Lately, I’ve been really enjoying taking it slow in the mornings. Slow mornings are so beneficial to my mental health and overall well-being! Here is my minimalist + slow morning routine.
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Naturally, I have always been a morning person. That is, until I got married! My husband is not a morning person, and sadly I think I sort of turned into him (at least when it comes to sleep habits).
After getting married, my husband and I stayed up pretty late and slept in whenever we could (basically all our days off!). Because I am naturally more of a morning person, these sleep habits left me feeling tired and unmotivated throughout the day.
I dreaded mornings and always felt sluggish and just a total mess! This is why I recently decided to switch things up again and become the morning person I used to be!
Creating a Morning Routine
I decided to create a slow morning routine to motivate me to get out of bed all while still taking it slow! After all, I’m all about slow living and enjoying the simple things.
Of course, I also started going to bed a little earlier so that I would be well rested and energized the next day. Finally, I am feeling more like myself and I have been loving this slow morning routine! It goes a little something like this:
1. Wake Up
Obviously, the first thing everyone does each morning is actually wake up. I just wanted to mention it quickly because I started waking up at 6am, which is about an hour earlier than I used to wake up (at least on weekdays).
Once my alarm goes off, which is just my phone, I don’t hit snooze or continue to lay in bed. I try getting up right away.
2. Stretch in Bed
Once I wake up, I sit up and stretch in bed for just a couple of minutes to get some blood flowing and prepare my body for the day. I though about doing a longer stretching routine, but it would feel more like a chore than anything for me. I prefer to do a longer stretching routine at night!
During my quick stretches in bed, I also focus on my breathing and do a few breathing exercises!
3. Make Bed
After stretching, I get up and out of bed and immediately make the bed (unless my husband is still sleeping!).
I have always made my bed right away, even on the days where I wasn’t really a morning person! Like everyone says, making your bed in the morning really helps you feel more productive throughout the rest of the day. Honestly, I just hate having to look at an unmade bed every time I walk by so I just like to get it over with!
4. Bathroom
After my bed is made, I head straight to the bathroom. Here I will brush my teeth and do my skincare routine. I have written all about my skincare routine here.
I will usually also put on a little bit of makeup, usually just filling in my eyebrows with this NYX eyebrow pencil and some mascara! Of course, we can’t forget about some lip balm as well during these cold winter months.
5. Hydrate
Once I am done getting ready, I head over to the kitchen to drink a tall glass of water. Hydrating is so important, especially in the mornings! While I drink my water, I also boil some more water to make tea. I have been using this Bodum Electric Water Kettle for years and love how quickly it boils water without me having to turn on my stove!
Then, I pour the hot water over a tea bag in a mug and let it steep for about 5 minutes before drinking. I can’t really have caffeine (I get very anxious and jittery) so my favorite teas to have are chamomile, ginger turmeric, and peppermint!
6. Read
I’m not sure if I’ve already mentioned this, but I’m really not much of a reader. I used to be when I was younger, but not so much anymore.
However, I always make sure to make time to read my Bible every day. I used to read it each night before bed, but I felt like I shouldn’t be leaving it for the end of the day! So I started reading it in the morning while I sip my tea.
I find that reading my Bible each morning is such a great way to start the day. It reminds me of God’s grace and glory and really helps me get into the right head and heart space for the rest of the day! I just finished the New Testament a few months ago and I have been reading through the Old Testament (currently on Numbers!).
I will usually read for 20-30 min. before heading back to the kitchen to start breakfast.
7. Breakfast
If my husband hasn’t already gotten up, he will usually get up around this time. I will say good morning to him and love on him a little before starting breakfast!
We usually make our own separate breakfasts since we usually crave different things, so it’s a fun way to chat and spend some time together! For breakfast, I usually have oats or tofu scramble. I will sit down and have breakfast with my husband, chat a little bit, and look out our window into our yard to see what critters are running around!
8. Clean Up
At this point, my husband is getting ready to go to work and I am cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast. I do a quick tidy up, pack his lunch, and kiss him goodbye.
After he leaves, my morning routine is pretty much over! I finally allow myself to check my phone, reply to emails or text messages, and check my to do list. I usually start working around 8am.
& that’s it! My morning routine is nothing fancy, just slow, minimal, and simple! After each morning, I feel ready and motivated to take on each day, with some exceptions of course!
Thanks so much for reading!
Sincerely,
Denise XOXO
