If you consistently reach the end of the week with nothing to show for your time but new levels of exhaustion and an untouched to-do list, it’s possible your morning routine (or non-routine) is to blame.

Your morning routine sets you up for the rest of the day. If you wake up, throw some clothes on and race out the door, you might feel frantic and unprepared to plant yourself down in an office chair for 8 hours. If instead you follow a set of healthy habits and give your personal goals some energy, you might be more motivated to give fully to your day. Taking the time to refine your first waking hour can set you up for a healthier, more fulfilling day. As days turn into weeks and weeks into months, you will see the results of nourishing routine right there in your life. Find your happy place each morning with these 9 habits for a healthy morning routine. 

Drink Lemon Water

When we sleep we go hours without drinking water, so it’s important to hydrate first thing in the morning. Water is a vital part of life--heck, our bodies are 60% water, and our brains are 75% water. If it helps, keep your bottle of water by the bed so you it's impossible to forget. Adding lemon to your water alkalizes your body and starts up your system.

Work Up A Sweat

Wake up and work out! You don’t have to run 10 miles, unless that’s already part of your routine! All it takes is 5-10 minutes to get your heart rate up and your motivation revving. When you start your morning off by accomplishing something, you set the tone for success for the rest of your day.

Take A Cold Shower

Shake off those covers and step into a cold shower to rinse off the grogginess instantly. You don’t need to keep the shower cold the whole time, just the first few minutes. You will appreciate the warm water way more, plus you will have started your morning doing something many people wouldn’t do if you paid them. That’s Rowdy!

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

If you’ve ever tried to tackle complicated tasks on an empty stomach, you know the importance of a healthy meal first thing in the morning. Healthy doesn’t mean heavy, so there’s no need to eat a full restaurant-style meal, bacon and all. Start with simple ingredients that are full of nutrients like bananas, nuts, greens, avocados and oats. If you typically eat animal products for every meal, challenge yourself to have a plant-based breakfast. Remember, a nourished body ensures a fueled noggin for the big day ahead.

Focusing On Breathing

Take 5 minutes to only focus on your breathing. You can do this standing or sitting, it doesn’t matter. The important part is training your mind to only focus on one task. It’s much more difficult than it sounds, but it’s only 5 minutes. Over time this will be wildly beneficial for your mind and your mood.

Journal

Give yourself some time with a pen and paper and sift through your thoughts. Journaling helps to organize all the mental chatter first thing, so we don’t carry around that noise throughout our day. If you’re new to journaling, look up prompts to get started. The idea is to avoid judging your words and instead get all your ideas out so you can see them in front of you.

Drink Tea

Tea (especially green tea) is equally calming and energizing, which is a great tone to set for your day. There’s a tea for every mood, so you can repeat this habit in the afternoon and evening too. Tea is full of antioxidants and healing qualities, preparing your immune system for any stressors that may confront you during the day.

Pack Your Lunch

Making room in your morning to pack what you consume throughout the day can help you stay on track with nutrition and budget goals. Make sure to get a healthy balance of fats, veggies, healthy carbs and protein!

Review Your Goals

Ever find yourself at the end of a thursday wondering why you’ve managed to become so exhausted but haven’t made any progress on your goals? We all have. One way to combat the busy-ness is to review your goals for 5 minutes each morning. Our days want to pull us in a million different directions. Review your goals religiously to stay on track.

Now it’s your turn! What morning habits help you become the best version of yourself? Whatever you choose to include in your morning routine, make time for your needs, check in with yourself, and accomplish something during that time.

Check out the Best Healthy Habits to Practice At Home  to help maximize that morning routine.