January 16, 2024 • 23 mins
Episode Overview:
In this episode of The Women’s Success Coach Podcast, I am talking about morning routines. Morning routines are individualized, they can change over time based on what season of life you are in, and that the main goal of a morning routine is dedicating some amount of time each morning, for yourself, to do something that helps set your day up for success.
What I Cover:
- I explain what a morning routine is and why it is helpful to have one.
- I share about my experience with a morning routine.
- I provide a menu of 15 items that you can add to your morning routine.
Let's Take Some Action:
Use the menu of items I review in this episode and start with 1 or 2. Once you have a consistent routine, you can add in another one or two items.
- #1: Wake up earlier.
- #2: Drink water first thing in the morning.
- #3: Practice mindfulness or meditation.
- #4: Practice Gratitude.
- #5: Exercise and/or stretch.
- #6: Journal.
- #7: Plan and prioritize.
- #8: Connect with others.
- #9: Read.
- #10: Set an intention or have a mantra/affirmation you recite.
- #11: Take time to fuel your body in a nutritious way.
- #12: Practice visualization.
- #13: Listen to music.
- #14: Take time with your grooming routine.
- #15: Engage in a creative activity.
Useful Resources:
Do you worry too much, overthink, assume the worst-case scenarios, spend a lot of time focusing on negative things that have happened, or discredit positive things happening? If so, you are dealing with the human brain we have all been given and you are not alone.
The good news is, you can change this and it may not take as long as you may think! If you want a free resource that will help you examine your thinking patterns, and change those that are not serving you, grab my 5 Common Thought Distortions Guide HERE.
Let’s stay in touch:
Website: www.KarenVincentSolutions.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenvincentsolutions/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenVincentSolutions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenVCoach
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Karen (00:05):
Welcome to the Women's Success Coach Podcast, a podcast
created to inspire growth and tohelp you learn, achieve, and
evolve in your life ongoing,regardless of your age.
I'm your host, Certified Coachand Licensed Therapist, Karen
Vincent, and I'm here to guideyou, challenge you, and cheer
(00:26):
you on so that you can createthe life of your dreams and
beyond.
In this episode of the women'ssuccess coach podcast, I'm
talking about morning routines.
For many years, I kept hearingbuzz about morning routines and
how helpful they were to people,but I was like, I don't really
(00:49):
even know what having a morningroutine means.
This is going back probably fiveor six years now, but I started
doing some research and payingcloser attention to people who
were talking about morningroutines and also why they felt
they were helpful..
What I learned was that morningroutines are individualized,
(01:09):
they can change over time basedon what season of life you're
in, and that the main goal of amorning routine is dedicating
some amount of time each morningfor yourself to do something
that helps set your day up forsuccess.
As I mentioned, morning routinesare individualized, so in this
episode, I'm not going toprescribe a morning routine for
(01:32):
you.
Instead, I'm going to review amenu of 15 items that could be
part of a morning routine andalso help you figure out what
makes the most sense for youbased on your current life
circumstances.
So let's dive on in.
(01:54):
Well, hello, my friend.
As I mentioned in theintroduction, I developed a
morning routine five or sixyears ago and feel it's been an
anchor in my life since thattime.
I've also noticed that when Istart to let my morning routine
slip, even just a little, otherthings in my life also start to
slip.
(02:14):
It's less about committing a lotof time to a morning routine,
and more about consistentlytaking time for myself each
morning before the hustle andthe bustle of the day kicks in.
Like me, five or six years ago,I've had many clients who talk
about hearing about morningroutines, but who don't really
understand why they can be soimportant, or what their morning
(02:37):
routines should even include.
The good news is that there's noright way, or wrong way, to do a
morning routine.
And morning routines don't needto take a long time or be
complicated.
I think one of the biggestbenefits of a morning routine is
that it's an opportunity tointentionally start your day off
(02:59):
in a way that feels good foryou.
It allows you time to focus onyourself and it allows you time
to set the tone for your day.
Like so many people, I've fallenvictim to waking up in the
morning and immediately pickingup my phone and consuming text
messages, emails, and socialmedia.
(03:20):
For me, and for many of myclients, the problem in doing
this is that I was losingcontrol of my day, before it
even really started.
I was almost immediatelythinking about what other people
were doing or what other peopleneeded from me for the day, and
in doing this, I was puttingmyself on the back burner day
(03:42):
after day after day.
