Morning Routine Ideas

"a usual order and way of doing something"

Routine, is a word so ingrained in our psychological functioning since childhood, that knowingly or unknowingly we have always followed. We were first taught about this word as a kid by our parents to teach to start or break a habit and turn it into a routine. In layman terms, waking up, going washroom, brushing your teeth, taking shower, having breakfast followed by gym, or leaving for work, it's a set routine. Even for professionals, such as an athlete, waking up at a set time to follow a particular set of exercises in the gym or as a computer engineer, waking up, and then trying to find a bug that's stopping from executing a million-dollar idea, it's all a part of the routine. In all these, one thing stands out, a set morning routine. While cities like Macau, Las Vegas, and Shanghai might wake up more at night than morning, even for them, the morning routine makes it possible to make that night happen.

So, the question is, What is a "Perfect Morning Routine"? Simple answer, there's none. A much more complicated answer is, that everyone needs to figure out one. These few tips that I have observed, followed, and included in my lifestyle might help you to sort things out.

1. Wake Up Time

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me to wake up early in the morning, and by someone I mean my parents, I would have earned $9,056, because that's how old I am at the time of writing, just a couple of months away from my 25th. Now, I am not a kind of rebel who wakes up in the afternoon or such, just as opposed to my parents waking up at 6, I wake up at around 8 in summers and 9 in winters, while during college/corporate life, 2 hours before leaving from home.

Before answering the question of "WHY"? let me answer, how much first. If you're a teenager, i.e., between the age of 13 to 18, anywhere between 8 to 10 hours is necessary, anything less than that will make you sleep deprived affecting your health, growth, and future. For an adult, i.e., 19 and above. a minimum of 7 hours is necessary, more if your lifestyle or profession demands you. If you've trouble sleeping or have insomnia, consult a doctor, avoid coffee or anything caffeinated after 6 PM, warm milk 2 hours before sleep, cycle your day down 1 hour prior, keep away from any electronic device 45 minutes prior, read the book and use incense 30 minutes prior. Another proven method is to use Melatonin supplement, an enzyme that helps in better sleep, but just don't buy and consume, consult a doctor first.

Now, let's come to the why? Adequate and consistent sleep improves blood pressure, the immune system, basic brain functions, and mood, and gives your body time to repair itself. Waking up early makes going to bed early easier, and keeping consistent sleep and wake times regulates your circadian rhythm and leads to deeper sleep at night. People who have a consistent sleep schedule are less tired during the day. On the other hand, individuals who stay up late and wake up late are more likely to develop sleep disorders and be regularly fatigued, as written by certified sleep coach, Narwan Amini. A lot of factors do apply in finding the right sleep from a good mattress choice to a good pillow. From a good environment to finding the right ambiance.

2. 15 Minutes of Everyday

These 15 minutes make or break. Start it a night before, take some chia seeds in a bowl and let them soak in water overnight, get your outfit for the next day sorted out, and make a timetable for the next day. Wake up, take those chia seeds in a glass with lemon juice and honey, mix it all up in the water, drink, brush your teeth & shower. In the next 10 minutes, your bowel movement will be ready to be unloaded, and let loose. Always take Cold Shower, no matter what. While brushing your teeth means brushing, flossing, and mouth washing.

• Why Cold Shower you ask? Especially during winters. Research shows that cold showers can increase blood circulation, trigger neurological responses, and make people feel healthier. And the jolt will wake you up in the morning! Cold showers might boost the metabolism. So, if you're healthy and curious, give cold showers a try!

• Why good bowel movement? I don't know who needs to hear this but, Maintaining good colon health is easy, and important, because not only can it help you avoid preventable colon issues, but the things that are good for your colon are also good for your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, skin, hair, and overall well-being.

• Why brushing routine? It is essential to brush and floss your teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. Brushing and flossing not only stop the build-up of plaque, which is the primary cause of tooth decay, but it also reduces the chances of developing cavities and prevents gum disease. Mouth Wash to prevent any bacterial build-up, clean them thoroughly in places where brush & floss can't reach, and fresh breath that everyone will appreciate.

3. Exercise

In this category, I would say, everyone to their own, but having some type of exercise routine is essential for everyone. I opt for Gym with Weight Training & Cardiovascular exercise, you could also opt for Yoga, Running, Boxing, MMA, Cross-fit, HIIT, Sports, Calisthenic, etc., before starting your day. Testosterone and other muscle-building hormones are higher earlier during the day. Wake up with your hormones and you'll have a faster path to stronger muscles. Exercise is a natural caffeinator, which means you can cut back on the coffee. Morning workouts may prevent cravings. It also Boosts your energy throughout the day. Improve focus and cognition. Put you in a better mood. Lower your risk for diabetes.

4. The Outfit

While as I recommended earlier, get your outfit sorted out the night before for more efficiency. Keep two outfits sorted out, one for exercise and another one rest of the day. While for exercise opt for what sits your choice of exercise. You can choose anything from trusty pair of sweats to gym wear to a sports uniform. For rest of the day, it depends upon your lifestyle. Even if you're in a post-pandemic WFH scenario, wear an outfit that you'll wear to the office. If you're someone like me working in a freelance creative business, wear something comfortable like loungewear. I prefer a combination of oversized loose-fitted t-shirts paired with sweat pants or shorts & a lightweight jacket depending upon the weather.

5. Breakfast

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and it should be taken seriously. It's such a big part of every culture, every country and culture has its choice breakfast. The world-famous English Breakfast contains fried eggs, sausages, back bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread, and often a slice of white or black pudding. An American Breakfast contains Cornflakes or Grilled Sandwich Sunny Side Up or Pancakes & Waffles with a glass of juice or coffee. While a French breakfast consists of breakfast cereals, a tartine (slice of bread with topping), and a drink (tea, coffee, orange juice). An avg. Indian breakfast varies according to the state from Aloo Parantha with butter and Milk for North Indians to Vada Pav or Poha for Maharashtrians to Dhokla, Aam Raas, Thepla with Chaach for Gujratis to Dosa & Idli or Upmma for South Indians. While you can choose anything as long it has a balanced nutritional value. Breakfast foods are rich in key nutrients such as folate, calcium, iron, B vitamins, and fiber. Breakfast provides a lot of your day's total nutrient intake. People who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals than people who don't.

6. Time Management

Once you're completed with everything mentioned above, it's simple. Prepare everything, and leave. Leave earlier than usual keeping traffic & weather in mind, even with public transportation, if it faces some sort of unavoidable problem. If you're working at home, set your workstation accordingly.

While this routine might not suit everyone, having a routine is essential.