What does your ideal morning look like?
Here is what mine looks like…. I thought about it, created it, and now it’s my daily habit.Â
1. Wake up to a gentle soothing alarm, drink large cup of water, preferably lemon water. There is a feature in the iPhone alarm settings called bedtime, I use the birds chirping ring tone, it starts very quietly and slowly gets louder and louder, all the while making you feel like you slept in a cabin in the woods and real birds are chirping. It’s glorious, its my favourite way to wake up with an alarm. So soothing, I literally wake up smiling. I keep water beside my bed so when I hear this alarm, I roll over a gulp down a glass worth. Sometimes I’ve added lemon the night before.Â
2. Cuddle with my boyfriend for 15 minutes. When my boyfriend sleeps over or I sleep at his place, we always build in cuddle time. So if we need to be up at 6am that morning, we’ll set the birds chirping for 5:45am, roll over for cuddles, and then get up at our second alarm at 6am. Cuddling releases oxytocin, which is also known as the feel-good hormone. “It increases overall happiness,” says psychologist, physical therapist, and author of bestseller A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness Elizabeth Lombardo. Cuddling releases chemicals, like oxytocin, in the brain that create a sense of well-being and happiness. And if that’s not enough science in favour of cuddling, cuddling can also release endorphins, a pleasure chemical, which contributes to that great feeling. Okay? Morning cuddles people. It’s a game changer.Â
3. Walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes, 5 minute stretch & 5 minute mediation. This one is simple. I put my gym clothes on, do downstairs in my condo and walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes. that’s it, no specific speed or incline. Sometimes I do it in silence, with classical music or upbeat music or ever a podcast. It’s also a nice wake-me-up, you get off feeling great! It’s not about the calories burned or any specific fitness goal, its just about getting your body moving and your brain functioning. Then I stretch it out for 5 and sit and meditate for 5. New to mediation? Try the Calm app. The guided meditations are great for those days your mind is full. The whole shabang takes me 31 minutes… including 30 seconds to get to the treadmill and 30 second back up to my condo. Â
4. Shower & Primp while sipping morning coffee. My morning showers are about 5 minutes, just about getting clean and feeling refreshed, I do all my timely girly shower things in my evening showers. The primp portion of this is whatever you feel like, body lotion, hair, makeup, etc. I keep it simple personally, but to each their own.Â
5. Get dressed, give myself a pep talk & gratitude. I always dress in something I feel empowered and cute in, everyday. Period. At one point my clothes didn’t make me feel that way, so I get new ones. Style changes, looks change, taste changes, make sure your wardrobe changes with it. For me, my “Courtney Classics” include high-waisted midi-length pencil shirt and blouse or a dress with a similar silhouette, paired with a flow trench and classic medium height heels. For a friend of mine, she feels her best most authentic self in jeans and a cute top. To each their own, there is no right or wrong answer, just what you feel confident and yourself in. The last step is the best part, look at yourself in the mirror, tell yourself how much you love yourself, celebrate what you’re good at and think of 3 things to be grateful for. This makes me feel all smiley and happy and ready to rock my day!Â
Yours Truly,Â
Courtney SchranzÂ