The other thing I've seen manyclients struggle with is getting
up late or getting up just intime to rush, to get ready for
the day, Falling victim to thatsnooze button and hitting it
until you barely have time toget out the door or logged in on
time, can result in startingyour day feeling behind, anxious
(04:06):
and stressed out.
When you create a morningroutine, you're telling yourself
that you're worthy of self careand that it's important for you
to have time for yourself beforeyou allow others into your day.
You're also intentionally takingtime to nourish your mind, body,
and/or spirit.
(04:27):
You're also intentionallysetting the tone for your day.
Whether you're journaling ormeditating to help you manage
your mindset or to reinforceyour goals, exercising to stay
physically healthy and releasesome endorphins or feel good
chemicals in the brain, prayingto nurture your spirit and soul,
or you're reading to nurtureyour mind, when you take that
(04:50):
time for yourself to take careof your physical health, your
mental health, your spiritualhealth, your mindset, and to
dial up your focus andmotivation for your day, you
send a message to yourself thatyou are important.
And You also accomplishsomething positive in your day,
(05:10):
before the needs of others startto creep in.
I've made adjustments to mymorning routine based on what
I'm prioritizing in my life atany given time.
And as I mentioned, there's nota best way to do a morning
routine.
What I do think matters the mostis that it's consistent.
When you're consistent with amorning routine, it becomes a
(05:33):
habit that you'll be more likelyto prioritize each and every day
In addition, if there are otherswho live with you, they'll be
more likely to recognize andrespect this precious time that
you've carved out for yourself.
Now, before we dive into whatyou may want to include in your
morning routine, let's look atsome people who you may be
(05:54):
familiar with and what theirmorning routines look like.
Let's start with the QueenOprah.
Oprah Winfrey starts her daywith a morning meditation and
mindfulness with a focus ongratitude and reflection.
Tim Ferris is an author andentrepreneur who starts his
morning with meditation andjournaling.
(06:18):
Michelle Obama works out at thebeginning of her day to help her
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The Rock is also known for hisearly morning workouts.
If you've never seen them, youshould check them out on social
media.
And finally, Arianna Huffingtonhighlights that getting a good
night's sleep is part of hermorning routine, which makes
(06:40):
such good sense.
How can you get up and take careof yourself if you've not gotten
a good night's sleep?
Now, my current morning routineconsists of journaling,
visualizing my goals and myfuture, and meditating.
It doesn't take me more thanabout 20 minutes each morning,
sometimes a little more,sometimes a little less, and I
(07:02):
truly feel different on the daysI don't do it.
I used to have exerciseincorporated into it as well,
however, that kind of fell offwhen I didn't have as much time
first thing in the morning.
And if I'm being honest, it'sfelt harder to keep exercise
consistent since removing it asa consistent part of my morning
routine.
(07:23):
So, starting this week, I'mgetting up a little bit earlier
than I have been so that I havetime to exercise before starting
work each day.
And since this requires me toget up earlier, I've also made
the commitment to go to bed alittle bit earlier.
I'm also intentionally remindingmyself how good it feels to get
(07:45):
a good workout in before the daytakes over.
This way, I don't have to spendtime during the day wondering
when I'll have time, if I'llfeel motivated and talking
myself in and out of exercisingthroughout the day, which can
feel exhausting and annoying ifI'm being completely honest.
(08:05):
When it just gets done in themorning, it takes away the
mental fatigue, or mentalgymnastics as I like to call
them, of the back and forth ofif when I'll fit in a workout.
There are lots and lots ofoptions of things to include in
a morning routine, depending onwhat feels most important to you
at this time.
(08:26):
I'm going to share fifteensuggestions that you can
incorporate to customize yourmorning routine.
But keep in mind, this is no wayan exhaustive list.
As is the case with any habit,it can be helpful to start with
one or two things maximum andstick with those for just a few
weeks.
(08:47):
Then you can assess how you'refeeling and eliminate something
if it doesn't feel like it's thebest fit for you, or add in
something else onto what you'vealready established.
So let's dive into things youmay want to consider adding into
your morning routine.
#1 (09:02):
Waking up earlier.
You'll need time to fit in yourmorning routine activities, and
this may require you to considerwaking up earlier.
If you can create a morningroutine that doesn't feel
rushed, you'll be in a muchbetter mental space starting
your day.
So I encourage you to eitherfigure out how you can wake up
(09:24):
even just 5 to 10 minutesearlier as a start, or if there
are things that you're currentlydoing in the morning that you
can cut out to free up 5 to 10minutes for yourself and your
morning routine.
