Ready for normal-ish life again?
The shops are open, so are the restaurants (outdoors anyway), summer is here and it feels like we can finally start to put these past 18 crazy, insane, intense, bizarre months behind us.
And I so happy normal life is finally returning – at least on some levels. I don't know about you, but I must admit I have struggled a little with the lack of structure and boundaries this working-from-home life has meant.
However, I am a firm believer in the whole 'start as you mean to go on' thing – and that how you start your morning really sets the tone for the rest of the day. So these past few months, I have tried to cultivate a morning routine that not only makes me feel more awake, but that also makes me feel happier and calmer, and ready to face whatever this day will throw at me (Zoom meetings, I am looking at you!)
Here is how I now try to start my day:
1. Set my alarm to go off 30 minutes before I need to get up
This is my 'me-time.'
By waking up before my kids, I have time to just get myself together before I have to deal with their demands and needs, and honestly, it is bliss. I have a 15-minute yoga flow on my Alo app that I do, before having a quick shower (I like to finish off my shower with a blast of ice-cold water – not that is a great way to feel more awake!) Then I tip-tow into the kitchen to make my hot lemon water and sit outside drinking it while making a little plan for the day.
At this stage, my children are often starting to wake up and will come join me in the kitchen, but by having had my gorgeous half-hour to 45 minutes to myself, I feel calm and ready to start the breakfast rush and get them ready for school.
2. Don't check my phone until after 9 am
This has been such a game-changer, both in terms of feeling calmer and more present in the morning, but also, by not wasting time scrolling, it gives me more time in the morning to get things done.
I now have more time not only to make breakfast, but also clean up after it, make the beds and do a general little tidy up before we head out the door for school. As well as this, I do think all that morning scrolling can often put our minds in a state of FOMO – which is not a very soothing or productive way to start our days.
3. Make a happy morning playlist
This is another thing I cannot believe I haven't done before. Music is such a powerful mood-booster, and now, we always start our morning with some chill, happy tunes courtesy of some of our favourite Spotify playlists.
The second I get out of the shower, I will switch on my little Bluetooth speaker, and listen to some happy tunes while we make breakfast, eat and get dressed. You can make your own playlists of your favourite songs, of course, or find lists that are already on Spotify – the point is just to find songs that energize you, destress you, or make you want to dance.
2. Don't check my phone until after 9 am
This has been such a game-changer, both in terms of feeling calmer and more present in the morning, but also, by not wasting time scrolling, it gives me more time in the morning to get things done.
I now have more time not only to make breakfast, but also clean up after it, make the beds and do a general little tidy up before we head out the door for school. As well as this, I do think all that morning scrolling can often put our minds in a state of FOMO – which is not a very soothing or productive way to start our days.
3. Make a happy morning playlist
This is another thing I cannot believe I haven't done before. Music is such a powerful mood-booster, and now, we always start our morning with some chill, happy tunes courtesy of some of our favourite Spotify playlists.
The second I get out of the shower, I will switch on my little Bluetooth speaker, and listen to some happy tunes while we make breakfast, eat and get dressed. You can make your own playlists of your favourite songs, of course, or find lists that are already on Spotify – the point is just to find songs that energize you, destress you, or make you want to dance.
