How to Design a morning/evening routine

The beginning and end of each day is a time which I choose to keep really sacred and special. It’s the first thing I wake up to in the morning, and the last things I do at night so I treasure that and ensure that I give value to those moments.

Click 'Read More' to find out about how to build a really lovely morning and evening routine that incorporates lots of healthy habits to begin and end your day!

Building a routine isn’t just a sudden change in behaviour. It’s a process of adding and layering habits together to create something which seems natural rather than stagnated.

I wanted to create a blog post which encourages you to incorporate as many healthy habits and activities into your mornings and evenings to begin and end your days with great progress towards your greater goals.

They say that the key to achieving your goals is to take action immediately and ensure that you’re making baby steps often.

Junk Free June has created a great platform to get yourself inspired to accomplish new goals or goals which you’ve had in the back of your mind for a long while.

I know that often I just need a period of time where I’m intensely inspired to accomplish a lot and I find that by the end of the month I’ve only maintained momentum on the goals which truly align with my values at the time. For example, I came into the month wanting to make sure I get out for a run 3 times a week. However, during the first few weeks, I’ve realised that running isn’t something my body loves to do as often as 3 times a week. However, getting out for a good run once or twice a week and focusing more on ensuring that I have a planned strengthening workout at least 3 times a week seems to work with my body better!

​These days, we are so bombarded with people telling us what to do, how to do it and what not to do. Whether that’s meditation, waking up at 4:30, or ensuring that you workout every morning. At the end of the day, you know you have created a routine which suits you well when your body feels uplifted, inspired and full of joy at both the beginning and end of the day.

If you don’t, in fact, have a routine yet, then there are great benefits in creating one. It gives you great structure and our bodies really enjoy being taken through a process.

The Evening Routine

We’re starting with the evenings because of these impact the running of our morning routines. At the end of the day, our evening routines are ultimately trying to ensure that we have our best night’s sleep. With this intention in mind, try to identify the key factors involved in getting a good night’s sleep.

These may include:
- visual: no screens, limiting the light in the room and reading, writing to-do lists for the next day or brain dumps to ensure you have everything unloaded from your head
- smell: using essential oils like lavender to relax you whether these are diffused in the house, or applied on the body, and moisturise your skin with your favourite scents
- touch: getting into comfy clothes, having a warm shower or bath
- taste: having a warm milky drink, ensuring that you eat dinner at least 2 hours prior to bedtime
- hearing: using relaxing music or meditation

If you identify with any of these ideas, then consider incorporating them! Working from the time you begin dinner to the moment you get into bed, begin getting your body prepared for sleep.

Once I’m home from University, I like to ensure that I get all of my work done which requires my devices. Recently, I’ve been trying to find hobbies and ways to relax that don’t involve the use of screens! Easier said than done once I take out Lively work and Netflix! Once all my work on my devices is completed in the early evening, I let my devices sit to the side and focus on family time.

Here’s a run through of my routine as an idea:
4-5pm finish all device-required work
5:00 pm read over university notes
5:30 pm plan and prepare for the day ahead (get clothing, bags packed and car packed)
6:00 pm dinner and prepare lunch for the next day
7:00 pm put devices away and on charge, then write tomorrow’s to-do list, skincare routine, do nails (if required), get into pyjamas
8 pm read in bed with a wheat bag
8:45 pm lights off, apply essential oils and moisturise, meditation using the insight timer while I focus on belly breathing
9:00 pm sleep

From practice, I know that during the day I also have to ensure that I exercise well and drink plenty of water to ensure that my body is hydrated and tired by the evening otherwise I’m always thirsty and restless at bedtime!

Your routine may look absolutely nothing like mine however the important factor is that it works for you and your body and encourages good, consistent sleep.

The Morning Routine:

The intention of our morning routine is to wake us up, get us inspired and motivated for the day ahead. So ask yourself, what gets you up and inspired in the morning?

• exercise: stretching, walking, running or working out
• a cold shower
• getting yourself inspired by reviewing your goals
• drinking a glass of warm water with ACV and lemon juice
• having a warming breakfast
• letting the sunlight into the house
  
• morning meditation to set an intention for the day ahead
• reviewing your to-do list

I use a sleep cycle app to encourage me to wake during a good stage in my sleep cycle. There are lots of apps like this on the market and I think they make a real difference! Whether you’re someone who likes to wake up slowly with a cup of warm water or someone who wants to head straight out of bed for a run and a cold shower, design your routine to suit your body.

I like to use a multi-sensory approach to my morning. This means inviting stimulation to all senses including smell, sight, and hearing to remind my body that we’re waking up and getting moving,

Here’s my morning routine for inspiration:
6-6:30 am wake up
I pop on some low-lights and head to the kitchen to refill my water bottle, heat a wheat bag and grab a cup of warm water with ACV and lemon juice. I then hop back into bed and review my day ahead and ensure that throughout the day I’m making progress towards achieving each of my goals.
7:00 am get dressed in workout clothes and do some sort of exercise (workout, run, stretch)
7:30 am get ready for the day
8:00 am breakfast and family time
8:30 am begin day or head to uni

My routine has gradually evolved into a time where I’m able to quietly wake up without feeling tired or groggy and work in bed (which I love). Getting exercise in is a great way for me to really get motivated and ready to start a busy day and it motivates me to have a cold shower afterward which is not only refreshing but good for the skin and hair. Having breakfast with the family is really important, as we hate the feeling of hardly seeing each other or only passing each other in the hallways! This gives us the opportunity to catch up and share our plans for the day.

To review, designing your morning and evening routines is all about identifying the habits which fulfil your needs best at the beginning and end of each day. Gradually layer these habits in an order which seems best and try to stick to this routine for at least a week before making changes. If you have to bring your bedtime/wake up times forward or later, go this gradually throughout the week to give your body the best chance to transition.

Share the favourite part of your morning routine below!

From our home to yours,