A morning routine is simply a series of habits you do every single morning. Habits can take a bit of hard work but after a while, they become like second nature, helping us feel stabilised and in control. So, once you've figured out what you value, what your goals are, and why you want to build a healthy morning routine in the first place, here are some habits you might start to incorporate into your mornings. Don't Hit Snooze When you're alarm goes off in the morning, skip the snooze. Make it easy for yourself by putting your alarm clock out of arm's reach or prepping a delicious brekkie that you're excited to eat. Or, try out a gentle alarm clock that won't wake you abruptly. Let the Sunshine In As soon as you're out of bed, open the blinds to let the sunshine in. Your circadian rhythm is deeply connected to the sun so exposing yourself to natural sunlight is key to helping you wake up and get ready to go on your routine. Make Your Bed Now, this could seem like a morning routine habit that couldn't possibly make a difference, but for many, it really does. By completing this small task, you set yourself up on an upward trajectory. Your living space is in order and that means you can move on to more pressing items on your to-do list. You're off to a good start this way and you'll get some momentum that should continue throughout your day. Try Breathing Exercises or Meditation The way we breathe is so important, yet many of us don't even notice our breathing patterns. By learning some breathing exercises or doing a meditation that focuses on your breathing, you'll likely experience less anxiety and better focus. Drink Water Hydration is key to every bodily function and most of us aren't drinking enough water in a day. So, to start your day right and set the tone for a hydrated day, drink a huge glass of water as soon as you wake up. Add some lemon to your water for an extra kick and set a full glass on your nightstand before you go to sleep so that you don't forget. Journaling and Mindfulness In the morning, it's common for many successful people to take a moment to journal and incorporate some mindfulness into their day. You might journal in a stream of consciousness mind dump or you might focus on what you're grateful for. Sitting with yourself to get clear on how you're feeling and what you're thinking is a great habit to implement in the morning. Stretch and Exercise Movement of any kind is a must when figuring out how to create a healthy morning routine. It gets the juices flowing, boost your mood and is essential to a healthy body. Walk your dog, do some yoga, head to the gym, or do some foam rolling. The way you stretch and exercise is up to you based on your body type, goals and everything in between. As long as you move, your day will be off to a better start. Create a “Getting Ready” Routine We have different ways to get ready in the morning. For some, it's simply choosing an outfit and doing a quick skincare routine. For others, you might have an entire hair and makeup ritual. Getting ready doesn't have to be complicated, especially if you choose to do it mindfully. That means not distracting yourself with podcasts or the news and instead, allowing yourself to be in the present moment to spend some quality time with yourself. Start with You For many, it's far easier to take care of others' needs before we take care of our own. We respond to emails from our boss before we've even brushed our teeth and make sure our kids are well fed while we continue to skip lunch. A healthy morning routine is one that carves out time for you. Wake up before the kids or your spouse and do what makes you happy. That might be reading romance novels or making sure you get your Pilates in. Do all the “me time” things you usually put on the backburner during your morning routine. Avoid Checking Your Phone It's tempting to check our phones first thing in the morning but avoid the temptation. Put your phone on aeroplane mode at night so that your notifications won't come through and do your best to wait at least 30 minutes before you connect with the outside world. You might be amazed at how much of a difference this simple shift can make as you start your day without the input of the news, social media or your email inbox. Fuel Your Body Starting your day with a nutritious breakfast is another great habit to add to your new morning routine. Breakfasts that are high in protein, healthy fats and complex carbs will help you feel fuller for longer and give you a long-lasting energy boost as you move through your day.