#2 (09:37):
Drink water.
Many people wake up dehydratedafter sleeping for 7 to 8 hours.
So having a cup of water in thebathroom that you can drink as
soon as you wake up can help youfeel better as you start your
day.
Think about it, drinking one cupof water as part of your morning
routine can make a differencefor your whole day.
#3 (10:00):
Practice mindfulness or meditation.
Now this doesn't require a lotof time.
Spending even five to tenminutes in the morning focusing
on the present moment, breathingdeeply, or intentionally
thinking about how you want tofeel throughout the day can help
you get in a good mental placeas you're starting your day.
(10:24):
This can also help you withfocus and managing your thoughts
and mindset.
And the more consistent you arewith your mindfulness or
meditation practice, the moreeffective you'll be in managing
your brain.
#4 (10:38):
Practice gratitude.
Take a few minutes each morningand write down one to three
things that you're grateful forfrom the previous day.
When you practice gratitude,you're reminding yourself that
even when things feel hard orwhen challenging things are
happening, that there are alsogood things happening.
(11:01):
Over time, this will positivelyimpact how you feel and also
will positively impact youroverall outlook on life.
If you want to hear more aboutthe power of a gratitude
practice, check out episode 20of the Women's Success Coach
Podcast where I dive intogratitude a bit deeper.
#5 (11:21):
Exercise and/or stretch.
Engaging in some form ofphysical activity in the morning
will help boost your energy andconfidence for the day.
As I mentioned, when youexercise, you trigger the
release of endorphins in yourbrain, which creates positive
feelings.
I can honestly say that everysingle client I have ever worked
(11:44):
with reports that they feelbetter, not only physically, but
also mentally when they exercisewith any level of consistency.
#6 (11:55):
Journal.
There are so many variations ofjournaling.
And as I already mentioned withpracticing gratitude, many
people find that starting theday identifying something that
they're grateful for has apositive impact on how they
feel, and on their life overall.
Other people like to free flowjournal and allow whatever
(12:19):
they're thinking about to bewritten on paper so that they
can get it out of their head andexplore it on a deeper level to
better understand themselves.
Others use journaling as a wayof reinforcing their future and
their goals.
Writing about your goals eachday and reminding yourself why
they're important andidentifying what you need to do
(12:41):
to stay on track with them, candial up both your commitment and
your motivation to take theactions necessary to achieve
your goals.
There are so many forms ofjournaling, and there's no right
or wrong way to journal.
So I encourage you to experimentand see what feels best for you.
If you want more suggestions forstarting a journaling practice,
(13:03):
check out episode 25 of thispodcast.
#7 (13:07):
Plan and prioritize.
It can be helpful to take a fewminutes in the morning to review
what you have to do as well aswhat you want to do during the
day.
Doing this will allow you toprioritize and schedule the most
important things so that youhave a plan and some structure
going into your day.
(13:29):
And, as I mentioned, this canalso help you stay on track if
there are things you're workingtowards that require your focus
and attention ongoing.
When things are not scheduled,it's much less likely that
they'll actually happen,especially if they're a little
bit challenging.
#8 (13:48):
Connect with others.
Too many of us can fall victimto starting our days by
scrolling and looking at whatstrangers on the Internet are
doing instead of connecting withthe people who are actually part
of our lives.
This doesn't need to take a lotof time.
However, having undistractedtime to check in with family or
(14:10):
friends at the beginning of yourday can feel much, much better
than checking in with people youdon't actually know.
Taking time to connect can alsomean sending an email, a text,
or a voice text to someone,letting them know you're
thinking of them and wishingthem well, or even share
something with them that willmake them smile or laugh at the
(14:31):
beginning of their day.
As humans, we all desire andthrive from positive human
connection.
#9 (14:40):
Read.
Many highly successful peopleread for a brief period of time
in the morning as part of theirmorning routine.
This can be a good way ofdigesting information that feels
valuable to you at the start ofyour day to be sure that you fit
it into your busy schedule.
It's also another way ofreminding yourself that you're
(15:00):
doing something to support yourown growth before tending to the
needs of others.
#10 (15:08):
Set an intention or have a mantra or affirmation.
Taking a few moments to set anintention for how you want to
show up for yourself and orothers, or for how you want to
think and feel each day can helpyou from having thoughts that
don't serve you.
