The days that I skip out on my morning routine make me realize how important that routine is to me. I don’t like a.m. stress (I don’t like any stress) – and the idea of running late in the morning makes me especially anxious. I’ll do pretty much anything to stay relaxed and on time in the morning.

If you don’t have a morning routine, you might not know how relaxing and uplifting it can be. Your morning doesn’t have to be filled with stressful moments (where did I leave my keys, what am I going to wear, did you feed the dog?). In fact, it shouldn’t be!

Morning is the first opportunity you have each day to focus on the positive. And you should take advantage of it!

My Morning Routine

Getting out of bed, getting ready for work, brushing your teeth…those are all part of this routine. But I’m fairly certain most of you do those things already so I want to focus on the additional parts of my routine that have added enormous benefit to my entire day.

Water

I’ve always slept with a bottle of water by my bed but it wasn’t until I read Own The Day, Own Your Life by Aubrey Marcus (LINK), that I realized how important water is first thing in the morning.

“The world is water, we are water, yet here we are, every morning, essentially starving for it”. Aubrey Marcus

Imagine that I told you to go the next 8 hours without drinking any liquid. That would suck, right? That’s exactly what you do when you sleep. You go a full 7-9 hours without a drop of liquid.

Drinking a large glass of water in the morning rehydrates your body (that relies on water to function), fires up your metabolism, flushes out toxins and is a better liquid than coffee when it comes to filling your belly and bloodstream first thing.

Estimated time: 2 minutes.

Supplements

My morning supplements: green powder and collagen peptides, vitamins and omega-3s.

I love the idea that I can nourish my body before I do anything else in the morning. It takes seconds to mix green powder and collagen into water, shake and drink. It takes seconds to know that the first thing my body has to ingest in the a.m. is healthy.

Green supplements: Don’t get me wrong, I love vegetables. I’ll take a big a** salad any time. But if I’m heading into a busy day at work, I don’t always know what will be available for lunch. I’m a fan of high-quality veggie/superfood powders, like Opti-Greens, which is what I take. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, pro-biotics and plant-enzymes to fill in the potential nutrient gaps through the day.

Collagen peptides: I use the unflavored version from Primal Kitchen. Collagen peptides is a protein that supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints. There’s one ingredient in my container: peptides. Taking it in the morning on an empty stomach helps your body digest and absorb the nutrients.

Estimated time: 3-4 minutes

 Gratitude Journal

I’m a huge fan of gratitude journals, or any private space that you dedicate to your own happiness and gratefulness. I spend 5 minutes every morning writing down the things, big, small and in between, that I’m grateful for in the moment. It helps to stay present. It helps me to recognize all of the good things in my life before getting sucked into the day and a world full of other people’s emotions. It’s a moment, in the quiet of the morning, that’s peaceful and dedicated to happiness.

Some days I’m simply grateful for a full nights sleep and the sunshine that is flowing through my windows on a chilly Vermont morning. Other days I’m grateful for the opportunity to have a quiet morning, or something uplifting that a personal training client told me, or that it’s my best friends birthday (and thank the world for her). But everyday I realize that even if I didn’t sleep well or I’m not looking forward to that particular day, I have something to be thankful for.

Estimated time: 5 minutes

Minutes with My Dog

No matter how much of a rush I’m in, I spend a few minutes with my dog, Koa, in the morning. He’s a piece of my gratitude journal. Animals have an unassuming nature and when they’re ours, that adoration and connection is real. I don’t honestly think I could walk out of the house without a couple minutes of cuddling in the morning! It’s 5-15 minutes of unconditional lovin’.

Estimated time: 5-15 minutes

Packing Breakfast

I am not the girl who can suffice on a coffee and a donuts for breakfast. If I’m eating breakfast, it needs to be a real meal. This part of my routine usually starts the night before, but every morning I make sure that I have something healthy to take with me to work. That means having the following ready: vitamins, Omega 3, water bottle, breakfast (with protein, fat and some sort of fruit, at the very least).

This piece of my routine is about peace of mind. I don’t want to find myself stuck at work with the option of a cinnamon roll or a sausage and American cheese breakfast sandwich. As a personal trainer, I know I need fuel. So I prepare myself. *I include vitamins and omega-3s here instead of in the supplements section simply because I don’t take them first thing. Most of the time I take my vitamins with food, so I don’t feel nauseous, and that means first thing with breakfast.

 

What’s your morning routine? What helps you feel ready and energized and confident in the day? Let me know in the comments – I’m always looking to learn more!