My Morning Routine
Our world has changed drastically over the last few weeks due to the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19). People are staying home more than ever as we practice social distancing all over the world. While a homebody lifestyle may be new for the majority, I have practiced this way of life for years as an introvert who works from home. I have become a bit of a hermit, so my day-to-day has not changed much recently. I began working from home in March of 2018 and graduated college in June of 2019. Once I graduated, I had even less reason to leave the house and the structure of my day was entirely up to me. For the first 1-2 months after graduation, I struggled to get into a good flow for work. In search of some balance throughout the week, I decided to curate a morning routine which helped me focus on my tasks and uplifted my mood. If you are struggling to get into a positive groove during this time, I wanted to share my morning routine in hopes of helping you out! I created this routine based on what makes me feel the most positive at the beginning of each day. The morning routine you create for yourself may look different based on what makes you feel best!
I set my alarm to 8:00 AM Monday - Friday and take my dog Rosie on a 15-30 minute walk as soon as I wake up. Since we have been spending more time at home, I have been trying to take her on longer walks, but ultimately it depends on how much is on my to-do list that day. During this time, I catch up on my favorite podcasts and enjoy the fresh air.
When we get back home, I drink a large glass of room temperature lemon or lime water on an empty stomach. Doing so has many health benefits such as aiding digestion and fighting inflammation. It’s also a really easy way to get an extra boost of vitamins and get hydrated first thing each day.
As I sip on my lemon/lime water, I make 1 large cup of coffee. I have been making coffee at home for at least 6 years and it has saved me so much money! I usually spend between $7.00 - $10.00 on a bag of coffee beans that lasts 2-3 weeks. I typically limit myself to 1 strong cup of coffee per day. This is the coffee maker and bean grinder that I have at home (affiliate link).
After a few sips of coffee, I begin preparing for my morning workout. I do my best to exercise at home for 30 minutes 5 days per week (Monday - Friday). My favorite workouts are on the Popsugar Fitness YouTube channel. I usually search for full-body workouts with no equipment needed and sometimes I’ll throw in an additional 10-minute ab workout or extra stretching session. I also try to incorporate yoga at least once per week.
I’m not always hungry first thing in the morning, so sometimes I practice intermittent fasting until my appetite is sparked around lunchtime. If I’m mildly hungry after my workout I usually eat something quick and easy like fruit or a bagel and other times I’ll make a full meal such as a potato bowl with beans and raw greens. I’m going to share this recipe on YouTube soon. Be sure to subscribe here so you don’t miss it!
Once I am done working out and eating, I shower and change into something cute and comfy like leggings and a sweater. After I graduated college, I would often skip showers or just wear the same pajamas all day, but I have realized that showering and changing is actually a great way to reset for the work day- even if I don’t plan on leaving the house for much. I don’t usually do my makeup unless I plan on shooting content later in the day. I’m typically ready to start admin/computer work between 9:30 - 10:00 AM.
For a while I also implemented making the bed, but I must admit that this is the least important thing to me first thing in the morning. I do it often, and I love how it makes the bedroom feel neat and organized, but everything else on this list is much more important in contributing to my overall happiness and productivity for the day/week. I am still trying to get better at it, but I am not always consistent with it. Something else I would love to incorporate more is journaling, but I have a hard time squeezing this in without waking up earlier and I am not naturally a morning person. At the beginning of the year, I was writing in my journal once per day (mostly at night) and I would love to pick this up again at some point throughout the day because writing is very therapeutic for me.
Creating a structured routine and turning inward first thing each day has been life changing for me! I hope that sharing how I start my day encourages you to try something like this to optimize your time and mood throughout the week.