(15:29):
If you're in need of someinspiration for this, follow me
on Instagram@karenvincentsolutions.
I share affirmations daily on mystories that may help you
identify some affirmations thatwill support you in thinking and
feeling the way you want to.
#11 (15:49):
Take time to fuel your body in a nutritious way.
We all know how easy it can beto grab the prepackaged
unhealthy item, or run throughthe drive thru and grab fast
food for breakfast.
However, when you fuel your bodyintentionally at the start of
your day, you'll have moreenergy and feel better overall,
(16:12):
especially if you do thisconsistently.
Now, this doesn't need to take along time each morning if you're
planful.
I'm always a fan of mealprepping, so I'll do things like
make an egg bake with lots ofveggies, or have my smoothie
ingredients all together so thatit's really easy for me to throw
them in a blender in themorning.
#12 (16:33):
Practice visualization.
I mentioned already that this ispart of my morning routine.
I've created a vision board onCanva, and my visualization
practice involves putting onmusic and looking at my vision
board, which contains images,words, and phrases related to my
future and to my goals.
(16:55):
My vision board is a reminder ofwhere I'm headed, which helps
keep me inspired and focused ontaking the necessary action
steps to get there, even on thedays I'm not really feeling it.
There's no right or wrong way touse visualization.
Some people have big visionboards with things cut out from
(17:16):
magazines and words and phrases.
Some people create mental imagesin their mind.
The thing that I think is mostimportant with visualization, is
that you feel something when youdo it.
You should feel inspired,excited, and maybe even a little
scared if you have big dreamsand goals.
On my podcast.
(17:37):
I have a short episode on thepower of visualization.
So if you're interested, gocheck out episode number six on
this podcast.
13 (17:46):
Listen to music.
I just mentioned that I put onmusic when I'm doing my
visualization practice, and I dothis because it creates a
certain feeling for me.
So if you're someone whoconnects with music, try to
incorporate it into your morningroutine to help you set the tone
for your day.
(18:06):
Maybe you want to feel calm andat peace.
Maybe you need to get pumped up.
Maybe you just want to feelhappy or joyful.
The options are endless andbeing intentional about
listening to music that helpscreate the mood or the vibe you
want to experience in your daycan make a real difference.
#14 (18:27):
Take time with your grooming routine.
If you know that you feel betterwhen you put a little extra time
into doing your hair or makeup,or if you work at home, we may
be talking about something evenmore basic like showering, take
the time to do it.
When you feel well groomed, doyou feel better?
(18:50):
Do you feel more confident?
Consider how even just five moreminutes of your grooming routine
can impact how you feel aboutyourself on a daily basis.
#15 (19:01):
Engage in a creative activity.
If you're someone who spends allday in your analytical brain,
consider doing something in themorning that's more creative,
such as drawing, writing, orplaying a musical instrument.
Not only will this offer you anopportunity to do something that
(19:22):
feels enjoyable, it'll also keepyour brain active, growing and
healthy.
So there you have it, 15possibilities for your morning
routine.
However, the possibilities forwhat you can do for your
specific routine are endless.
And as I mentioned, they canchange over time as things and
(19:45):
priorities change in your life.
I encourage you to give amorning routine a try and see
how it benefits you in workingwith hundreds of people who
either have morning routines orwho I've helped create morning
routines, I have never, ever,ever heard anyone say they
(20:05):
regret putting one in place.
And as I do in all of myepisodes, I'm going to continue
to encourage you to take action.
I challenge you to implement, orfine tune, your morning routine
within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The reason I always push for youto take action is because while
(20:28):
I'm grateful for you listeningto this podcast episode, and I
hope it inspires you in someway, your life will get busy and
this will likely go off theradar.
So I'll quickly go through themall and as I do, decide on which
one or two things you'll startwith.
#1 (20:47):
Wake up a little bit earlier.
#2 (20:51):
Drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning.
#3 (20:56):
Practice mindfulness or meditation.
#4 (21:01):
Practice gratitude.
#5 (21:04):
Exercise and or stretch.
#6 (21:10):
Journal.
#7 (21:13):
Plan and prioritize your day.
#8 (21:18):
Connect with others.
#9 (21:21):
Read.
#10 (21:24):
Set an intention or have a mantra or affirmation that you
recite.
#11 (21:32):
Take time to fuel your body in a nutritious way.
#12 (21:38):
Practice visualization.
#13 (21:43):
Listen to music.
