Live Your Best Life: Helpful tips for a good morning routine

Summary: A good morning routine will leave you energized and ready to seize the day!

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Mornings can become the best part of your day if you do it right. I’ve put together a list to help you achieve the best routine for an awesome day!

The key is to plan it out and make it your routine:

1. Start the night before:

Get enough sleep. Minimize screen time as you wind closer to bedtime and don’t bring your phone or tablet to bed. Getting 8 hours of sleep will require some planning.

Helpful tips:

• Incorporate relaxing into your nighttime routine.
• Stretch, read a book, journal, meditate, etc.
• Set a reminder on your phone for bedtime

2. What time do you want to wake up?

Figure out how much time you’d like to budget for your morning routine and then work backward from when you start work. So, if you need 2 hours and you start work at 9 a.m., you can start your morning routine at 7 a.m. or earlier.

Helpful tips:

• Use a wake-up light or sunrise alarm clock
• Stop drinking fluids an hour before bed
• Don’t snooze your alarm; wake up right away

3. Make your bed

First things first, you need a reason to get out of bed. The simple act of making your bed leaves at least one accomplishment for you to see at the end of every day.

Helpful tips:

• As soon as you open your eyes, start with a short prayer or mantra to start your day
• Always make your bed the same way
• Have your outfit or workout clothes ready by your door

4. Drink a glass of water

Hydration is vital to health and after a long night’s rest, your body needs to be rehydrated.

Helpful tips:

• Add a little salt or lemon to your first glass of water. I use LMNT, which has sodium, potassium, and magnesium and no sugar or artificial ingredients.
• Drink cucumber water to start your day
• Leave your water right next to your bed so you grab it first thing

5. Brush your teeth

Oral hygeine is key and brushing first thing helps break up the bacteria in your mouth that builts up overnight. Plus, you feel clean and fresh.

Helpful tips:

• Use mint toothpaste to help you wake up
• Brush your teeth with your opposite hand to engage the other side of your brain. Helpful tip from “Limitless” by celebrity brain coach Jim Kwik. Click here to get the book!

VIDEO: WHY BRUSHING YOUR TEETH WITH NON-DOMINANT HAND IS HELPFUL:

6. Take a shower

Have you ever noticed how some of your best thoughts come in the shower? It’s a time to be alone and away from distractions. You will feel refreshed and ready for anything after a nice shower.

Helpful tips:

• Make it a cold shower for health benefits
• Take deep breaths when you’re in the shower
• Pat or air dry instead of scrubbing your skin with the towel

7. Drink tea or coffee

“The best part of waking up…” is tea or coffee in your cup. If the Folgers jingle popped in your head, then you’re welcome. Brewing coffee or tea can become an enjoyable time to slow down and take in a morning view or just relax.

Helpful tips:

• Mint tea helps you wake up
• Make a matcha latte. Because I’m part of Jade Leaf’’s “BAE program,” you can use the promo code “CALEB” for 25% off your order! I recommend the traditional matcha and they have a great starter kit.
• If you’re looking for a coffee alternative, Four Sigmatic is a great place to start. Use promo code “GOODNEWS”!

8. Write in your journal

Keeping a journal and writing daily can be a game-changer. Start with three things you’re grateful for each day and go from there. It’s good to get your thoughts out on paper and process them through experiences. This is a huge boost for mental health.

Helpful tips:

• Keep it simple. Aim for a few notes or sentences each day
• Start with what you’re thankful for and explore from there
• Use journaling as a time for discovering and expressing yourself

9. Meditate for a few minutes

Meditation is not just for yogis. It’s for everyone. Meditating is a fast way to reduce stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Bible mentions meditations at least 23 times.

Helpful tips:

• Focus on something not just clearing your head. At the very least, your breathe
• The “Churchhome” app has a different guided prayer every day
• Alabaster Co. has a YouTube playlist for guided meditation and prayer

10. Visualize your best life

Visualizing good things happening to yourself will only improve your day. If you’re struggling financially, then visualize yourself with enough money to be at peace. Picture what it’s like to wake up and go to work and come home with a balanced budget and money flowing into your bank account.

Helpful tips:

• When you visualize, think of a specific scenario and use your five senses
• Picture the results you want and see yourself achieving them

11. Speak life-giving affirmations over yourself

It’s estimated we have about 70,000 thoughts per day. Focus on ones that give you life and uplift you instead of pull you down. Investigate areas of your life you’d like to improve and choose affirmations that apply to those. If I struggle with my self-worth, I can say, “I am worthy of love just the way I am.” “God loves me at my best and at my worst. I am always loved and wanted by Him.”

Helpful tips:

• Use affirmations that are unique to your situation
• Write them down and say them out loud

12. Get a morning workout in

Incorporate a few minutes of stretching or a full workout if that works for you. There are several health benefits to exercise, including increased energy, mood, and better sleep quality.

Helpful tips:

• Do a yoga or pilates routine at home
• Muscle Strength has numerous free workouts available

13. Eat a healthy breakfast

Healthy nutrition is key for the fuel you need to tackle the day. My favorite breakfast is a sweet potato hash with eggs and sausage and a side of blueberries. I also take brain supplements from Dr. Daniel Amen. I recommend the “Brain & Body Power” supplement.

Helpful tips:

• Mealime is a free app to help with grocery shopping for meals you want
• Meal prepping on the weekends can make breakfast much easier
• Avoid a sugary breakfast every day like pancakes

14. Read a book or listen to a podcast

Making time to read in the morning is definitely a luxury. One of my favorites is reading the Bibles and devotionals from Alabaster Co. I interviewed the founders and I love every time they release a new product! Also, listening to a podcast can be great if you don’t have time to sit down and read. I recommend “The Connected Life” with Justin and Abi Stumvall.

Helpful tips:

• Start small. Read a page or a paragraph per day
• Be consistent. If your favorite podcast is daily, you can listen every day or weekly
• Change up what you’re reading and try new genres

Here’s my ideal morning routine:

1. Go to sleep around 8 or 9 p.m.
2. Wake up at 5 a.m.
3. Start with a prayer: “Jesus, thank you for this day. I surrender to you and ask you to bless me.”
4. Make my bed.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Take a cold shower.
7. Drink mint tea.
8. Journal gratitude.
9. Meditate.
10. Visualize.
11. Speak affirmations.
12. Stretch or morning workout, depending on time.
13. Eat breakfast.
14. Make a matcha latte. Lately, I’ve been doing the Jade Leaf Matcha ceremonial grade with cashew milk and no honey to cut back on my sugar intake.

The bottom line:

Plan out your ideal morning routine and take small, simple steps to get there. Any progress is worth celebrating as you improve your everyday life!

If you’re looking for more help on creating the perfect morning routine, I’d recommend Hal Elrod’s “Miracle Morning”!

Caleb Parke is the SMG managing editor. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.