Morning Routine

Rise and shine! Everyone knows the feeling of waking up all too well. The sound of the alarm clock brings you back to Earth. The sunshine streams through the curtains, and the birds twitter outside. Some people dread the morning; why can't I sleep longer, they may think? I used to do this, too. But now, I try to approach the morning with a diverging outlook. It is a new day, fit to bursting with new opportunities. Every twenty-four hours, I set a challenge for myself. Whether it be no complaining, ten minutes of meditation, or complimenting seventeen new people, the morning allows my goals to be addressed. On some days, it is really, really hard for me to get out of my warm, comfortable blankets. Perhaps I stayed up a little bit too late to finish an essay for school, or foolishly decided to browse Pinterest at nine o'clock. By the way, this is a really bad idea. Even though it's nice to scroll through motivational quotes, it doesn't exactly aid one in falling into Dreamland. You can read about the effects of blue light on sleep here. On days like this, my morning routine helps to get me going. Here is my (school day) schedule. I have to admit that on weekends, I tend to sleep in until I wake up naturally.

• DO NOT HIT SNOOZE. If I hit snooze, I will never wake up. If I don't hit snooze, and decide to lay under the covers to the count of ten, I will never wake up. So I came up with this great idea to get me going: plugging my phone in on my desk. In this way, I have to hop out of bed at precisely  7 A.M. in order to stop the alarm. Or else I will wake up my sister. Then I'd have a real problem on my hands. She can turn into an angry monster if she doesn't get every last minute of her beauty sleep.
• Open the Curtains. Not only will you get that serotonin pumping, but I find that natural light just makes me happier. I also have a lovely view of my neighbor's flower-filled garden, so that always makes me smile. Nature is beautiful; I suggest introducing it into your day as soon as possible! After I pull back the drapes, I also usually make my bed. An organized room = an organized Maya. 

• Drink a Toothsome Beverage. Are you partial to tea? How about coffee? Maybe ketogenic hot chocolate is your thing, or a veggie-filled smoothie. I absolutely love to drink a mug of green tea when I prance down the stairs and into the kitchen; not only is the flavor scrumptious, but the little bit of caffeine helps to wake me up. On occasion, I'll sip a cup of black tea or coffee with a splash of heavy whipping cream and a dash of Monk Fruit. Mmmmm.....
• Make an Exciting Breakfast! When there is a meal I am looking forward to the next day, it is a lot easier for me to hop out of bed. I suggest some scrambled eggs with chopped bell pepper, onions, sundried tomatoes, and cheese, or one of my Lox-ocado Bowls. I will be posting this recipe really soon - trust me, it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Smoothies are also the best. Why not combine your 'toothsome beverage' and 'exciting breakfast' into one glass? Just make sure not to add too many sugary fruits, and go big on the veg and healthy fats. If you are up for it, intermittent fasting is wonderful for your health. For a growing teenage girl, this isn't really an option I consider, but are you an adult? Are you just not hungry? Don't eat! If you would like to learn more, I would definitely recommend that you do your research. 
• Move It! Lots of people like to exercise before they eat - that is completely fine! It may actually be better, because you will probably never feel nauseated. Reversing eating and exercising is a super viable option. I just really like to have my breakfast first. It's a personal quirk. After a few minutes of digesting, however, I bound down the stairs and into my basement gym. Arm day is my favorite. That being said, core and leg day are also great! Make sure you incorporate a little bit of cardio (but not chronic cardio) and plenty of stretching into your workouts. Rest days are just as important to build muscle, respect your body, and just be a healthy mover. Bonus tip: Drink lots of water. Oh, and also - playlists. Help. So. Much!
• Hygiene Happiness. At this point in the morning, I'm really sweaty. So it's important that I shower, wash my face, and brush my teeth before school. My friends just don't look great with wrinkled noses, so I practice hygiene on my behalf as well as theirs. If you are prone to acne, I suggest the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Daily Leave-On Mask - it works like nothing else I've tried! A combo of this medicine, exercise, and a healthy diet has led to my blemishes disappearing almost entirely. Also be sure to moisturize your skin and apply some sunscreen. According to this article, your skin can absorb up to 64% of what you put on it. Isn't that insane?!? So if you wear makeup, you'd better make sure it has ingredients you can trust.  

• Learn. While I am getting ready for the day, I love to listen to audiobooks or podcasts. The Harry Potter novels are obviously my favorite, but the podcast Gastropod is extremely interesting. The Primal Blueprint Podcast is very informative, as well. Learning is a hobby that applies to people of all ages, and provides incredible new perspectives on the world. So why not tune in?
• Pack up everything you need for the day. Whether it is a school-day binder or an office briefcase, make sure you have all your things. Fill up a giant water bottle, which will soon become your best friend. Pack a brain-boosting lunch. Once you have everything together, walk out the door with a grin on your face. I wish you the most fantastic day!

What do you do to become energized for the day? Let me know in the comments below!

Carpe Diem,

Maya

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash, Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash,
Photo by Roberto Nickson (@g) on Unsplash, Photo by Form on Unsplash