Updated Morning Routine

“I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace – a connection to what matters.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Hey hey sweetie pies! One of my goals this year was to create and establish a morning routine. Not just any normal routine, but one that allowed me time to do some self care and feel fully prepared for the day. I noticed that I was waking up late due to constantly snoozing and not getting enough rest. Furthermore, I always felt like I was rushing to get to a job to make someone else’s dreams a reality while not living for myself at all. I remember reading a blog article that talked about the importance of having a morning routine. I realized that I needed to make time for myself. Also some of the most successful people make time for themselves before ever working on anything else or for someone else. l then took the time to see what it was that I wanted to make time for. I also thought about what my ideal morning would look like and began to model my morning routine around that. 

I have now developed the habits needed to have a successful morning routine. I am pleased to say that I have found a routine that not only I liked but one that helps me to get up out of the bed excited and ready to tackle my day. This routine is helping me improve my mental state and my work ethic. Continue reading to check out my updated morning routine!

The first thing I do in the morning is my devotion. I use the First 5 app to read my daily devotion. I am working hard on giving God my attention first and foremost. I noticed that my days start a lot more peaceful and it puts me in a good mood. There is always  a lesson that is curated daily with a corresponding scripture. The app is available on the Apple store or Google play and it is free!

I make sure to drink a bottle of water first thing in the morning, usually while I am reading my devotion. It is great for hydration, digestion and helps just start your metabolism in the morning. Plus water can help your bowels which is always good. I recently saw on The Real that most Americans don’t have normal and adequate bowel movements which can lead to a build up of bacteria – hence causing diseases or illnesses. I have been working very hard to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Whenever I start my day with a bottle of water, it is a lot easier for me to drink the required amount throughout the day. 

I love meditating in the morning! I usually take 5-10 minutes after my devotion to complete my meditation exercise for the day. I am still relatively new to meditating so I like to use Simple Habit app for guided meditation exercises. It is available for free on the Apple store and Google play. This app is amazing because it has a number of different meditation exercises for different needs such as improving  your focus, improving your sleep and calming anxiety. Most meditation exercises are very short, taking on average 5-10 minutes to complete. I find the morning to be the best time to complete this because I am not all in social media or doing work so I am not distracted. 

The most important meal of the day, breakfast is a must have for my morning routine. I have more energy and I don’t find myself reaching for junk food by mid morning. I love having a filling breakfast but one that is healthy. I usually have boiled eggs, fruit and whole grain toast or oatmeal. I love my coffee and tea so I don’t deprive myself. I usually opt for tea instead of coffee these days but usually 2-3 days out of the week, I will enjoy my coffee. I have come to really like having earl grey, vanilla chai or green tea in the morning. Usually I am not actually hungry until lunch but I have been trying to have a snack between breakfast and lunch so I don’t end up overeating at lunch. 

Depending on my day, I may have a light stretch session of about 10-15 minutes. If I have time, I will stretch for about 30-45 minutes. It usually depends on what time I have to get out of the house that day. I try to do a little stretching more so because it makes me feel good. Plus it is a way to work out my body without all the sweating and strenuous activity. This has been helping me with my posture in general as well as dance. 

At this point, I finally get dressed and do my makeup. I usually like to listen to music while getting ready because why not? I definitely love listening to gospel music or upbeat music. If you are interested in seeing a GRWM playlist, let me know in the comments! I love taking a little extra time in the morning to get dressed. It definitely helps to pick out your outfit the night before like I do. That way in the morning, I can take a little more time with my hair or makeup. When I look good, I feel even better!

Well that’s my morning routine in a nutshell. Do you have a morning routine? If so, what’s part of your morning routine? If you don’t have a morning routine, will you be establishing your own after reading today’s post? I would love to read all about it in the comments below! 

As always, XO and Stay FAB! ~ Stormie J