ACTIONS FOR A LESS STRESSFUL MORNING

ACTIONS FOR A LESS STRESSFUL MORNING

My morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day. I find a smooth and stress-free morning improves my energy levels and vibe for the day.

I have always been a creature of habit. But since having a baby I have identified the habits that help me stay organized and accomplished. I stay very disciplined on those habits because that feeling of organization keeps me calm and focused. A huge benefit as a mom and as a professional.

These five actions are essentially a blend of my evening and morning routine. Because I have learned that in order for my morning routine to go well, I need a rock-solid evening routine supporting it.

fitness blogger mequon wisconsin

PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE

If there is one thing you take from me today, let it be the words directly above. That’s why it is first on the list! Increase the odds that people who are skimming the article or won’t read all five actions will at least read, in my opinion, the best action.

So, what do I mean by prepare the night before?

Simple, do the things that you might skip in the morning. Or the things that you might try to squeeze in. Or the things that always seem to make you late or stressed.

For me that takes running down what the morning will look like. When I need to get up to get all the things done, I want to get done. And if that list is too long that means I need to do some of it the night before.

Often times that is packing my lunch, laying out my clothing and writing a list so I don’t forget. I know it sounds ridiculous, but somedays I need multiple meals at work or substantial snacks depending on my schedule. Planning them out by reviewing my calendar and writing my day out helps.

I love to use our fitness + lifestyle journal to help me keep track of my days. Take a look at my blog on daily accountability to learn more about it.

MAKE TIME FOR BREAKFAST

Yes, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.

I think it is important because it signifies a priority of taking care of myself as one of my first actions of the day. It puts me before my work. Fuels me to be a better mom and a better professional.

Giving yourself time to eat, without trying to answer e-mails or troubleshoot, creates a sense of calmness as I approach the day. And who knows, I may not get another meal like that all day.

And in effort of full transparency, I eat two breakfasts. I generally eat fruit shortly after waking up. Which in my world makes it easier to have a quiet breakfast all to myself.

fitness blogger mequon wisconsin

BE REALISTIC

I know I said that the first action was my most important, but this might have to be a tie. I just don’t know that everyone else struggles with this as much as I do.

Everything takes longer than you think. Let’s say that again. Everything takes longer than you think.

When you think I’ll just throw everything I need in my bag in the morning and that’ll take a minute. You are wrong. It’ll take longer or it’ll be a chaotic mess when you get to work, and you’ll have to deal with it then.

Silly example, but tasks take longer than we think. Be realistic about what you can actually get done in the morning. Preparing the night before will help. And then you won’t feel like you have to hit the ground running the moment your eyes open.

START WITH A CLEAN SLATE

I am not endorsing staying up all night to just get things done. But closing the books on things from the day before will help lower your morning stress.

Having a clean kitchen is one of my biggest clean slate items. Waking up and seeing that everything is in its place is calming and energizing for me.

I don’t have feel dragged down by the thought of “when am I going to have time to clean this”? Or the guilty/angry feeling of “I should have done this last night.”

Another big clean slate item is to close the books on work. I find packing my work bag the night before, even if I am not leaving the house, to be helpful.

It creates separation for those of us who work from home. It cleans up my workspace. And it gives me time to intentionally prepare for the next day. I will review my list of items to get done that day and evaluate the realistic (or unrealistic) goals and set the tasks for the day. Put it all away and I’m done.

This is not only calming for me for the next morning, but also for the evening. I can be a better wife, mom and just happier for myself.

fitness blogger mequon wisconsin

GO TO BED ON TIME

I am not here to tell you to go to bed by 9 pm every night. That would be ridiculous. I have no idea what your lifestyle is like.

I am also not here to tell you that you need 8 hours of sleep every night. Most research says people function best off of 6-8 hours and that varies by person. But do know that quality of sleep is very important, maybe more than quantity.

Being able to close the books on the day as a whole can help to clear your mind. And a clear mind at bedtime is connected to better quality sleep. That’s why you’ll catch me checking my lists even on the weekends.

Going to bed on time means that you have an awareness for what will be best for you. You are being intentional about getting rest, being realistic and prioritizing yourself.

If you are looking for some more inspiration for setting your own routine give this article a read. You’ll come away with some good ideas to try implementing like stretching to calm down before getting in bed.

HABITS SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE

I don’t want to leave you with the impression that I do this all 100% of the time. I believe habits are wonderful, but they should be flexible. We should be flexible.

If what I need is more time with my family or friends to help “fill my cup” then that’s what I prioritize. Because all of this is about prioritizing myself, creating a nice little system that I feel the best within.

I hope that by sharing my actions for a less stressful morning they will in some way help you. Maybe you try one or two of them and they help. But maybe you try a few and you hate it. Either way you tried and know what may or may not work for you.

AND I put together my 5 best tips to get the most out of your next workout. I cover upper, lower and core techniques that can change the way you feel and move. Enjoy!

fitness blogger mequon wisconsin

Minimalistic Home Gym Essentials: What You Really Need

Minimalistic Home Gym Essentials: What You Really Need

Minimalist me is a mix of a passion for organization, functional accessibility and efficiency. More is not always better in a gym and how you select, store and use your gym equipment is the key to having a minimalistic home gym. I have picked 7 minimalistic home gym...

read more
Discipline in Fitness: How to Achieve Your Goals

Discipline in Fitness: How to Achieve Your Goals

After many years of working out and hearing the same question, “how do you motivate yourself to workout everyday?” I have a not-so-secret secret to share… It isn't about motivation. It is about discipline.  While motivation might get you started on your fitness...

read more
fitness articles
lifestyle articles
nutrition articles
golf articles

SUBSCRIBE

Click to sign-up for weekly information and offers.

