Aside from a handful of genuine morning people, most of us dread the morning routine. This is a stale, repetitive, mildly uncomfortable habit that we must get through to proceed with the day. At the same time, our morning routines help shape our days; they set us up for success (or failure), they dictate our moods, and they have the power to transform how we perceive the day completely.
So what can we do to bring more comfort and joy to our morning routines?
How to Make Your Morning Routine More Comfortable
These are some of the best strategies for making your morning routine more comfortable:
1. Wake up earlier (and more consistently). One of the best things you can do is wake up earlier. If you’re the type of person who typically hits snooze on the alarm or is chronically sleep deprived, this may seem completely unintuitive to you. But waking up earlier gives you more time for your morning routine, so you can tackle more important tasks and fulfill all your responsibilities without rushing. The secret is to achieve consistency; wake up at the same time every morning and go to bed at the same time each night, earlier if you must. With proper scheduling and control, you should be able to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep you need every night while still giving yourself more time in the mornings.
2. Invest in a heated bidet toilet seat. A heated bidet toilet seat has two features that dramatically improve your bathroom comfort. First, there’s the bidet portion, which allows you to clean yourself with a jet of water rather than a wad of toilet paper. It’s more comfortable, it’s cleaner, and it’s more sustainable. Second, the heated toilet seat provides you with toasty comfort even in the depths of winter. If you’ve ever cringed after sitting on a cold toilet seat, you know how valuable this can be.
3. Get the best robe and slippers you can afford. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “robe person,” it’s hard to deny how comfortable a luxury robe can be. Similarly, a pair of slippers can keep your feet warm and comfortable as you move throughout the house at the beginning of your day. While more expensive robes and slippers aren’t necessarily better, it makes sense to splurge here; there’s a big difference between the best and worst robes on the market.
4. Drink water immediately. It’s surprisingly common for people to wake up slightly dehydrated. Even if you don’t feel especially dehydrated, start your day by drinking a big glass of water. You might be surprised at how much better you feel after hydrating yourself. Keep a glass of water by your bed at night so you don’t forget.
5. Prep your breakfast the night before. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while that point is somewhat contentious, there’s no denying that you’ll start your day in a better mood if you lead it with a big, nutritious breakfast. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have time to cook and fully prepare a delicious breakfast; but we can give ourselves more time to do this by prepping everything the night before.
6. Avoid digital screens. If you can, avoid staring at digital screens in the morning. Remain mindful and focused on the present moment instead; you’ll have plenty of time to look at screens throughout the rest of the day.
7. Exercise and stretch. If you have time, exercise physically, even if that only means doing push-ups, sit-ups, and stretches in your bedroom. It relieves stress and helps to “warm up” your body.
8. Express gratitude. Expressing gratitude is one of the best strategies for combating anxiety and depression, and it helps us start the day with a more optimistic, healthier mindset. Before tackling any of your important responsibilities, or starting your work day, take a moment to write down or speak aloud about a handful of things for which you’re grateful.
Making Further Improvements
Nothing is ever perfectly comfortable, so your morning will always have room for further improvements. As you become more attentively connected to your morning routine and grow and change, you may need new additions, routine changes, and investments to improve your mornings. Iterative improvements are a good thing.
What’s important is that you make changes to your morning routine deliberately and thoughtfully. Don’t allow your morning routines to evolve subconsciously, only through your mindless habits; instead, take control of your habits and actions throughout each day.