Outfit Details: Endless Rose Red Romper (wearing an XS)
I’ll admit I’m not a morning person. Even though I had to get up at 4AM most days for nearly a decade while I worked on Wall Street, I still wouldn’t consider myself a morning person. I just dread my morning alarm. That said, over the years I’ve learned some subtle adjustments that have made my morning routine healthier and something I actually look forward to. Starting my day off on the right note makes a huge impact on my whole day. Especially as I get older, I really value a consistent routine that makes me feel good too. Here are my secrets for a healthier morning.
1. Get Up Early & Don’t Hit Snooze
As much as I love the idea of sleeping in, those early morning hours are always some of my most productive so I’ve learned to really value them. I was never one to hit the snooze button until I met Phil, and I’ve got be honest, I still hate using the snooze button. Once I’m up, I stay up because otherwise I don’t fall asleep until minutes before that final alarm goes off and then I find myself even more tired than when I first woke up.
2. Moisturize & Use Sunblock
I know to a lot of people this is probably an obvious step in your morning routine, but for me, I didn’t really understand the importance of moisturizing and using sunblock until my mid-to-late twenties – when I started to see the effects of not doing so. Finding a great moisturizer is the most important skincare step, in my opinion. A lot of people think the pricier a moisturizer is, the better it is, but after years of experimenting, I definitely don’t think that’s the case. While I try a lot of moisturizers, the one I always come back to (and run to the store for) is Olay Regenerist. I’ve been using the Regenerist line for years – in fact, since the year it came out. Olay recently launched the Whip version- which is still the same amazing product, but with a lighter finish. The new Olay Regenerist Whip now has SPF 25 in it too which is a game-changer for me because I hate the weight of having to add an SPF on top of my daily moisturizer especially when it’s super humid out and I can feel every layer of product on my skin. You can get your own free sample of Olay Whips here!
3. Let The Sun In
Getting up earlier is a lot easier if the sun is shining in! I always look forward to the warmer months when the sun rises earlier and I wake up to a room full of sunshine. The first thing I do every morning is pull the shade in our bedroom to let the natural light in. It’s a peaceful and relaxing way to wake up for me – and the dogs bark if they can’t look outside right away! I also love stepping outside in the morning to get a breath of fresh air – which always helps me wake up.
4. Eat A Light & Healthy Breakfast
I know some people are not breakfast people, but for me, it’s always been the most important meal of my day. I don’t like to go to bed super full so I do wake up hungry. I have a major sweet tooth and I love all the sugary breakfast foods, but I always try to have smaller portions of them (if I do eat them) and I always have a side of fruit or yogurt to balance it out.
5. Start The Day With Gratefulness
I try to start every day feeling grateful for the day ahead. I feel so lucky to be doing a job that I love and if I’m feeling particularly ungrateful on any morning, I remind myself of a period of my life when I was really unhappy with my job which translated into me being unhappy in my life. No matter how bad a day I’m having, nothing quite compares to that period of my life. If you are going through a period like that, I encourage you to find gratefulness in even the smallest things – the fact that you’re alive, healthy, surrounded by loved ones, etc. One of my favorite quotes by Tony Robbins is, “The antidote to fear is gratitude. The antidote to anger is gratitude. You can’t feel fear or anger while feeling gratitude at the same time.” You really can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time.
6. Figure Out How Much Sleep You Need
I definitely have those “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” kind of mornings, but it’s always when I didn’t get enough sleep. To combat those types of days, I’ve tried and tested out different amounts of sleep to determine what’s best for my body. I do think the amount of sleep you need changes with age, so every few years I re-evaluate. My optimal amount is 7 hours – less than that and I feel crabby and tired and more than that and I feel groggy.
7. Do Morning Stretches
Being on my computer or phone what feels like 24/7 has definitely led to some back and neck issues. My chiropractor years ago gave me a number of stretches to do each morning to help gain muscle and reduce tension. I don’t spend too much time on it, but even a few key stretches for my neck, shoulders and back help me start my day without so much tension and pain. The easiest stretch that I feel makes a big difference is to stand in a doorway, lower your arms (or put them over your head) and grab the wall of the doorway while gently pulling forward. It really helps open up your shoulders – especially if you’re used to being on a computer all day.
xo, Maria
Outfit Details
Endless Rose Red Romper (wearing an XS)
This post is sponsored by Olay. All opinions are my own.
Comments