DISCLOSURE

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

5 ACTIONS THAT CREATE POSITIVITY

5 ACTIONS THAT CREATE POSITIVITY

I don’t believe that we as humans can be positive every minute of every day. To me, that is unrealistic. But I do believe we can take actions that will create positivity, stimulate good vibes and spread smiles.

That’s why I make choices throughout my day that I know create positivity for me. My days aren’t perfect and I can certainly be negative. But I find if I am consistently taking action my negative dips are short and manageable. They are less impactful emotionally + physically which means my family is happier and my productivity stays high. They are shorter and less intense which means I can stick to my routine and stay on track.

Here are my 5 actions that create positivity.

5 ways to create positivity

PRIORITIZE YOUR DAY

I am one of those people that lays in bed awake thinking of the list of things they want to get done. That list will keep me up at night and ruin the next day for me. Which is why I take a few minutes at the end of my workday or before I go to bed, to prioritize my tasks for the next day.

This gives me a clear vision of how my day will go and allows me to plan out the things that I NEED to have a good day. Like making my bed, working out, having a clean kitchen before I go to bed and sitting in complete silence for at least 5 minutes.

I love to write down my tasks. It gives me a place to refer back to and the satisfaction of crossing it off the list. That’s why I love journaling and using notebooks. They give me an outlet to get things off my mind, organize my day and keep myself accountable.

Our Fitness + Lifestyle journal is one I love using to help me keep a balance in my day. Personally, I can get distracted from the things that make me happy by allowing the things I think need to be done get in the way. Having one place to write down my to do list + workouts puts them on an equal playing field.

EMBRACE GRATITUDE

To me creating positivity isn’t running around smiling when you feel like crying. It is the result of your actions. Taking a moment each day to remember what you have to be thankful for and approach life with gratitude will create positivity.

Days when I feel like crying. I let myself have that feeling, but I also take time to remember the good things. After many years of practice my tears or frustrations are followed by a flood of thoughts to be thankful for.

I know you are thinking I am making it sound too easy and you aren’t right. There is no simple way for me to sum up what worked for me. And there is no way I could tell you it will work for you. But what I hope we can agree on is that framing your life with gratitude will lift your spirits.

positivity creating habits

SET LONG-TERM GOALS

In a world that lives for instant gratification I find comfort in long-term goals. It allows me to remember that the sum of my actions daily, weekly, monthly are what will get me to my 5-, 10- and 15-year goals.

I set some big goals at the beginning of the year using our resolution goals. I check in on those goals weekly and monthly. Not to judge my progress, but to keep my focus on where I am going. After all, not every day is rainbows and butterflies.

Long-term goals let me ask myself “does (x) support my goal”? If not, then I likely won’t do it or will stop doing it. And knowing that my actions are working towards my goal is empowering. It promotes a feeling of accomplishment, ergo positivity.

 

10 MINUTES OF MOVEMENT

Recently I started sharing 10 minutes of movement on our IG for one simple reason. It helped me. Making sure I gave myself 10 minutes every day keeps me grounded and motivated. I thought it was something I could share to help others.

And when I say movement, I mean movement. That can be a killer workout, a stroll with your dog or mobility work. The objective is to give yourself 10 minutes without having to think about anything else.

Try not to let your worries or to-do lists creep into your 10 minutes. Keep those 10 minutes to yourself. It is also a great time to embrace gratitude if you are having trouble shutting out your thoughts!

 

FIND YOUR ROUTINE

Small things in my day have one of the biggest impacts. For example, the 10 minutes of movement. I use that when I am feeling overwhelmed or just don’t have my mojo going. But I also have basic “tasks” that when done keep me feeling calm and focused.

Many years ago I heard that top achievers make their beds every day. At the time I was certainly a last minute out of bed person and making the bed was less important than stopping to get a coffee/food on my way to work. Well, after giving it a go, 5 years later I am attached to making my bed. And I love all the pillows! Mike, not so much.

Another big one for me is clean surfaces. I don’t like a lot of things on top of counters. It just screams chaos to me and serves as a distraction. I like to have my kitchen counters clean before I go to bed. An organized workspace is a must. Unfortunately, this is a routine I continue to struggle with. And the unfinished puzzle on my kitchen table mocks me every morning.

You can read more about setting up a daily wellness routine from Annie’s perspective here. She has some great tips for morning and evening!

5 actions to be more positive

YOU ARE WHO YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH

Have you ever heard that before? That you are a result of who you spend most of your time with. I’m here to share with you it was true for me. I have the pleasure of working with two of the most positive and upbeat people I have ever known – Jane + Annie.

No matter how little sleep I got the night before, or how distracted I feel, when I walk in the door and see their smiles and warm welcomes my negativity melts away. Find people who fuel your positivity and never let them go!

I’d love to hear what you do to create positivity in your life. Comment below!

5 positive habits smile

Minimalistic Home Gym Essentials: What You Really Need

Minimalistic Home Gym Essentials: What You Really Need

Minimalist me is a mix of a passion for organization, functional accessibility and efficiency. More is not always better in a gym and how you select, store and use your gym equipment is the key to having a minimalistic home gym. I have picked 7 minimalistic home gym...

read more
Discipline in Fitness: How to Achieve Your Goals

Discipline in Fitness: How to Achieve Your Goals

After many years of working out and hearing the same question, “how do you motivate yourself to workout everyday?” I have a not-so-secret secret to share… It isn't about motivation. It is about discipline.  While motivation might get you started on your fitness...

read more
fitness articles
lifestyle articles
nutrition articles
golf articles

SUBSCRIBE

Click to sign-up for weekly information and offers.

DISCLOSURE

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.