Last week I started the Gold’s Gym 12 week transformation Challenge. It’s a challenge that will help you get fit, reach (and exceed) your goals and improve your health. I’m taking part in the employee challenge and on Tuesday I had my weight and measurements taken. It’s not that I need to lose weight, I just need to shift my body composition, add a little more muscle and lose a little fat. The challenge is accountability. It’s the push I need to change some bad habits. How? By creating some some new healthy habits. Especially my morning routine.
This post is sponsored by Green Root Tea and may contain affiliate links
Creating healthy habits
Recently I read “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod. Which is all about taking the morning to the next level, to set yourself up for a fully productive day. If you haven’t read it, basically the 6 steps to include in your morning routine are: Meditation, Affirmations, Visualization, Journaling, Reading, and Exercise. Your Miracle Morning can be intensive or super quick (Hal has a 6 minute routine on his website). So I sat down, and evaluated my morning routine. Which was less than optimal.
My morning routine
Each morning, for the next 11 1/2 weeks (and hopefully beyond!) I’ll be incorporating some changes into my morning routine. Last year, mornings were difficult for me. It was a combination of late nights, early mornings, and jam packed days of classes and clients (hence I was posting less on this blog!). I wasn’t sleeping or eating well. Plus, I also wasn’t getting my own exercise in, which just compounded things. When things aren’t working well I did what we all do. I fell into bad habits. When I did get freetime in the mornings, I wasted it. Ok, I don’t like to say it was wasted, because I spent a lot of it sitting and snuggling with Pixel, but it wasn’t the best use of my time. So let’s see what we can change, moving forward. Here is my new 5 step morning routine.
No more hitting snooze!
If you watch Hal’s talk, he mentions how people hate the morning alarm so much, that they hit snooze and hear it again, and again and again. I laughed when he said this because it’s so true. I never used to be a snoozer. I’d hit the alarm and jump outta bed ready to go. So in order to avoid the snooze I’ll be heading to bed earlier at night. I’ve cut my schedule back and I no longer work after 7:30pm. Goal: 7 1/2 – 8 hours of sleep every night. If you can avoid the snooze your morning routine is already off to a great start.
Mindful Movement
Each morning after getting dressed and visiting the bathroom the first thing on my list of things to do is feed and walk Pixel. We usually walk for 30-40 minutes in the morning. More if I have time (or if it’s not freezing cold like the weather lately). I’d love to sit and meditate here, but realistically I can’t. I need to move FIRST, then meditate. Plus I’d be fending off a dog anxious to head out on his morning walk. So I’ll be hitting the pavement with Pixel, while listening to podcasts.
Meditation & Hydration
When I return from my morning walk, I immediately head to the kitchen to start making a cup of tea. I lived 30 years in Great Britain before moving to America and one thing I still cannot abide is coffee. Much to people’s surprise I’ve never drunk a cup of coffee EVER. I just don’t like the smell or taste, though over the years the smell is not as horrendous as it used to be. Tea is my beverage of choice in the mornings. I love most teas, especially herbal teas. Recently, I’ve been using Green Root Organic Red Rooibos tea.
This loose leaf tea is organic, sustainably farmed, and fair trade. Being fair trade is so important as it means the farming communities in South Africa receive fair wages. Green Root Tea has a few varieties of tea in loose leaf form. Loose leaf tea means no bags! Do you know the environmental impact of all those bags? It’s not good let me tell you. Years ago bags used to made from paper, but more recently manufacturers switched to nylon and PET. Because of this, the bags are no longer compostable. Loose leaf tea is definitely the way to go if you care about the environment.
While the tea is steeping in the little infuser I unload the dishwasher and tidy up the kitchen a little. No need to waste time, and these little jobs don’t seem such a task when you’re already in the kitchen waiting for your tea to brew. Once the tea is ready I head to the living room, set my tea down and begin a 5 minute meditation. Meditation is something I enjoy, and knowing I have my tea to drink afterwards is like a little reward.
