First things first, let me tell you about my darling workout outfit! My leggings, sports bra, and tank are all from Kiava! They are a local Utah company that I’ve worked with for a while now. I absolutely love supporting local AND women-owned companies and this awesome brand happens to be both! They have such high-quality items. My favorite pieces from them have definitely been their sports bras! They are Lululemon quality with a way more affordable price point! Now let’s dive into something I’ve been instilling that’s changing my life!
Have you perfected your morning routine? Up until recently, I had no idea how having a consistent morning routine could shape the rest of my day. I used to just wake up and see where the morning took me, but now I know exactly what I’ll be doing each morning and it brings me so much peace. We already have to make tons of decisions throughout the day, so having an established regimen in place takes a few of those decisions away. Just like when we’re establishing our babies nap and bedtime routines so they know exactly what to expect and ultimately sleep better. Routine = comfort and who couldn’t use more of that in their lives?!
Over the past few months I’ve been working hard on perfecting my morning rituals, so this is what a typical day usually looks like for me. Obviously, travel, and sometimes just life happens and things don’t go as planned, but that's OKAY! As long as you can make it work most of the time, your day will go so much smoother. Pinky promise.
#1- Wake up BEFORE my son. This can be tricky when he’s not feeling good or goes to bed earlier/ later than normal because I won’t always know when he will wake up, but most of the time I can set an alarm for around 7:15 and get about 30 minutes of quiet to myself before he is awake. Even if I just lay in bed and plan out my day, having those extra minutes to slowly wake up is crucial to my mood!
#2- Stretch. I have always loved stretching. It makes me feel so good an energized. Whether I do a mini yoga routine off the top of my head, or just touch my toes in bed, a mini stretch really helps me wake up. It’s just about what feels good to you. I used to try and work out first thing and I found that I didn’t like that. Working out on an empty stomach never fails to make me sick. So while I still like getting my blood flowing in the morning, I just don’t like to do anything intense until I’ve had some food. I know people that SWEAR by fasted cardio and that’s awesome. it’s just all about finding what you like and what works best for your body!
#3- Have a big glass of water. I want the first thing I put in my body to be water every morning. I think it gently wakes up your system and gets it ready for the day. I have no clue if there is any science to back this up, but once again, it works for me!
#4- Make a Balanced Breakfast. I eat the same exact thing every morning. You’d think I would get sick of it but I really don’t! It’s another comforting thing that I have to look forward to in the AM. I also make Kai breakfast and lately it’s 50/50 if he eats it or not. Picky little guy!
#5- Clean/ pick-up kitchen. To be honest, this is probably the only time my kitchen is clean during the day haha so It’s nice to at least have a few hours of cleanliness!
#6- Check Emails & Social Media. In my line of work, the early bird gets the worm. I make it a point to try and reply to awesome opportunities as quickly as I can. I try not to get on my phone or laptop for about 30 minutes after I wake up and before I go to bed but to be honest, this area of my life could be improved. I always make the excuse that my phone is my job, (which it is) but I can still be more conscious of how much time I spend on it. Definitely, something I am working on!
After that, this is where my day starts to take shape. Somedays I’ll get a workout in, others I have to take Kai to school, or get ready and run to a photoshoot. Even though my entire day can’t be 100% planned, I’m a much happier person when my morning routine goes smoothly. If you don’t have a consistent one in place, I would encourage you to try it out and see how it positively affects your life!
Love, Krychele (@carnationsandlace)