Setting an Intentional Morning Routine

The first thing to know about morning routines is that you already have a morning routine.

Whatever you do after waking up, whether intentional or not, is your routine. 

Some routines consist of waking up late, throwing on whatever is the least wrinkled, running out the door, and grabbing coffee en route to work. 

Others may include waking up early, meditating, drinking green juice, journaling, and taking a shower before heading out the door. 

There’s nothing wrong with either of these. They simply produce different results.

There is no single best morning routine. Not everyone has access to the same resources. Some people have kids or loved ones they need to care for. Some people have early morning jobs. Others aren’t morning people.

First, meet yourself where you are

Start with small changes based on the results you want.

Ask yourself what your overall goals are. Then, get curious about what morning routine might help you reach those goals. Try things out, play around, make tweaks depending on your needs, wants, and responsibilities.

Are you trying to keep a more organized space? Start by simply making your bed in the morning or setting a short timer and tidying a space.

Do you want to move your body more? Commit to just 10 minutes of movement in the morning. A walk around the block or gentle stretching are good places to start.

Improving your diet? Set yourself up for success by preparing your breakfast the night before.

Your morning routine can evolve slowly, there’s no rush. Sometimes small changes are the most powerful. Choose one aspect of your morning to focus on and go from there.

My morning routine

I have followed the same routine for years. I’m fortunate enough to own my own business and work from home, so I set my own schedule and I have no commute. I also have low-maintenance pets and no kids. I enjoy going to bed early and waking up early. These factors all affect my routine. 

My morning routine isn’t any better or worse than someone else’s, it’s just the one that works well for me at this stage of my life.

Here are my non-negotiables: 

Wake up between 5:30am and 6:30am
Apart from my neighbor’s sprinklers going off at 5:30 and the orchestra of birds singing around that time, I allow myself to wake up naturally, without an alarm. 

Get dressed
As soon as I wake up, I get out of bed and open the bedroom door so Sweet Pea can come in and say good morning. Then I brush my teeth, wash my face, and get dressed.

Check messages and prepare breakfast
I check my phone for any urgent messages. Then, I go to the kitchen to heat up some water while I chop up some fruit and nuts to top Luanne’s and my porridge, and put it in the fridge. I do this so I can add a splash of plant milk and enjoy a yummy, fast, plant-powered breakfast when I’m ready to eat later in the morning.

Drink warm water
Once the water is warm, I pour myself a mug. I like drinking warm water in the morning because it gently wakes up the digestive system and eases my body into the day.

Yoga & breathwork
Next up in my morning routine is spending up to an hour on my mat stretching my body, rolling out my facia, and doing some simple strength work. I do a lot of breathing and releasing during this time. I don’t always feel like doing this but this practice has been crucial for my physical and mental health. Here’s a fantastic yoga session you can follow if you’d like. 

Tea
After my movement practice, I go back to the kitchen and make a cup of tea. I usually drink caffeine-free herbal tea, but sometimes I have green tea with a splash of soy milk and a touch of coconut sugar. 

At this point, I’m ready to start work and kick ass! 

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This morning routine supports me all day and well into my evening. 

When I don’t follow it, I feel it! 

I don’t have as much energy and focus throughout the day. 
I don’t feel as grounded. 
I don’t eat as healthily. 
I get cranky. 

Do you want to get more intentional about your morning routine?

When you open your eyes in the morning, know that you are in charge of how you feel and how you show up. Most people don’t realize this is even an option! Taking ownership of your mornings is the first step. From there, you can make small changes to your mindset and your actions so they better match what you want for yourself.

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating human imperfection and we created Clean Food Dirty Girl to support you in all of your goals. When you become a member, you’ll have access to thousands of whole-food plant-based recipes and Group Coaching to help you get out of your comfort zone and reach your goals. I’d be honored to help you uncover old thought patterns that are no longer serving you and make the most of your mornings (and your life!).

Do you have a morning routine and tips to share? I would love to hear about it in the comments below! 

Xo
Molly