Why You Need a Morning Routine, and How to Begin Starting Today!
Creating a morning routine has been a key factor in my client’s success, and this is not happening by coincidence.
Success leaves clues and it’s no doubt that being intentional in how we direct our time will impact our ability to achieve various goals.
One of the reasons our morning routine time is so impactful is because it’s how we begin our day both mentally/physically and secondly, as we go through the day many obstacles, events, and tasks can (and most likely will) come up that will affect our ability to get our critical health tasks accomplished. Because our time is limited, it must be managed. As a personal health coach for close to a decade, I understand that having time is an obstacle, that is why WE MUST MAKE TIME. This does require discipline, planning, and intention.
While S.M.A.R.T. goal setting is valuable and important our DAILY action steps are what ensure we get closer to achieving said goals. For example, if you want to lose 10lbs of fat and have set the goal both in your mind and down on paper, that’s amazing… but now we must backtrack.. what will it take to get there?
For myself and my clients, the key clues that the morning routine played a tremendous factor in their success can be linked to these 5 aspects I’d like to share with you today.
1. Set your alarm, wake up when it rings, & don’t hit snooze!
Yes, the first step is the hardest, and that is simply making this a daily habit. Don’t immediately throw in the towel if this is a struggle and also don’t overshoot, meaning aim for simply waking 15 minutes earlier than normal the first week, 30 minutes earlier the second week, etc. so on and so forth. Allow your body time to adjust to waking up earlier so that your energy levels remain consistent and you find a healthy realistic time to wake up each day. *Going to bed at a consistent time plays a crucial role here, our bodies thrive on routine.
2. Find a space outside of your bedroom to physically go & spend time in a prayer of gratitude.
Indeed, you cannot be stressed, depressed, or anxious while you are giving praise, glory, thankfulness, and worship to God. He will take your pain, worries, and challenges and give you the strength to work through them and spend time with Him. No matter what season you are in or what you may be going through, God is higher, greater, and stronger, His promises stand and He is with you!
*The reason getting out of your bedroom is important is due to moving to a space not designated for sleep but rather for starting your day. The office, a dinner table, or the couch with coffee work beautifully!
3. Get movement and sunlight in early.
Before you start the day serving those around you, prioritize your physical, mental, and emotional health. We’ve already begun the day with prayer, and now it is time for physical movement. Can you take 20 minutes to go walking outdoors? Can you complete a 30-minute workout? Prioritize your movement based on what your individual goals are in the season you are in.
4. Begin hydrating and fueling your body shortly after waking up.
Whether you are thirsty or not, when your body has gone hours without water it needs hydration. Aim to begin your day with an 8-10oz glass of water and aim to consume a nourishing protein-fueled meal (25 grams or higher) within 1-2 hours of waking.
5. Set your intentions for the day.
While we don’t decide what we may face each day, we do decide how we react and respond to each moment, issue, conversation, and interaction.
This is one of the biggest reasons why completing steps 1-4 is important, they allow you to choose and direct how YOU start the day rather than simply reacting to what happens to and around you. You’ve gone “a mile ahead of the day” by starting your day in a positive manner that allowed you to care for your total health and well-being.
Don’t get me wrong, battles and struggles will continuously arise, whether you have a morning routine or not. Yes, you will face challenges, have struggles, and will need God’s abundant GRACE, but beginning to set intentions about your health both physically, mentally, and spiritually will allow you to control your behaviors and reactions.
Taking responsibility for our health matters and you can choose today to make a change.
Blessings In Good Health,
Amy Giebrich, BSN, CNC, CPT
