Whether it’s your favourite athlete waking up at 4 am and going for a run or an actor you love doing yoga, and then going to the gym all before breakfast; we love to watch the many ways in which people document their morning routines on the gram. But the truth is that a lot of this is not practical for an individual with a 9-hour job shift, especially when you live in a city where you face bumper-to-bumper traffic.
In a world where completing basic 8 hours of sleep is a luxury, there is no guarantee that your day will be productive. Your morning is about setting the tone for the rest of the day, with this we help you ‘hack’ your morning routine!
1. Always Prepare For The Night Before
Make this a mantra you swear by! Write it down on a post-it and put it up on the refrigerator, your cupboard or any other place you constantly frequent. Picking out your clothes the night before is the best way to simplify your morning routine. Lay out everything you intend on wearing, from undergarments to accessories and outerwear. Make sure everything is ironed and ready to wear! Get all the lunch prep done, so that all that’s left is just packing lunchboxes. The more you do the night before, the less running around you will have to do in the morning.
2. Make Sure There’s Ample Light Entering The Room
The minute your alarm goes off, get up and open all your windows and curtains. Letting in the sunshine and fresh air is an effective way to help you wake up. Research says a few minutes in the morning sun improves your mood.
3. Drink A Glass Of Water As Soon As You Wake Up
This simple act of self-care takes you a long way. Drinking water as soon as you wake up rehydrates your body which energises your system. This kills the lazy a.m. bone and also helps in releasing harmful toxins from your body.
4. Keep Digital Devices Away
Generations before us did manage to brush their teeth and freshen up in the mornings without having to take their phones to the bathroom and legend has it that they took a lot less time to get ready for work. Don’t waste your time and get consumed in checking Instagram or your emails first thing in the morning unless there is a true emergency. Wait until you finish breakfast or at least till you are eating breakfast to check your phone. Maybe, consider switching to a standard alarm clock instead of using your phone.
5. Customise A Bathroom Schedule For Yourself
Keep your bathroom organised the night before with fresh towels, a bathrobe and everything else you need in the morning. Try waking up and using the toilet at the same time every day so that your body gets used to a routine. Once you enter the bathroom to brush your teeth make sure you only come out once you’ve taken a shower.
6. Keep A Designated Space For Your Morning Essentials
For a lot of us locating our skin care products, make-up, and vitamins take up most of our morning. Your essentials especially vitamins and medication (if any) should be a top priority followed by skin care. Sort the essentials out and keep them in designated areas and keep aside a set time for them. Taking care of yourself is a lot of work, and it’s not work you can let go of.
7. Create A Breakfast Menu For The Week
Breakfast prep is the way to go, this way you aren’t confused about what to eat or what to feed the family. If you plan on eating dosa for breakfast, keep the batter and chutney ready beforehand. If you are having a smoothie, cut your fruits the night before.
8. Always Be Prepared For Hiccups
How many times have you wasted ten minutes looking for a safety pin while your uber cancels on you? A petty emergency can become a major reason for chaos. Always have an emergency kit handy – safety pins, bandages, double-sided tape, stain-removal stick, tissues, nail clippers, a plucker, hair-tie, make-up remover, Q-tip. All of these items in one accessible area help you avoid a world of mishaps.