely to feel happy and satisfied with their lives. Take a moment to think about your goal or goals. What are you trying to achieve each day?
CREATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE
Clarify your goal to create a sense of purpose that will drive you to get up and get going each morning—even on the days you feel less inclined to do so. We all have off days, so don’t fret about a few mishaps. With the right morning routine, you can increase happiness, reduce procrastination, boost confidence, and improve overall performance.
Here are six things you can implement into your morning routine to improve productivity throughout the day. Spend five to ten minutes with each step for ultimate success:
Meditation. Meditation, prayer, reflection . . . whatever works for you, the idea here is to be quiet and block out all the nonsense to start your day calm and collected.
Affirmations. Encourage yourself through your thoughts and words. Remember the old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?” Well, it applies to yourself too. Tell yourself what goals you are going to achieve, what fears you are going to overcome, and how you will live out your purpose in life.
Visualization. Do you have a goal you have been trying to reach? Imagine yourself there right now. What does each step look like? What do you need to do to reach your goal(s)? Then, imagine what it feels like to succeed.
Movement. You do not need to spend hours at the gym or running endless miles. Just move. Aim for five to ten minutes of simple bodyweight movements, yoga, stretching, walking, anything that gets your blood pumping and oxygen flowing to the brain.
Read. Fill your brain with positive thoughts and ideas to improve yourself. Want to learn a new skill to accomplish that goal you set for yourself? Gain valuable knowledge by reading about people who have been in your shoes.
Journal. Whether you open up your notes app or grab a pen and paper, journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and reflect on your life. This is a great time to write thoughts of gratitude and explore your own thoughts.
Feeling overwhelmed? Try out just one habit. Start small, then stay consistent. From there, you can slowly add and grow the number of habits to create the perfect morning routine for yourself. You’ll soon find yourself up long before that dreadful PT alarm ready to crush your day!
Do not underestimate the power of a morning routine. Something so simple can create a sense of control in your life, improve your mood, and help you perform better throughout your day. Which habit are you going to try first? Do you practice any habits currently?
ABOUT KELSEY
Kelsey Testa is an Army Spouse and mama to two crazy kiddos (plus her 3 GSDs). She grew up active in sports and competed as a Champion Irish Dancer. An injury led her into the world of health and sports sciences where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Recently, Kelsey picked up competitive Irish dance again and is working toward the ‘norm’ that mamas can still accomplish their dreams. Kelsey is a NASM-CPT, PES, YES, and an ACSM-CEP, and is constantly working to change the narrative in women’s health and wellness. For years her focus has been on incorporating the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of well-being.