How to take Your Morning Routine to the Next Level
by Stacey Kole
Ahh, mornings. Many of us have a love/hate relationship with them. It’s great to have the chance for a clean slate and a day full of possibilities ahead. But it’s also often a struggle to get going, and a mad dash to get up and out the door. But the benefits of carving out even just 5 minutes for yourself before you start your day can’t be understated. The following six tips will help you make the most of your morning routine, setting you up to be ready for whatever the day ahead throws your way.
Start the Night Before
This sounds simple enough, but it’s essential for feeling organized when morning hits. Figure out a few things you typically leave for your morning sprint out the door that you can do ahead of time. Maybe it’s laying out your clothes for the next day, organizing your makeup and other beauty products, cleaning your workspace or packing your bag. Not sure where to start? Figure out what task takes you the most time or causes you to flirt with being late most often and see how doing it the night before feels.
Wake Up Early
Set your alarm for 20 to 30 minutes ahead of your “have to be up” time, to give yourself a little extra chance to breathe, acclimate to the new day and get in the right mind-set. Though you don’t have to actually get out of bed that early, set aside 5 of those extra minutes to meditate. Download any number of meditation apps and get your body and mind in sync before the busyness of the day rushes in.
Drink a Glass of Water
It may be tempting to go for the coffee first, but instead, pour yourself a glass of ice-cold water — preferably with lemon. Consider this to be the start of your beauty routine. Getting in that extra glass is great for your skin, plus it flushes toxins and impurities out, helping your body function better.
Go for a Run
Physical exercise is an excellent way to clear your head and get your heart pumping first thing in the morning. Even if your run is only 15 minutes long, your mind and body will thank you. Make use of the time to feed your brain with goodness by listening to motivating or educational podcasts to start your day.
Scrub, Tone and Protect
Dull morning skin is the worst. Instead of using ordinary cleanser, try building in a little bit of extra time to do an exfoliating scrub or 2-minute face mask. This way you’re washing away dead skin cells and invigorating your skin. Follow with a toner to restore your pH balance and a moisturizer with a minimum SPF of 15.
Experiment With a New Look
Because you were organized the night before and got up early, you should have time for a little fun. After applying the basics — foundation, concealer and powder — experiment with some new eye and lip colors. Shared Planet has a warm-toned and a cool-toned eye-shadow palette to play with, plus four brand-new lip glosses. Give them a whirl, mix up your makeup look and feel good about getting your beauty on. Feeling uninspired? Check out the beauty gurus we turn to whenever we’re in a makeup rut.
The next time the alarm clock rings, you’ll be ready to take on the day with a little more organization, a bit more sanity and a lot more fun.
Stacey Kole was managing editor of the national beauty and style magazine “Savvy” and is currently a freelance writer and editor based out of Phoenix, Arizona.