[GUEST POST]
What does the morning look like for you? We miss so many opportunities in the mornings to make our days that little bit better. It’s so easy to snooze, scroll, eat left over pizza for breakfast and fill up on caffeine, but is this truly benefitting how our days play out? I’m passionate about making small changes with a big impact and I’m here to let you know how great your day can be when you leave the snooze-life behind and inject intention into your mornings. This is not a checklist, do not pressure yourself to do everything. Just achieving a couple of the morning transformers below, each day, will make an exciting difference in your life.
Hi, my name is Laura and I am so grateful to be featured on Olivia’s blog today. Over on writinglaura.com I like to share information and tips for women to help with their personal growth journeys. Once you’ve read this post on 14 things to do in the morning to have a positive day, I’d love to see you over on my blog.
GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING
If, like me, you hate the feeling of waking up and feeling like a chunk of the day just evaporated into thin air, then there’s only one thing for it. Waking up early (6am is my ‘early’, what about you?) gives you extra precious hours to achieve everything you want to do, because rushing = stress.
EMBRACE DECAFFENIATED DRINKS
The best thing I did during the first lockdown was ween myself off of caffeine. I feel so much happier in the mornings, sustaining myself on my own energy levels and I do not miss the midday crash. I still drink a lot of decaffeinated tea and coffee and do not miss caffeine at all.
MOVE YOUR BODY
The endorphins released when you move your body in the morning will leave you feeling energised for the rest of the day. This doesn’t have to mean running or lifting weights. How about a dance party for one whilst the kettle is boiling? A swift yoga stretch or walk around the block will also do the trick.
HAVE A NUTRITIOUS MORNING BREAKFAST
If I have a heavy breakfast which lacks in nutrition, I feel AWFUL and need a nap by 11am. A breakfast which includes a source of healthy fat, protein, iron and carbs is what makes me feel my best. This will usually look like porridge with peanut butter and chia seeds, or a protein smoothie with a banana, spinach, protein powder and frozen berries.
PLAN YOUR DAY AHEAD
Use your phone, a pretty notebook or even a sticky note to list everything that you plan to achieve during the day ahead. This will help destress a busy mind and hold yourself accountable.
ENGAGE WITH SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU FEEL POSITIVE
I love to have a YouTube video on in the background as I get ready in the morning. I choose someone who I find uplifting and motivating, to raise my vibe. I’ll often scroll through Instagram stories, only stopping on people who I know help me feel inspired.
DON’T PUT OFF WASHING YOUR HAIR FOR ANOTHER DAY
Hair washing can feel like such an effort, especially if, like me, you have a lot of it. We reach for the dry shampoo and opt for day three of the slicked back, messy bun look. No matter how fake-clean you make your hair look, you still spend the day feeling gross. Let’s break the habit! Clean hair will help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
WEAR SOMETHING YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN
Whilst our comfies are basically the official sponsor of 2020, putting them on every day can leave us feeling uninspired and not cute. Wearing an outfit a little more styled, that you feel confident in will make you feel like you mean business.
MAKE YOUR BED IN THE MORNING
This will instantly make your bedroom look tidier and make you feel like you have your life together.
GET YOUR CHORES OUT OF THE WAY
Whether you need to put a wash on or mop the kitchen floor, if you can get chores out of the way in the morning, you’ll feel accomplished and they won’t weigh you down throughout the day.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Think of at least three things that you feel grateful for each morning. You can either write them down, or, if you’re wanting a quicker gratitude fix, you could think about them as you brush your teeth.
BREATHE IN FRESH AIR
One of the first things I do in the morning is open a door or a window and breathe in the fresh air outside. It makes me feel awake and excited for the day ahead.
INVEST IN A SUNRISE ALARM CLOCK
Our phone alarm’s abrupt awakening is kind of rude. Shrill and loud, it’s not the nicest way to start a new day. Sunrise alarm clocks, however, gradually fill your room with light, so that you wake up naturally. Then, at your normal alarm time, it’ll play a nature sound of your choice. My favourite is singing birds.
How do you start your day off in a positive way?
I’d love to know what gets you energised for a new day and how you add a sprinkle of self-care to your mornings.
Laura
Writing Laura
Thankyou for sharing 🙋♂️
Thank you for reading my guest post!
Thanks so much for reading the post!
Woah – sunrise alarm clock – that sounds like such a cool thing! I’m definitely checking that out!
Giving up caffeine is so hard – I have cut down my intake to one cup of coffee in the morning but I need that 1 cup! 🙁
But great tips and advice – especially about not putting off washing your hair. It can be such a mood lifter when your hair is clean and bouncy.
Doesnt the sunrise alarm clock sound so good?!
Thanks so much for reading!
