6 things I do every morning keep my shit together!
In the past, I have felt overwhelmed, exhausted and foggy brained. Being a parent whilst managing a career will do that to you! But parent or not, I know many of us have felt like this just from managing life and all it’s complexities. I drank too much, went to bed too late, ate mostly clean but devoured sweet things most nights before bed and had disturbed sleep from a busy brain. It was a cycle I had to break if I wanted to have quality sleep, more energy, clarity of mind and feel amazing. Surely this was possible! We had two young boys to look after and I was absolutely knackered. But now, different story, I sleep way better, feel alive, full of energy, clear headed and my anxiety levels at an all time low. Here’s how I turned it around, and all doable if you also have small children to contend with:
1. Wake up earlier.
Ok granted early mornings aren’t for everyone. BUT research suggests rising earlier in the morning ( even if you did it gradually using a gentle alarm of sorts ) you are more likely to greatly reduce your stress, have more energy and set yourself up for better choices in the day by simply getting your shit together before the daily chaos begins. Build up to it if you must, anything from 15mins - 1hr before everyone calls ‘MUMMY’! I usually wake naturally now somewhere around 5:30am. ( I go to bed sometime between 9.30-10.30pm ) I use this morning time to do the below..
2. 5mins of mindfulness
This can be done in bed! Best sitting in a chair somewhere quiet, so if your partner snores or you’re likely to just fall back asleep, then get up and go somewhere else in the house. For a minimum of 5mins ( time it on your phone ), sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor, hands on your thighs, relax everything. Close your eyes and simply focus on your breath and think of nothing but your breath. If your mind wonders, just bring it back to your breath. It takes practice and can feel pointless. But keep trying it and build up to 10mins. This practice calm the mind and helps immensely when planning out your day, especially if you have a thousand things to do, like me!
3. Lemon infused water
Ok an obvious one and nothing new here. But the benefits have not grown old and do wonders to clear your body of mucus, boost your metabolism x 5 and immunity ready for the day. Do this 30mins before you have breakfast ( if you can ). Just half a lemon squeezed into a large glass of water, drink the lot. Don't forget to flush your mouth out with plain water afterwards as this can help reduce any acidity on your teeth.
4. Juice or Smuice raw vegetables and fruit
If you have a juicer or bullet type blender, dust it off and use it! If you already do this then hooray for you! Juicing has been used to treat cancer, so there really is something in this, especially as a preventative. Click here for recipes of the smuices I have every day. It’s a great way of quickly getting your 7 a day and trace minerals you won’t find in the store bought versions. These sluices help the body’s natural process of eliminating toxins, flood your body with nutrients for rapid absorption, give you a real energy lift and curb your hunger. So so beneficial for your health especially if you need to release some kilos and are feeling unwell. Amazing to give to your kids too.
5. Eat high protein breakfast
Loads of us skip breakfast or under estimate it’s importance. If you want your body to run like a well oiled machine, burn fat and remain lean, you must feed it. Aim to eat at least 5 times a day. I eat 7 times a day now that I know how the metabolism works. Cutting out breakfast will actually slow down your metabolism. Super charge your energy with a high protein power breakfast - things like scramble eggs with salmon on rye toast, or a healthy omelette. Or if eggs aren’t your thing, then porridge topped with your favorite toppings ( chopped almonds, yogurt, grated apple or berries ).. and if time is an issue, power up first with a blended all natural high grade protein shake.
6. Write a list and journal
Every morning I write list of what I need to do that day and number them in priority order. I also like to journal for a quick 5mins on my laptop ( a bit like a diary ), or your could hand write it ( my hand writing is atrocious ), of what I’m grateful for, what I want to achieve and my goals for the future. I often repeat myself everyday in a sort of mantra. But this keeps me focused, positive and moving forward. I only spend 5mins doing this. It’s super effective - try it out.
If you don’t manage to do this every day or miss one or two things out. Don’t beat yourself up, just do what you can and you’ll eventually find your routine that works for you.
I’d love to hear what you like to do every morning that helps keep you on track? Please comment below!