The Green Root Rooibos Tea has a slightly nutty flavor, and is caffeine free. I know some people don’t even feel awake till they’ve had 4 espressos but really think about how much caffeine you drink and why. Caffeine addiction is real, it’s a stimulant! The more you take in, the more you need to feel the stimulus. During this tea drinking time, I generally check my schedule, text clients, and… this is also the time that I post to instagram and spend 5 minutes liking and commenting on everyone’s posts.
Exercise and Enjoyment
As I mentioned I’ve been sitting a lot lately. One thing I tend to do after my tea is grab breakfast and sit and watch a couple of YouTube videos before getting ready for work. Time to switch things around. After drinking my Green Root Tea I’ll be grabbing my iPad and heading into our home gym (aka the spare room) to either get on the bike trainer or treadmill to exercise while watching 20 minutes of YouTube videos. I did this last year leading up the triathlon and it was very effective. I get exercise as part of my morning routine, while enjoying some content from my favorite YouTubers.
Fueling the body
A part of any morning routine for me means food. Refueling the body after walking the dog, and exercising. For me, 95% of the time this means a smoothie. It’s a quick, delicious and easy way to get all the nutrients you need to push you through the morning. The other 5% of the time, is usually the super cold mornings where I can’t bear to drink a smoothie or I run out of bananas. During these occasions I opt for hearty oatmeal.
So far that’s my new morning routine. Now each day isn’t going to be in the same order due to my screwy schedule but those 5 things get done every morning. Eventually I’d like to maybe add reading and journaling too. Though reading tends to be an evening activity for me, which is when I drink my Chamomile Tea then zonk out before bed. Journaling isn’t even on the radar right now. That’s why I have a blog right? Haha. I do plan on adding writing, but I think it’ll be a goal of 500 words a day of just writing. Wish me luck with the 12 week challenge!
Questions
What tips do you have for creating healthy habits in your morning routine?
Are you a tea or coffee drinker?
Do you journal?
I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are 100% my own. This post also may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commision on sales made through those links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for the support!
The Green Smoothie : Breakfast of champions!
Chelsea Damon
I’m so bad with the snooz button in the morning! I usually set about 3 alarms because I never actually get up for the first one.
Di Hickman
See I think 80% of us do this! Why do we torture ourselves? lol!
Rachel
Wow! You have it down to the “T.” I wish I would stick to such a solid and healthy routine. It would probably help me keep my sanity. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Di Hickman
for sure it helps staying sane with a crazy hectic day ahead!
Cecilia Cannon
yes! a morning routine is key in getting through the day! sometimes I dread that alarm but it makes the day so much easier when I get my morning routine done.
Di Hickman
For sure! It’s like one thing you can check off your list knowing you’re setting yourself up for a productive day!
Jennifer (JenuineMom)
Your commitment to an improved morning routine sounds wonderful! I agree that sleep is so very important, even if that means getting to bed earlier so you can get more zzzs. I’ve been doing that and it really makes a huge difference.
Di Hickman
Yep! If I know I have to get up at 6am I work backwards and set myself a bedtime. Can’t skimp on the sleep!
Kerri
I try to start my day with a glass of ice water. AFter that I get ready and then pick of an iced coffee for the rest of the day! This is how I start my morning.
Di Hickman
Water is important! I add it to my morning smoothie. Hydration through the day is important too!
Kristin
Staying away from the snooze button and adding some meditation into my day are definitely two things this girl could work on!
Di Hickman
Get on it Kristin, Goals for February!
Courteney Noonan
These are great tips! I definitely need to stop hitting snooze. Also, I love waking up and making a cup of tea straight away – it really wakes me up
Di Hickman
Tea is the best! I swear coffee drinkers have it all wrong 🙂
Marcie
I love that you included meditation! I started meditating for fertility and I was amazed with how good I felt overall after each time I meditated. Anytime we feel exhausted, we meditate and feel so much better!
