Make Your Mornings Sacred: Routines for productivity this season
Not everyone’s a morning person but with the sun rising earlier and the weather getting warmer, it’s the perfect time to cultivate a healthy routine to make your day as productive as possible. From building in a little self care, to making sure you drink water and coffee (instead of just coffee), we’ve created a step-by-step guide to making waking up your favourite part of the day.
Rise & Shine
The earlier you get up the more time you have for yourself in the morning. Getting up half an hour before you need to leave for work means you’ll always be rushing, whereas giving yourself a couple of hours in the morning means your morning routine can be slow and unpressured; making you feel relaxed and ready for the day ahead. Giving your brain time to ‘wake up’ also means you won’t be slightly groggy when you start work, so make you more productive overall. It may seem daunting, but once your sleep cycle adjusts, getting up early will feel natural and boost your productivity.
Hydrate
With the sleepy feeling of early mornings, it’s all too easy to reach for the coffee straight away When you’re slightly dehydrated it can affect everything from energy levels to brain function, so building hydration into your morning routine is important for preparing yourself for the day. Whether you have a water bottle that comes along for your morning routine, or you take some time to solely drink water, hydration will greatly improve your mood and productivity.
Ten minutes of exercise
Doing a little exercise in the morning is great for your mind and body. Getting your blood pumping and endorphins flowing can only enhance physical health, as well as putting you in a positive mood for the day. Whether you go for a short workout video or a little yoga, taking the time to do ten minutes of exercise will improve your energy levels throughout the day and it’s a great long term habit for your health.
Choose an outfit
Even if you’re working from home, the act of getting dressed has a huge impact on your productivity. Choosing an outfit you feel confident and stylish in will affect so many aspects of your day, from how you hold yourself to how you communicate with others. If you make it a deliberate part of your morning routine, getting dressed is that little bit more sacred even if you’re the only one who’ll see your outfit.
If you’re looking for a little wardrobe refresh to make choosing an outfit easier, check out our New In Clothing collection for staple and statement pieces to enhance your style.
Take a little You time
Self-care is the most important part of any morning routine, giving yourself half an hour to do what you want will make you less likely to procrastinate at work and in the evenings. Whether you want to meditate, write in your journal, read a chapter of your book, or catch an episode of your favourite sitcom, make sure you take a little time for yourself in the morning.
Don't forget Breakfast
Running out the door on an empty stomach may save time in the morning, but it compromises your productivity later in the day. When choosing breakfast food you want to aim for healthy fats and proteins which release energy slowly and aid brain function, and avoid quick burning carbohydrates (e.g. toast). These can leave you feeling lethargic when you crash mid-morning.
Affirmations
Positive affirmations do a world of good for your mental health. Although it may seem silly, looking in the mirror and telling yourself some key affirmations every morning can do you a world of good. Whether it’s about your work, dating, self-confidence or friendships, we promise a couple of positive affirmations every morning will help you feel ready to take on any challenge the day throws at you.