You know the drill… alarm goes off, you roll over bleary eyed, clumsily patting for the snooze button.  Another day in lockdown; nothing new or exciting to entice you out of your warm and cosy bed.

Even if you’re usually up with the lark, perhaps you’ve discovered the distinct advantage of a shorter commute?!

It seems incredible that we are fast approaching a year of lockdown life.  The third lockdown has been the most gruelling for me personally, trying to working from home whilst keeping the children from turning full-on feral.

When there’s no reason to get out of your pjs, it’s easy to let good habits slide.  But there’s a very good reason that the most successful people begin each day with a morning routine.

“If you win the morning, you win the day” ~ Tim Ferris

 

For me, that first 15-30 minutes of the day before the family descend on me with their demands is sacred.  I always thought that having a morning routine meant being part of the ‘5am club’; waking up super early (sooo not me) and working through a list of set activities.

What I’ve learnt is that there’s no cookie cutter approach when it comes to morning routines.  There’s nothing to say when to wake and what to do with your extra time.  Even getting out of bed just 10-15 minutes earlier can totally transform your mood and energy for the rest of the day.

As a self-confessed loather of mornings, I now wake up feeling slightly smug, knowing that by getting a head start on the rest of the household, I get to carve out some valuable ‘me’ time.  It also benefits my partner and kids as when I get my morning time, I’m a little less Cruella DV & a lot more Belle.

So where do I start, I hear you say!  The first step is to consider your current morning routine.  Don’t think you have one?  Do you get out of bed, go to the loo and brush your teeth each morning?  Well, there’s your routine!

Now, the next thing to consider is, what could I do with cultivating more of in my life?

Want to feel more grounded and calmer?  Try spending just a few minutes each morning on breathwork or meditation (here’s a 3.5 minute morning gratitude meditation).

Maybe you’d like more energy or to be less achy?  Even 5-10 minutes of yoga each morning will have a positive effect on how you feel for the rest of the day.

Step 3 – now keep it up; consistency is Queen!  It takes just a couple of weeks to notice how much easier life becomes when you start the day intentionally.

Routine roots us like an anchor when everything in the world seems uncertain.  Starting the day from a grounded place sets the tone for the rest of your day.  A morning routine is potentially the greatest gift you can give yourself.

If you’re ready to get started, I’ve made it super simple with my low cost, self paced ‘Build Your Morning Routine’ course.  Wake up when you like, do as much or as little as you choose and in 21 days of consistent practice, you will be ready to leap into Spring!