morning routine
The morning, the alarm goes off and most of us totally dread getting up. This was definitely me. When my alarm went off I would press snooze, snooze and snooze again and then I would FINALLY get myself out of bed and stumble into work. Since starting my new job and because this job is no where near as physical as riding racehorses was I really wanted to embrace this new lifestyle and get into some really healthy habits and the first one was sorting out a good morning routine to help maximise energy, start the day positively and keep in shape. So here is my morning routine and I really hope that some of the below comes in useful for you and you can add this to your morning routine.
set your alarm earlier
I know, everyone says you need to get up early, but honestly it really works. I would suggest setting your alarm approximately 2 hours before you need to leave for work/start work. I work from home and my working day starts at 9am, I set my alarm for 7am. This is a great time to wake up - not the crack of dawn but early enough to catch the full day. I will be out of my bed by 7:15 latest.
hydrate
I have to admit, I can slack on this bit but I am getting better, I promise! I used to be a get up and get a cuppa in straight away, I am not a coffee drinker so tea is my caffeine fix. But stop reaching for that regular brew or coffee and hydrate your body first. I now get up and get in a glass of water and make a mug of matcha tea. Matcha tea is such a great way to start your day, it has an abundance of health benefits, as well as that much needed caffeine boost we need to get us awake and on the go. Unlike the caffeine you find in coffee that can make you jittery, matcha tea provides you with a much calmer and focused release of energy that actually lasts a lot longer than coffee, win! This normally takes me to approximately 7:30 am.
exercise
Get that body moving. After I have had my water and matcha tea I do, roughly, a 30 minute work out. 3 days a week I head to the pool and swim for 30 minutes (when we are allowed back in the gyms that is) and the other 4 days I do 20-40 minutes of yoga. (2 of which are work mornings). Such a great way to wake the body up and get the mind going. Morning work outs can seem a bit daunting but swimming and yoga are low impact work outs that won’t shock the body too much. When I do spin classes or a serious work out I opt to do this in the evenings when my body is fully warmed up and has been moving throughout the day. In addition, swimming is a great time to meditate and get your mind set for the day. I am normally back from the pool/finished yoga for around 8:10am.
shower time
Nothing beats a quick shower post work out in the morning, another way to make sure you are really awake and present. Use a shower gel that is energising, ESPA and Rituals do great energy boosting/ post work out shower gels that really help boot your energy. When I have been to the pool I will wash my hair but the other days I won’t wash my hair in the morning. Post shower be sure to give you body some love and slather on your favourite body butter!
look after your skin
After my shower I always spend time on my skin care. Tone, serums, eye cream, moisturiser and SPF. Give yourself a few minutes to really get those products into your skin and get your skin glowing. This is just a great way to prep yourself for the day ahead, a little face massage when applying the product will help reduce puffiness and leave you bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to tackle the day. Shower and skin care will normally take me to 8:30am.
get dressed
An obvious one I know but bare with me. We have all spent the last year in lockdown and lounge wear has just become the norm, and whilst I am all up for keeping comfy and cosy, getting and actual outfit on for work just makes you feel more put together and totally removes the blurred line from home to work. I don’t wear a suit of course not, I work from home, I do however like to pop on some over sized mum jeans, maybe leather leggings, a long skirt, teamed up with an over sized shirt or a chunky knit sweater maybe even a logo t-shirt. Whatever your style get dressed and get an outfit on. You will feel less slobbish and more inclined to actually work! Honestly!
If you work in an office than this part isn’t really relevant for you - but do pop on that power suit, get yourself in that outfit that makes you feel confident and you will go and smash your day!
make up, hair and perfume
I am aware not all of us are make up wearers and trust me I do MINIMUM for work as I am sat on my computer all day and my camera for meetings is pretty flattering (thank the lord!) If you are like me and like to just do a little bit of something to make you feel put together then do. I like to pop on a small bit of foundation or concealer (depending on how my skin is behaving!) a touch of bronzer and mascara and I am ready to go.
I brush my hair through - on days that I have washed it I literally just dry the real wetness out of it and leave it damp. I might tie it up, whatever I choose to do I make sure my hair is somewhat respectable and put together.
Finally, give yourself a spritz of perfume. Smelling good just makes me feel finished. I am a total perfume addict - it is one area I do have expensive taste in (sorry Dave!) but a quick spritz of perfume after you’ve finished getting ready really just completes the morning routine and adds that little finishing touch.
Dressing, make up hair and perfume only takes me 15 minutes, I really don’t slave over my appearance but I do just enough to feel put together and ready. This normally takes me to around 8:45am
brew and breakfast
This is when I take the opportunity to have a proper mug of Yorkshire tea! I love a good brew but I try not to drink too much tea in the day and switch in herbal teas instead but at this point I let myself have a lovely strong cuppa and some breakfast. This brings me nicely to 9am and time to get logged on and start my day!
morning intentions and planning
I have talked about this tip a couple of times but I really swear by it. Whilst my computer is booting up and I am logging on I get my diary out, I set my morning intention which can be anything from ‘know your worth and be confident in your ability’ to ‘I intend to make at least one person smile today.’ It is really great at giving yourself a positive mind set for the day. I also look in my diary at what meetings I have, I go through my emails and I plan my day. What I need to get done, who I need to speak to, what I need to start getting on with etc etc. It really keeps me focused and on task. It is a habit I really encourage you to do to maximise productivity whilst not letting your brain explode! And this is something you can do whether you work from home or in an office.
mid morning
If you are like me and work from home then you will understand the urge to snack, snack, snack!! Mid morning I have a smoothie with a scoop of protein powder in it. It just keeps those cravings at bay and keeps me going until lunch.
I also make sure I have a jug of water in my office where I can keep hydrated throughout the day which also helps keep those urges to snack at bay!
I hope that you have enjoyed this blog and liked having a glimpse of my morning routine. Please don’t feel bad if you don’t/ can’t do all of the above. I have days where I cannot stick to this routine for whatever reason and it is totally fine. We are all in different positions with different family commitments and different working environments. I do hope though, that something from above resonates with you and you feel you can take it into you own lives and lifestyles and enjoy the benefits. I have noticed a significant improvement in my focus, my energy levels and my general health since embracing the habits above so please give some of them a go.
Have.a wonderful week
Until next time
Maisie
XoXo