Di Hickman
meditation is something I do throughout the day if possible. Especially if I start to get the afternoon slump, I meditate and feel fresh again
Tereza
I definitely need to stop hitting the snooze button haha! I do that every day – and in a terrible way as well. I set up my alarm for 5:30, 6, 6:30 and then get up at 7 absolutely shattered because I woke up at 5:30 hahah x
Di Hickman
Oh boy!!! If I were you I’d set it for 6 or 6.30 and just get up. Why set it for 5.30?
Lydia
Hitting snooze is a big no no for me! Once I by that, it takes me an extra twenty minutes to get up! I’m a coffee drinker and tea drinker, it depends on the day/season 🙂
Di Hickman
It’s so true isn’t it. Hitting snooze makes you wake up groggier than ever!
Kori
I just ordered a copy of the Miracle Morning for Network Marketing and somewhat looking forward to it. I have never been a morning person- but having kids changes things.
Di Hickman
It’s great! Hal’s story is inspiring too. It just helps to have a set routine to push you through the day
Debra
I’ll have to admit I hit the snooze a lot – I hate that I do it and I make goals not to but then the morning comes and the snooze is so easy to hit.
Di Hickman
get to bed earlier. I found once I was getting 7.5-8 hours sleep I didn’t need snooze
allison
I am working on getting up earlier in the morning! I have tried so hard but I keep hitting snooze, great tips!
Di Hickman
Don’t do it. Move the alarm to the other side of the room away from the bed
Carolyn
I need a new morning schedule. I definitely need to go to bed early and add in more water during the day. These would all be a good step to get me started in the right direction.
Di Hickman
I’m focused on getting 7 1/2 – 8 hours sleep a night now. Definitely seen an improvement in my productivity when I get good sleep
HilLesha
I have never really been much of a morning person, but nothing jumpstarts my day more than a piping hot mug of tea! I prefer it over coffee since coffee often triggers headaches for me, plus it tastes much better.
Di Hickman
Tea cures everything I tell ya!
CoCo
What a great way to jump start your day, get in a little activity and clear your mind!
Di Hickman
Yep walking the dog in the morning is like a meditation, exercise, and education all in one
Terri Steffes
I’ll just say it. My morning routine sucks. Thanks for the great post and for helping me get back on track.
Di Hickman
Oh I was with ya Terri! This is helping me so much, especially the meditation!
Teresa
If you change what goes INSIDE your body, the whole day and everything else just flows so much better. you will sleep better and less, you will eat better and your brain will feel better. Your attitude will change and then everything else just sort of falls into place.
Di Hickman
Exactly! Mind and Body working together!
Divya
I definitely want to incorporate meditation into my day! Even if it’s only 5 minutes. <3
Di Hickman
So important! I recommend “insight timer” app.
Heather @ Country Life, City Wife
LOVE your sweatshirt! I drink tea everyday. I am not a coffee person, so for sure – and Rooibos is one of my favorites. Good choice!
Di Hickman
Thanks! I love it too!
Jessi
This helps motivate me to get better with my mornings. I am terrible at hitting snooze too many times and then drowning myself in a pot of coffee. I want to try to wake up before the kids get up so I can have some me time in the mornings before the crazy sets in lol
Di Hickman
Oh I never used to be a snoozer, but feel much better if I don’t snooze!
Janel Berchielli
You go girl. I need to kick my bum into gear and start getting back on track. I’ve been also working on getting more sleep too.
Di Hickman
Yes sleep is so important
robin Rue
I Have been focusing on working out a lot lately. I always feel better when I get a workout in, so I have been making it a point to do at least 30 minutes a day.
Di Hickman
Yep always good to move!
Amber
I love that tea! I agree that a full 8 hours is necessary! Wishing you the best of luck with your morning routine!
Di Hickman
Thanks Amber! Yep 8 hours sleep seems like my new “normal”.