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10 Ideas for Your New AM Routine

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So, you’ve decided to create a new AM routine. Yay! Maybe you took my June “Start Your Morning Well” challenge. Maybe you’ve heard influencers say that starting their day was key to success. Maybe you just realized that was some good real estate of time that was being wasted. But now that you’re getting up earlier, it is easy to just fall into scrolling social media or slogging through morning news shows.

Morning routines can make a big difference in our outlook and productivity later in the day. Check out my last blog How & Why I Became a Morning Person for some of my reasons. But used ineffectively, it just becomes another time waster. So what should you do with your morning routine? There are a couple of schools of thought. Some are pretty intense and take hours. Some say those use all your energy and creativity before you even start your workday. So what’s right for you? 

There are tons of things you can do. I recommend picking one or two to try and see how they make you feel. More energy? More clarity? More motivation? A sense of accomplishment? Then maybe keep those. Tired? Lacking energy for your career / family responsibilities? Frustrated or down on yourself? Well, then those probably aren’t a great fit. Keep adding until you feel like you have the right fit for you.

Here’s my top 10 list (not necessarily in any order of importance):

  1. Silence – prayer or meditation; just give your brain a few minutes to wake up.
  2. Fill your soul – read scripture or a book that encourages you and helps you grow.
  3. Gratitude – scientifically proven to re-wire your brain and help you see the good in life! A list of even 3 – 5 things daily can have a huge impact.
  4. Move! Stretch, run, yoga, weights. Again, scientifically proven that we’re more likely to workout when we do it first thing in the morning.
  5. Eat a healthy breakfast – not just coffee… it really is the most important meal of the day! A good fat, fiber and protein mix is your best bet for longlasting energy. 
  6. Journal – actually wrting with pen and paper. This can be creative writing, writing a prayer or gratitude list or even just a free flowing brain dump. Journaling helps get your brain in the creative mode.
  7. Visioning – spending a few minutes looking at a vision board can remind you of what is really important to you. And even if there are things you don’t have scheduled in your day, that on-going reminder helps you keep them top of mind and you’re more likely to do them.
  8. Positive affirmations – some scoff at these, but reminding yourself of who you are and who you are becoming helps to eliminate the negative self talk.
  9. Plan your day – you can either control your day or let it control you! 
  10. Spend a few minutes intentionally connecting with those in front of you. So often our mornings are rushed and crazy. Creating a routine that includes your loved ones is and amazing two-way gift.

So, if you are new to a morning routine, OR just looking to shake yours up a bit, what will you commit to trying? If you have something you love that you would add please share that too!