Some great tips! Definitely wanting to incorporate some of these into my morning routine! xx
I’m so glad my guest post was helpful for you x
Thanks so much for reading! xx
I think this is the first time I encounter sunrise alarm clock. I just checked it, and it actually looks cool and cute. 🙂
Anyway, this is such a great and timely post! I’m not a morning person and I’m pretty lazy during mornings. So I’m currently looking for ways on how I can improve my productivity, and I find this post helpful.
I’m so glad that you found my guest post useful! I can’t explain how much a sunrise alarm clock has changed my morning. Best of luck on your journey to improving your productivity x
Well im so glad this post was timely for you! Hope the tips helped!
The endorphins released when active is a Great way to wake the body and boost the moods, I really like the other points to, especially on having clear goals since it helps ease the mind and rid it of worry or panic, gratitude brings joy and a hearty breakfast is good for energy. Really good points and reminders.
I’m so glad that you found value in my guest post, thank you for reading!
It was good of you to feature the post. It’s well written with great insight. Welcome
Thanks so much for reading this post!
I always make sure I have a hearty breakfast!
Welcome. Same, part of my morning ritual.
Nice post. Thanks for sharing, helpful tips.
Thank you for reading, Nianni 🙂
Thanks so much for reading!
I love this✨Enjoyed reading this post xx
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve just read your empowering post on Kamala Harris and I got all the feels! x
That’s so sweet! Thank you🧡 x
Thanks Shahrin, hope you’re well! 🙂
Awesome blog … Only thing which is difficult for me from this list is – waking up early in the morning (esp. post pandemic) 😅
Thanks for the tips. 6am is also my early morning😊😊
Thanks for reading! x
A great time to be awake!
I do a morning gratitude to the 4 directions, and above, below, behind, and ahead. Bit of qigong and yoga, then weigh myself. Take my supplements. Sit quietly for a bit (meditate).
Beautiful article! Thank you! ❤️🦋🌀
I’ve never heard of practicing gratitude to the four directions before! I’ll definitely look into this. Your morning routine sounds lovely x
It’s my own practice. 😉
Here is a similar one to the one I do. Mine came intuitively to me a few years ago.
https://sageswisdompages.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/build-gratitude-through-medicine-wheel-ceremony-to-the-four-directions/
Wow, thank you so much for sharing, i’ll take a look!
Absolutely love these tips! Some of them are quite obvious and some were unexpected. I’ll definitely try to get more fresh air now 🙂
I’m so glad you liked my guest post! I wanted to include a few that were a bit different, i’m glad it showed 🙂
So glad you liked the post!
I like to get up early and do my yoga and a light morning exercise routine. I also meditate as well! These are some great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Great tips! I am trying hard to cut caffeine completely out of my daily diet, but geez! It’s so hard!
Thank you so much. I know, right?! D: I found that substituting with decaf straight away and still having lots of hot drinks throughout the day somewhat tricked my brain into thinking it was still having caffeine x
Ahh smart lol. I’m an iced everything girl, but I do love hot tea before bed. It’s so soothing. I seen recipes on energy bites (peanut butter, oatmeal and dark chocolate) it’s supposed to give a bit of boost. I’ll have to give it a try.
I’m trying to get on bored with iced coffees! Those energy bites sound amazing, I hope they work out for you x
Hey, this post inspired me to take a morning walk! Thanks so much.
This made my day! Great news, thanks for reading my guest post x
Haha, that makes me smile! I am glad to have read it. 🙂 As a little update, I just meditated and am going for a walk very soon… 🙂
So glad!!
I am a morning person and I do most of these things. It helps a lot!
So glad to hear they help you!
You nailed me on the waking late, cold pizza for breakfast, and letting the hair go one more day! Bahaha, I had to look around to see if someone was stalking me!
Oops, my finger slipped. Great tips, thanks for sharing, and to redeem myself I always make my bed! C
Great tips, Thankyou for sharing
Thanks for reading!!
I’ve never seen a sunrise alarm clock. That sounds super interesting though. My alarm is pretty abrupt, but at least it’s a radio so I wake up to music.
I used to set my alarm noise to the same noise as my phone call noise, and every time I used to hear it I used to get a shudder down my spine. So I changed it! 🤣
This is cool
A sunrise alarm clock is a lovely day! Earlier this year I changed my alarm to be one of my favourite songs. Runaway by Ziggy Alberts!
Love this!! I have done this for years, and it really helps me to wake up in a good mood!
Yes indeed! x
Thanks for these helpful tips Olivia..
So glad you enjoyed!
Wonderful tips. I have seen that if I get up, have morning tea, and have bath and breakfast on time, it always helps. Yet in Work from Home, we often get a bit laidback and things drift.
May be I need to be just a little more disciplined.