Making the most of your mornings

Ugh, mornings. I’m not a morning person at all. Now, as I say that, I do have fond memories of long runs in the mornings when I lived in NYC. You feel like you can conquer the world when you have a productive morning. But why is it so hard to actually get out of bed?

I’m working to fine tune my mornings so I can feel like I’m a superhero by 3pm each day! The key for me is in the preparation and planning.

Recently, I woke up on a Monday after a very long weekend and had a pile of dishes in the sink. It was a hard reminder than the prep work is far more important than the actual “thing” you want to do. 

Think about what you want your morning to look like. What would make your day start on the right foot? Once you have a clear picture in your mind, think about what you can do the night before to make that attainable.

For example: 

“I want to wake up with hot coffee and stretch for 5 minutes.”

Steps to prepare: Set up the coffee to brew 5 minutes before you wake up (here’s what I use). Set out your coffee cup and your yoga mat.

“I want to actually have time to eat breakfast.”

Steps to prepare: Set all the ingredients out that can be on the counter. Create a bin for your breakfast items in the refrigerator (here’s what I use). Don’t forget about the pan! Make sure it’s out and waiting.

“I don’t want to waste time searching for an outfit.”

Steps to prepare: Create a uniform for the week or plan your outfits for the week. Pull each outfit and hang them in your closet along with shoes, accessories and undergarments. 

All these examples will take a few extra minutes at the beginning of the week or at night but will make it so your week runs so much smoother. 

Remember to picture your ideal morning and see how you can make it happen! I promise all these small adjustments are going to have a huge impact on your life over time.