Mornings are my favorite part of the day.
It seems funny to feel that way looking back on my younger years and how I used to find the joy in ‘sleeping in.’ Now that concept just feels like a waste of a day and I think of the 900 things I could’ve accomplished all before the rest of the world woke up.
Becoming a morning person didn’t happen overnight though. It took a few years of developing certain habits and figuring out that my brain operated at full capacity in the early hours. There’s something so empowering about completing an entire workday worth of work before 10am. Plus, it’s peaceful and quiet before the rest of the world wakes up, so it’s a great time for self care and to work on the mindset. Here are some habits I’ve developed that have become an important part of my mornings each day, that allow me to embrace getting out of bed at a time that most people dread. (As I’m writing this, It’s currently 5am!)
BUT FIRST…
1. COFFEE
I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I jump out of bed all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Oh no. I’m groggy, cranky, and if you see me, I’d recommend avoiding me at all costs. Ha ha (no but seriously!)
The first thing I do is make a b-line straight to the coffee pot, which, best believe has been pre-set the night before and has turned on and brewed, creating a lovely warm, fresh pot for me to start my day to.
This little detail is KEY and something I actually look forward to, which does help me resist the urge to hit the snooze button over and over. Coffee, the sweet sweet morning nectar.
2. GRATITUDE
This is something that has never come easy to me and I’m sure others can relate. It can be especially difficult when life gets hard to see the things that are actually good in our life. That saying ‘it can always be worse’ is true if you look around.
I try to take the time each morning when it’s quiet to think about at least 3 things I am grateful for. There is a great app I use called 5 Minute Gratitude that I like to jot them down as well as set intentions for the day. Mindset is incredibly important in life and those morning hours are an integral part of mine.
3. BEAUTY RITUALS
Some people consider beauty rituals to be vain, but I think they are an important part of self care. I keep my morning rituals simple – the first is I apply lots of sunscreen and then I make sure to take a full 5 minutes to brush my teeth. That might not sound like a long time, but 5 full minutes brushing your teeth can definitely feel like a long time, especially considering teeth brushing isn’t the most glamorous of activities. BUT the health of your teeth affects so many other things in your body so it is definitely important.
Recently I switched out my toothbrush for a CariPro by Smile Brilliant and OMG it has been life changing. I have always had an electric toothbrush but I was not at all prepared when I tried this to actually get excited for a toothbrush (yes I know how it sounds!)
When I turned it on, it was so powerful I sort of jumped a little because I wasn’t expecting it. There are 5 settings on the brush, each has pauses, telling you when it’s time to move to a different part of your mouth. I find this helpful because no one tells you how long in one area is enough. My favorite is the Clean setting and to be honest, the first time I used this I was shocked that my teeth felt as clean as a visit to the dentist. NO JOKE!!
I noticed I started talking about this toothbrush to friends and family because it’s THAT good, so I wanted to share my experience with you as well. Do your teeth a favor and try this! I got the Individual Package which comes with 2 brush heads, but you can also get the Deluxe Package, which comes with 4 heads and you can share it with family. It’s an investment, I know, but worth it. AND you can use glamlatte20 for 20% off – thank me later!
If you’d like to enter to win a FREE toothbrush you can also do so HERE.
4. WALK OUTDOORS
Or run, or whatever activity you enjoy. The point is – be outside. For me, it’s like a form of meditation. Sitting still isn’t really my strength, but being outside brings me the calm, quiets my mind, and helps me find the inner peace that really reinforces a positive mindset.
There is a park 5 minutes from me that has a pond in the middle with ducks and geese (I post about it all the time on my IG stories) and there’s something so tranquil about heading over there at 6:30am. Believe it or not, I’m not the only one! Every time I’m there it’s surprising how many others are doing the same thing.
In addition, the physical activity gets my blood pumping, boosts my energy levels and helps me make my fitness routine a priority. Aside from how beautiful it is, there’s a great set of stairs there that is perfect for getting a calorie burning workout – no membership required!
5. PLAN THE DAY
Last, but certainly not least, is creating my plan for the day. Usually I already have a to do list going, and I will draw the things from that list that make the most sense for that day to be as productive as possible and reach my deadlines. The more productive my day is, the more satisfied I feel laying my head down to sleep at night, and the more rested I feel the next day when I wake up and start it all over again!
Are you a morning person?
XO,