#14 (21:47):
Take time with your grooming routine.
And finally,#15 (21:51):
Engage in a creative activity.
I'm wishing you all the bestwith your morning routine, and
I'd love it if you'd reach outto me and let me know how it's
going.
And of course, if you have anyquestions, reach out to me and
we will talk through them.
To do this, just shoot me a DMon Instagram
(22:15):
@karenvincentsolutions So sendall those morning routine wins
and questions my way.
That's a wrap.
You should be proud of yourselffor investing time in you, which
is so critical for success andfor overall life fulfillment.
I look forward to having youjoin me for my next episode.
(22:37):
And in the meantime, go clickthat subscribe button so you
know when it's released.
And you can also follow me onInstagram@KarenVincentSolutions,
That's@KarenVincentSolutions onInstagram.
Also remember that whatever itis that you're working on,
(22:59):
you've got this.
And I'm here cheering you on.
Welcome to the Women's Success Coach Podcast, a podcast
created to inspire growth and tohelp you learn, achieve, and
evolve in your life ongoing,regardless of your age.
I'm your host, Certified Coachand Licensed Therapist, Karen
Vincent, and I'm here to guideyou, challenge you, and cheer
(00:26):
you on so that you can createthe life of your dreams and
beyond.
In this episode of the women'ssuccess coach podcast, I'm
talking about morning routines.
For many years, I kept hearingbuzz about morning routines and
how helpful they were to people,but I was like, I don't really
(00:49):
even know what having a morningroutine means.
This is going back probably fiveor six years now, but I started
doing some research and payingcloser attention to people who
were talking about morningroutines and also why they felt
they were helpful..
What I learned was that morningroutines are individualized,
(01:09):
they can change over time basedon what season of life you're
in, and that the main goal of amorning routine is dedicating
some amount of time each morningfor yourself to do something
that helps set your day up forsuccess.
As I mentioned, morning routinesare individualized, so in this
episode, I'm not going toprescribe a morning routine for
(01:32):
you.
Instead, I'm going to review amenu of 15 items that could be
part of a morning routine andalso help you figure out what
makes the most sense for youbased on your current life
circumstances.
So let's dive on in.
(01:54):
Well, hello, my friend.
As I mentioned in theintroduction, I developed a
morning routine five or sixyears ago and feel it's been an
anchor in my life since thattime.
I've also noticed that when Istart to let my morning routine
slip, even just a little, otherthings in my life also start to
slip.
(02:14):
It's less about committing a lotof time to a morning routine,
and more about consistentlytaking time for myself each
morning before the hustle andthe bustle of the day kicks in.
Like me, five or six years ago,I've had many clients who talk
about hearing about morningroutines, but who don't really
understand why they can be soimportant, or what their morning
(02:37):
routines should even include.
The good news is that there's noright way, or wrong way, to do a
morning routine.
And morning routines don't needto take a long time or be
complicated.
I think one of the biggestbenefits of a morning routine is
that it's an opportunity tointentionally start your day off
(02:59):
in a way that feels good foryou.
It allows you time to focus onyourself and it allows you time
to set the tone for your day.
Like so many people, I've fallenvictim to waking up in the
morning and immediately pickingup my phone and consuming text
messages, emails, and socialmedia.
(03:20):
For me, and for many of myclients, the problem in doing
this is that I was losingcontrol of my day, before it
even really started.
I was almost immediatelythinking about what other people
were doing or what other peopleneeded from me for the day, and
in doing this, I was puttingmyself on the back burner day
(03:42):
after day after day.
The other thing I've seen manyclients struggle with is getting
up late or getting up just intime to rush, to get ready for
the day, Falling victim to thatsnooze button and hitting it
until you barely have time toget out the door or logged in on
time, can result in startingyour day feeling behind, anxious
(04:06):
and stressed out.
When you create a morningroutine, you're telling yourself
that you're worthy of self careand that it's important for you
to have time for yourself beforeyou allow others into your day.
You're also intentionally takingtime to nourish your mind, body,
and/or spirit.
(04:27):
You're also intentionallysetting the tone for your day.
Whether you're journaling ormeditating to help you manage
your mindset or to reinforceyour goals, exercising to stay
physically healthy and releasesome endorphins or feel good
chemicals in the brain, prayingto nurture your spirit and soul,
or you're reading to nurtureyour mind, when you take that
(04:50):
time for yourself to take careof your physical health, your
mental health, your spiritualhealth, your mindset, and to
dial up your focus andmotivation for your day, you
send a message to yourself thatyou are important.
