I will be the first to say that I love a good Saturday sleep-in, but I’m by nature an early bird. Remember in middle school? Waking up to get to school before the sun came up was the coolest thing ever. Well, I’m still like that.
But I do realize not everyone is like me.
Lately I have been embracing + striving for slower mornings, carving out unhurried time until I feel bright enough to tackle my tasks. Here are the few things I’ve started doing to help make mornings even more enjoyable, and less challenging.
Don’t hit snooze. It’s easy to hit the “snooze” button when your alarm rings you to reality on those cold, dark mornings, but don’t do it! Ever. From experience, if I hit snooze 2-3 times I am like a zombie getting out of bed. It helps if I set the alarm for when I absolutely positively want to get out of bed.
Start with a good stretch. Before, I would go from zombie-sleep to trying to stand — I find this isn’t the best way to get me awake. Now, when I hit snooze I sit up and stretch, moving slowly, giving my body a chance to actually acknowledge it’s time to get moving.
Drink a glass of cold water. Not sure about you, but I wake up with a severe need for hydration and chapstick. So after my stretchin’ I head for the kitchen. It helps perk me up, and the cold temperature tends to send a shock.
Allow time for unhurried activity. This is my favorite, and quite possibly the most difficult. Workdays can run you ragged, so taking time to sit and relax will physically and mentally prepare your body and mind for the rest of your day. Whatever makes you happy, do it in the morning. Whether it’s the Bible app on my phone, or writing in my journal, or pulling my Bible from my bedside table, I try and make the time to sit, relax, a
nd read. Slowly, to absorb, to reflect.
Run through your day the night before. Look at your calendar and plan your outfit (and lunch) accordingly. If it’s Friday, I’m usually opting for jeans & converses. If it’s Tuesday, I usually drab up because I have work meetings. Jot down a couple goals before you go to sleep and revisit them in the morning. This way, you can go to bed without worrying about the next day, but feel prepared when you rise.
These are my thoughts, my efforts. Do you have habits or tips that help make your mornings great? I’d love to hear them.
P.S. Problem solvers & this all-star breakfast.
These are great tips! I really need to work on preparing the night before; my day runs way more smoothly when I have a lunch packed and my clothes ready to go!
Same here! I can usually envision what I would LIKE to pull off when it comes to my outfit, but making it happen can take longer than I expect, haha.
Great tips, Chelsea! It’s hard for me to get up in the morning to leave enough time to do an unhurried activity — I usually give in to the temptation to sleep the extra 20-30 minutes. But on the mornings I make time for this, I don’t even miss the sleep and I feel so much better and less frenzied. Totally worth it! Also, it’s such a small thing, but prepping my coffee the night before makes my mornings much happier!
Great tips! I really like the one about doing an unhurried activity. I typically start my morning off with a cup of coffee and some good ol’ fashioned internet-surfing.
Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Bloglovin’
I always wish that mornings were easier! I do like to wake up a bit earlier to give me time to do things but sometimes with work it isn’t an option. I have started getting up at 8-830 on the weekends which I actually really enjoy, waking up at 10 is great but I feel like I get much less done during the day! x
Jasmin Charlotte | UK Lifestyle Blog
I love these tips! I have been trying to wake up earlier so that I can have a more relaxing morning. I love taking the time to eat breakfast and read the Bible before starting my day. It makes such a difference!
Olivia (www.vickiandlivi.com)
I love these ideas! I just started the cold water one lately because I have been unusually sick. It makes a WORLD of a difference :)
BTW, I love your blog layout, your wedding dress, and the fact that you support #endbiblepoverty / the seed company :)
Renee
Renee, I 100% agree to the cold water.
And also glad you found my blog! Thanks for the kind words. :)