One of the most popular posts I’ve ever written is my post about six things to do before you go to bed to make your next morning easier and honestly, I genuinely feel better the next morning when I take the time to do these six things.
Someone once commented on a Facebook post about this post to say that she ‘couldn’t be bothered to faff about on a night’ but I’m not a morning person and find it much easier if I can just get up and go without having to think about much at all. I also find that getting organised for the next day on a night helps me to relax at bedtime because I know everything’s in hand for the next morning and there’s no danger of me forgetting anything.
But if you don’t have time to ‘faff’ on a night then there’s plenty you can do the next morning to get your day off to a great start so I thought I’d share a few ideas with you today.
Eat Breakfast
I always used to think that breakfast was for wimps (or at least people who had more time to spare on a morning that I used to) but these days I’m a huge fan of starting the day with something to eat. Aside from the fact that the few minutes I spend eating breakfast gives me a little relax before the day starts, it really is true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It helps keep me going until lunchtime without any hunger pangs and stops me snacking through the morning. The technical reason for why breakfast is so important is because it breaks the overnight fasting period, replenishes your supply of glucose and provides other essential nutrients to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Plan your day
Taking a few minutes to plan your day can be really beneficial and really can be as simple as a quick scribble on a scrap of paper with the main things you need to do that day, as complex as using a bullet journal to write a daily to do list or anywhere in between. On my days off I like to write an actual to do list but on days when I’m working I just spend a few minutes thinking about what I have on – usually while I’m getting dressed or having a shower. I have a great free printable you could use if you want to here.
Get dressed
Even if you’re not planning on leaving the house you’ll generally feel happier if you get dressed, even if you feel like you can’t be bothered. I’ve had days where I thought I’d just whack my hair in a ponytail and stay in my pyjamas and those kinds of days are great every now and again but for the most part, I seem to get more done and feel better about myself if I’m dresses.
Get ready so you feel good
I wasn’t sure whether to include this one of not as I don’t want anyone to think that I’m saying that you need to look like a supermodel when I say this but some people (me included) will genuinely feel happier throughout the day if they’ve taken some time with their appearance. I have a quick shower most mornings and even though it will take me ten minutes longer to get ready, I generally wash my hair because I know if I don’t, by the middle of the day my hair will be looking a bit greasy and I’ll be feeling conscious of it. Equally, if I don’t put at least some foundation on then I know I’ll be aware of it even if no-one else is so I take time to do that too. For you, it might be hair, make-up, putting a top on that makes you feel good (is it just me who has a ‘boost’ top that always gives me a confidence boost when I wear it) or anything at all that will make you feel good. If it makes you feel good through the day then it’s worth taking the time on a morning to do.
Think of at least one thing that you’re grateful for in your life
This one sounds totally cheesey but honestly, just being grateful for one thing in your life helps you to face the day with a positive outlook. SOmetimes, I might not feel like going to work but I think about how grateful I am to have such a great job, working with lovely people. I think about the benefits that having a job gives me and the opportunities it’s given me and I manage to get myself ready and out of the door with a smile.
There’s also a few other things that I recommend doing on a morning if you want to really start your day off as well as you can but I haven’t included them in my top five as they’re always things I forget to do!
- Get up right away
- Drink 2 glasses of water
- Make your bed
- Meditate for a couple of minutes – even if it’s just a minute of deep breaths while you’re sat up in bed
- Stretching for even just a minute or so will improve your circulation and help your posture throughout the day.
I deliberately only included things that aren’t on my six things to do on a night list so you could be super organised and feel great all day long if you do the six things before bed AND these five morning things.
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