And You also accomplishsomething positive in your day,
(05:10):
before the needs of others startto creep in.
I've made adjustments to mymorning routine based on what
I'm prioritizing in my life atany given time.
And as I mentioned, there's nota best way to do a morning
routine.
What I do think matters the mostis that it's consistent.
When you're consistent with amorning routine, it becomes a
(05:33):
habit that you'll be more likelyto prioritize each and every day
In addition, if there are otherswho live with you, they'll be
more likely to recognize andrespect this precious time that
you've carved out for yourself.
Now, before we dive into whatyou may want to include in your
morning routine, let's look atsome people who you may be
(05:54):
familiar with and what theirmorning routines look like.
Let's start with the QueenOprah.
Oprah Winfrey starts her daywith a morning meditation and
mindfulness with a focus ongratitude and reflection.
Tim Ferris is an author andentrepreneur who starts his
morning with meditation andjournaling.
(06:18):
Michelle Obama works out at thebeginning of her day to help her
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The Rock is also known for hisearly morning workouts.
If you've never seen them, youshould check them out on social
media.
And finally, Arianna Huffingtonhighlights that getting a good
night's sleep is part of hermorning routine, which makes
(06:40):
such good sense.
How can you get up and take careof yourself if you've not gotten
a good night's sleep?
Now, my current morning routineconsists of journaling,
visualizing my goals and myfuture, and meditating.
It doesn't take me more thanabout 20 minutes each morning,
sometimes a little more,sometimes a little less, and I
(07:02):
truly feel different on the daysI don't do it.
I used to have exerciseincorporated into it as well,
however, that kind of fell offwhen I didn't have as much time
first thing in the morning.
And if I'm being honest, it'sfelt harder to keep exercise
consistent since removing it asa consistent part of my morning
routine.
(07:23):
So, starting this week, I'mgetting up a little bit earlier
than I have been so that I havetime to exercise before starting
work each day.
And since this requires me toget up earlier, I've also made
the commitment to go to bed alittle bit earlier.
I'm also intentionally remindingmyself how good it feels to get
(07:45):
a good workout in before the daytakes over.
This way, I don't have to spendtime during the day wondering
when I'll have time, if I'llfeel motivated and talking
myself in and out of exercisingthroughout the day, which can
feel exhausting and annoying ifI'm being completely honest.
(08:05):
When it just gets done in themorning, it takes away the
mental fatigue, or mentalgymnastics as I like to call
them, of the back and forth ofif when I'll fit in a workout.
There are lots and lots ofoptions of things to include in
a morning routine, depending onwhat feels most important to you
at this time.
(08:26):
I'm going to share fifteensuggestions that you can
incorporate to customize yourmorning routine.
But keep in mind, this is no wayan exhaustive list.
As is the case with any habit,it can be helpful to start with
one or two things maximum andstick with those for just a few
weeks.
(08:47):
Then you can assess how you'refeeling and eliminate something
if it doesn't feel like it's thebest fit for you, or add in
something else onto what you'vealready established.
So let's dive into things youmay want to consider adding into
your morning routine.
#1 (09:02):
Waking up earlier.
You'll need time to fit in yourmorning routine activities, and
this may require you to considerwaking up earlier.
If you can create a morningroutine that doesn't feel
rushed, you'll be in a muchbetter mental space starting
your day.
So I encourage you to eitherfigure out how you can wake up
(09:24):
even just 5 to 10 minutesearlier as a start, or if there
are things that you're currentlydoing in the morning that you
can cut out to free up 5 to 10minutes for yourself and your
morning routine.
#2 (09:37):
Drink water.
Many people wake up dehydratedafter sleeping for 7 to 8 hours.
So having a cup of water in thebathroom that you can drink as
soon as you wake up can help youfeel better as you start your
day.
Think about it, drinking one cupof water as part of your morning
routine can make a differencefor your whole day.
#3 (10:00):
Practice mindfulness or meditation.
Now this doesn't require a lotof time.
Spending even five to tenminutes in the morning focusing
on the present moment, breathingdeeply, or intentionally
thinking about how you want tofeel throughout the day can help
you get in a good mental placeas you're starting your day.
(10:24):
This can also help you withfocus and managing your thoughts
and mindset.
And the more consistent you arewith your mindfulness or
meditation practice, the moreeffective you'll be in managing
your brain.
