Mornings are a little like marmite: you either love them or you hate them. Some of us just aren’t natural morning people or early birds, and that’s perfectly OK – after all, who wouldn’t want to stay in bed with all of their kudd.ly cosies?
However, developing a healthy morning routine can bring more meaning and intention to your day, with reduced anxiety, boosted productivity and improved energy levels being among the biggest benefits.
If you’re someone with a busy day-to-day schedule, it can often feel impossible to follow a healthy routine and enjoy a few moment’s peace in the mornings. Sometimes, life’s daily chores and stressors just get in the way and we’re left feeling like we have no time to focus on what’s most important: ourselves.
If this sounds like you, we’re here to tell you that you’re not alone. The good news is, with a couple of small changes to your morning routine, you can walk out of your front door and feel ready to take on anything that the day throws your way. Here are 5 morning routine ideas to set you up for success!
Prepare a healthy breakfast
After you’ve hydrated, a nutritious breakfast is the next best step in any productive morning routine checklist. Healthy doesn’t always have to mean boring – there’s so many fun ways to get creative with your first meal of the day.
Here’s a few of the Kuddly team’s favourite sweet and savoury breakfast recipes below! We can confirm that they’re all absolutely delicious.
- Tunji – Porridge With Peanut Butter & Honey
- Jenny – Mango, Strawberries, Kiwis & Nuts
- Ebbie – Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes
- Ferial – Yogurt With Granola & Fruit
- Emma – Oat Smoothie With Milk, Rolled Oats, Yoghurt, Peanut Butter & Bananas
- Anna – Scrambled Eggs With Spinach & Butter
For extra inspiration, take a look at these energy-boosting breakfast recipe ideas here. They’re sure to help put a spring in your step!
When we have what feels like a mountain of tasks to do, our brains will naturally want to take the easy route of procrastination. Here’s where a to-do list comes in!
The best approach to creating a to-do list and sticking with it is by writing down your tasks in priority order, or in order of how long each task will take. That way, you can chip away at it without feeling too overwhelmed.
By writing down what you need to accomplish, you’ll be able to give your day more structure and make sure that nothing is forgotten. The satisfaction you’ll get once every box has been checked will all be worth it!
There’s something so rewarding about switching off our screens in the morning and reading a book instead. Not only does reading ease anxious thoughts and reduce stress, but it can also help you concentrate and inspire creativity.
Even if it’s just a few pages or one chapter, dedicating 30 minutes of reading time in the morning can set you off in the right direction for a productive day.
If you’re not a big reader, listening to an audiobook or a motivational podcast can offer you all the same fantastic mood-boosting benefits.
Nothing says good morning like a great workout. Most of us dread the idea of exercise after waking up, but you’d be surprised by just how amazing it can make you feel, both physically and mentally.
A quick yoga session or brisk walk should be enough to get your heart rate up, but if you’re wanting to challenge yourself a little more, try heading out for a short run or doing a HIIT home workout. Just remember to stretch afterwards and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Get a good night’s sleep
You probably didn’t expect to see this tip on our list, but your evening ritual is key to keeping your morning on track.
Similarly to your morning routine, try to follow the same evening routine where you go to bed at the same time. The amount of sleep you need per night varies from person to person, but a good guideline for healthy adults is between 7-8 hours.
If you’re someone who finds it difficult to get to sleep early (hey night owls, we see you!), there are plenty of ways to create a dreamy environment to drift off in. Take a look at these top tips below:
4 Steps To Better Sleep:
- Try swapping your phone for a book or journal before bed. The blue light emitted by our screens reduces the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which causes us to struggle to fall asleep and wake up the next day.
- Freshen up your space with our Aromatherapy Electric Diffuser, designed to soothe your mind and improve sleep quality through the healing properties of essential oils.
- A kudd.ly weighted blanket can be a great tool for better sleep. The weight of the blanket can provide a comforting sense of security, releasing hormones that promote relaxation and calmness.
- Ensure that your bedroom temperature is comfortable enough – sleep experts recommend that the best temperature for sleep is anywhere between 15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius.