I’ve never really been a morning person. Most of my life I’ve lived dangerously and snoozed my morning alarm to the last possible second. In school, it was no big deal rushing into class. I had no bedtime routine. Back then you can just blame it on your youthful irresponsibility, right? But when you’re getting to work stressed every morning because you walked into your office 30 seconds shy of your start time, it just isn’t cute anymore.
It also takes a toll on you physically when you create additional stress for your body to have to take on. Something had to change!
I only started to feel like more of a morning person when I focused on a night-time and morning routine. Getting up in the morning is no easy task, but it became much more manageable when I wasn’t snoozing my alarm every 5 minutes (which messes with your REM cycle, leaving you feeling more tired) then jumping up and racing through my morning routine. That’s no way to start your workday!
Read why snoozing your alarm makes you more tired
In this post, I’m going to show you that there are plenty of small, easy steps you can take to prepare yourself to have a positive, more streamlined, stress-free morning. So all your sleepy brain has to do is wake up!
Get in bed earlier. Finish that episode in bed! This will lessen the chances that you’ll still find yourself on the couch at 1am, claiming it’s your last episode of Insecure. So save yourself the morning stress and lay down 10 minutes earlier.
Put everything you need in front of the door. I don’t trust my sleepy brain to remember everything, especially in the morning. So anything I need to grab on my way out is in a place I’ll never miss it. My purse. Umbrella. Change of shoes, etc. Find that place in your home and make it your consistent go-to spot. I guarantee that you’ll never forget something again!
Lay out your clothes. Even laying out your bra and underwear saves you a few seconds! So many times I couldn’t find the “right” bra for that particular shirt, and before I knew it, I had wasted 10 minutes. Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes before bed to pick and iron your outfit for the day. Even down to the jewelry and shoes. Who wants to detangle a necklace at 6am?
Prep a good breakfast. Lay everything out that you need for a solid breakfast. I’m notorious for eating in my car (and it saves me time in the morning), so I almost always make something I can carry with me. Just because it’s quick, doesn’t mean it can’t be filling and delicious! See my easy prep recipe for an energizing fresh fruit juice for a morning boost!
Decide your hairstyle and makeup routine. Believe it or not, making this decision the night before will save you so much time. If you have natural hair, you know that the morning can go any which way, depending on the mood your curls are in. I opt for buns and puffs most of the time, which takes me only 5 minutes or less! And keep your makeup minimal, especially if you like the natural look. More makeup means more maintenance and stress throughout the day!
7 Minutes or Less: Breakfast ideas for on-the-go!
Leave your phone charging overnight. You’ll never be caught with a low battery with this step. Even get yourself a car charger as a Plan B. And ladies, it just becomes a safety issue if you’re ever caught stranded with a flat tire or run out of gas.
Make sure your car has gas! This may seem like a silly one, but I’ve been caught plenty of mornings with just barely enough gas to get to work. Save yourself the stress and fill up the night before!
Extra tips to make your morning even easier!
Wake up 15 minutes earlier than usual. A trick is to think of the time it usually takes you to get ready, and tag on 15 min for traffic and/or bad weather, 5 min for walking from the parking lot, and 5 min for anything you might forget after you walk out of the house. Being prepared is one of the tricks to keeping yourself from letting morning mishaps ruin your progress.
Don’t snooze that alarm! Now THIS is a hard one for me. But if you want a good start to set your day in a positive, stress-free direction, keeping these small promises to yourself is so necessary. *This is an essential morning routine tip!
TIP: keep your phone away from you so you have to get out of bed to turn it off
Listen to your favorite podcast or self-help book. Making a positive choice on the first thing you consume when you wake up is so important to setting the stage for your day. And for most of us, it starts with our phones. Choose something empowering that makes you feel confident to take on your day. Or even just to make you laugh! Check out my booklist for the perfect books to leave you feeling motivated and productive (& by WOC!).
Some of my favorite podcasts:
If you have a few extra minutes, spend it writing down:
+ 2 task goals
+ 1 self-care goal
Adding small things like these help you wake up feel much easier and you’ll feel happier doing it.
So basically it all comes down to having a plan and executing it consistently. Making it a point to maintain a routine is possible for everyone, it just takes a little planning. Take it one day at a time! If you have a few days where you only prepare a few things, take it as a win.
Celebrate the small victories, no matter how small. It’s an easy way to not only be less hard on yourself, but also help cultivate more patience with yourself. You can do this!
I try to remind myself that the key isn’t to do everything perfectly, but to work at it it everyday until you get better and better. Soon enough, these ways to prepare for a good morning will become part of your normal routine.
You’re on your way to happier and more stress-free mornings!
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Self Care Blogger
TheMelanatedMaven.com