#4 (10:38):
Practice gratitude.
Take a few minutes each morningand write down one to three
things that you're grateful forfrom the previous day.
When you practice gratitude,you're reminding yourself that
even when things feel hard orwhen challenging things are
happening, that there are alsogood things happening.
(11:01):
Over time, this will positivelyimpact how you feel and also
will positively impact youroverall outlook on life.
If you want to hear more aboutthe power of a gratitude
practice, check out episode 20of the Women's Success Coach
Podcast where I dive intogratitude a bit deeper.
#5 (11:21):
Exercise and/or stretch.
Engaging in some form ofphysical activity in the morning
will help boost your energy andconfidence for the day.
As I mentioned, when youexercise, you trigger the
release of endorphins in yourbrain, which creates positive
feelings.
I can honestly say that everysingle client I have ever worked
(11:44):
with reports that they feelbetter, not only physically, but
also mentally when they exercisewith any level of consistency.
#6 (11:55):
Journal.
There are so many variations ofjournaling.
And as I already mentioned withpracticing gratitude, many
people find that starting theday identifying something that
they're grateful for has apositive impact on how they
feel, and on their life overall.
Other people like to free flowjournal and allow whatever
(12:19):
they're thinking about to bewritten on paper so that they
can get it out of their head andexplore it on a deeper level to
better understand themselves.
Others use journaling as a wayof reinforcing their future and
their goals.
Writing about your goals eachday and reminding yourself why
they're important andidentifying what you need to do
(12:41):
to stay on track with them, candial up both your commitment and
your motivation to take theactions necessary to achieve
your goals.
There are so many forms ofjournaling, and there's no right
or wrong way to journal.
So I encourage you to experimentand see what feels best for you.
If you want more suggestions forstarting a journaling practice,
(13:03):
check out episode 25 of thispodcast.
#7 (13:07):
Plan and prioritize.
It can be helpful to take a fewminutes in the morning to review
what you have to do as well aswhat you want to do during the
day.
Doing this will allow you toprioritize and schedule the most
important things so that youhave a plan and some structure
going into your day.
(13:29):
And, as I mentioned, this canalso help you stay on track if
there are things you're workingtowards that require your focus
and attention ongoing.
When things are not scheduled,it's much less likely that
they'll actually happen,especially if they're a little
bit challenging.
#8 (13:48):
Connect with others.
Too many of us can fall victimto starting our days by
scrolling and looking at whatstrangers on the Internet are
doing instead of connecting withthe people who are actually part
of our lives.
This doesn't need to take a lotof time.
However, having undistractedtime to check in with family or
(14:10):
friends at the beginning of yourday can feel much, much better
than checking in with people youdon't actually know.
Taking time to connect can alsomean sending an email, a text,
or a voice text to someone,letting them know you're
thinking of them and wishingthem well, or even share
something with them that willmake them smile or laugh at the
(14:31):
beginning of their day.
As humans, we all desire andthrive from positive human
connection.
#9 (14:40):
Read.
Many highly successful peopleread for a brief period of time
in the morning as part of theirmorning routine.
This can be a good way ofdigesting information that feels
valuable to you at the start ofyour day to be sure that you fit
it into your busy schedule.
It's also another way ofreminding yourself that you're
(15:00):
doing something to support yourown growth before tending to the
needs of others.
#10 (15:08):
Set an intention or have a mantra or affirmation.
Taking a few moments to set anintention for how you want to
show up for yourself and orothers, or for how you want to
think and feel each day can helpyou from having thoughts that
don't serve you.
(15:29):
If you're in need of someinspiration for this, follow me
on Instagram@karenvincentsolutions.
I share affirmations daily on mystories that may help you
identify some affirmations thatwill support you in thinking and
feeling the way you want to.
#11 (15:49):
Take time to fuel your body in a nutritious way.
We all know how easy it can beto grab the prepackaged
unhealthy item, or run throughthe drive thru and grab fast
food for breakfast.
However, when you fuel your bodyintentionally at the start of
your day, you'll have moreenergy and feel better overall,
(16:12):
especially if you do thisconsistently.
Now, this doesn't need to take along time each morning if you're
planful.
I'm always a fan of mealprepping, so I'll do things like
make an egg bake with lots ofveggies, or have my smoothie
ingredients all together so thatit's really easy for me to throw
them in a blender in themorning.
#12 (16:33):
Practice visualization.
I mentioned already that this ispart of my morning routine.
I've created a vision board onCanva, and my visualization
practice involves putting onmusic and looking at my vision
board, which contains images,words, and phrases related to my
future and to my goals.
(16:55):
My vision board is a reminder ofwhere I'm headed, which helps
keep me inspired and focused ontaking the necessary action
steps to get there, even on thedays I'm not really feeling it.
There's no right or wrong way touse visualization.
Some people have big visionboards with things cut out from
(17:16):
magazines and words and phrases.
Some people create mental imagesin their mind.
The thing that I think is mostimportant with visualization, is
that you feel something when youdo it.
You should feel inspired,excited, and maybe even a little
scared if you have big dreamsand goals.
On my podcast.
(17:37):
I have a short episode on thepower of visualization.
So if you're interested, gocheck out episode number six on
this podcast.
13 (17:46):
Listen to music.
I just mentioned that I put onmusic when I'm doing my
visualization practice, and I dothis because it creates a
certain feeling for me.
So if you're someone whoconnects with music, try to
incorporate it into your morningroutine to help you set the tone
for your day.
(18:06):
Maybe you want to feel calm andat peace.
Maybe you need to get pumped up.
Maybe you just want to feelhappy or joyful.
The options are endless andbeing intentional about
listening to music that helpscreate the mood or the vibe you
want to experience in your daycan make a real difference.
#14 (18:27):
Take time with your grooming routine.
If you know that you feel betterwhen you put a little extra time
into doing your hair or makeup,or if you work at home, we may
be talking about something evenmore basic like showering, take
the time to do it.
When you feel well groomed, doyou feel better?
(18:50):
Do you feel more confident?
Consider how even just five moreminutes of your grooming routine
can impact how you feel aboutyourself on a daily basis.
#15 (19:01):
Engage in a creative activity.
If you're someone who spends allday in your analytical brain,
consider doing something in themorning that's more creative,
such as drawing, writing, orplaying a musical instrument.
Not only will this offer you anopportunity to do something that
(19:22):
feels enjoyable, it'll also keepyour brain active, growing and
healthy.
So there you have it, 15possibilities for your morning
routine.
However, the possibilities forwhat you can do for your
specific routine are endless.
And as I mentioned, they canchange over time as things and
(19:45):
priorities change in your life.
I encourage you to give amorning routine a try and see
how it benefits you in workingwith hundreds of people who
either have morning routines orwho I've helped create morning
routines, I have never, ever,ever heard anyone say they
(20:05):
regret putting one in place.
And as I do in all of myepisodes, I'm going to continue
to encourage you to take action.
I challenge you to implement, orfine tune, your morning routine
within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The reason I always push for youto take action is because while
(20:28):
I'm grateful for you listeningto this podcast episode, and I
hope it inspires you in someway, your life will get busy and
this will likely go off theradar.
So I'll quickly go through themall and as I do, decide on which
one or two things you'll startwith.
#1 (20:47):
Wake up a little bit earlier.
#2 (20:51):
Drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning.
#3 (20:56):
Practice mindfulness or meditation.
#4 (21:01):
Practice gratitude.
#5 (21:04):
Exercise and or stretch.
#6 (21:10):
Journal.
#7 (21:13):
Plan and prioritize your day.
#8 (21:18):
Connect with others.
#9 (21:21):
Read.
#10 (21:24):
Set an intention or have a mantra or affirmation that you
recite.
#11 (21:32):
Take time to fuel your body in a nutritious way.
#12 (21:38):
Practice visualization.
#13 (21:43):
Listen to music.
#14 (21:47):
Take time with your grooming routine.
And finally,#15 (21:51):
Engage in a creative activity.
I'm wishing you all the bestwith your morning routine, and
I'd love it if you'd reach outto me and let me know how it's
going.
And of course, if you have anyquestions, reach out to me and
we will talk through them.
To do this, just shoot me a DMon Instagram
(22:15):
@karenvincentsolutions So sendall those morning routine wins
and questions my way.
That's a wrap.
You should be proud of yourselffor investing time in you, which
is so critical for success andfor overall life fulfillment.
I look forward to having youjoin me for my next episode.
(22:37):
And in the meantime, go clickthat subscribe button so you
know when it's released.
And you can also follow me onInstagram@KarenVincentSolutions,
That's@KarenVincentSolutions onInstagram.
Also remember that whatever itis that you're working on,
(22:59):
you've got this.
And I'm here cheering you on.
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