This post is all about how to optimise your sleep and beauty at the same time <3 I hope everyone can use at least one tip today and apply it to their sleep routine.
Have a sleep schedule
it is ideal for us to sleep at the same time, and wake up at the same time everyday. This is so our bodies are producing what we need at given times, and healing us of any injuries without interruption + strengthening our circadian rhythm(regulates our alertness and sleepiness)
Create a good sleep environment
Before you go to sleep, make your room clean and wipe off any excess dust, a cluttered room makes for a cluttered mind. Turn off all lights and close curtains. Having a good sleep environment allows our body to shut down more easily.
Avoid caffeinated drinks and high sugar drinks before bed
Caffeinated drinks should not be consumed 4-6 hours before bedtime possible, which does include soft drinks. It keeps you alert, which causes trouble for your sleep. Sugary drinks before bed reduces the quality of your sleep.
Have time to wind down befor bed
Don’t do any high focus activity, or high intensity exercise before bed. Our body and minds need time to release the stresses and excess energy from the day. Reading, mindfulness, disconnecting from social media, journaling are some things we can do.
Avoid doing high focus activities, exercising and eating in your bed
Your brain should only associate your bed with sleeping or relaxing, or else it makes it harder for you to go to sleep easily.
Minimise naps during the day
This can contribute to any sleep complications, if you really do need to nap, keep it under an hour.
Sleep on your back
Sleeping on your side or stomach can cause asymmetry in your face. Plus, allowing your face to touch your pillowcase can cause acne because of bacteria.
Use a sleeping mask
Blocks out most of your sight, minimising the distractions in your sleep. Make sure it’s a comfortable one which you wash regularly, or it can cause acne.
Sleep using a silk pillowcase
Pure silk can be very beneficial for your skin and hair but also minimises the skin pulling on our faces.
Wash your face before snoozing
The excess residue and dirt on our face transfers to our pillowcase, which we use the next day and causes acne. + an unwashed face can lead to breakouts.
Sleep with a humidifier
For my dry skin girlies, a humidifier allows for your skin to stay moisturised during your sleep, to wake up to bright, glowing skin. This is really recommended, as we are getting into winter.
Brush your teeth before bed
This can help remove any prior food particles, protect from any bacteria and regularly doing this limits the ability for plaque to build up + bad breath is minimised in the morning
Use an overnight moisturiser
For my dry skin girlies, again, using a good overnight moisturiser can help keep your skin glowing throughout the night.
wearing a bonnet
Reduces having tangled, messy hair in the morning and protects your hair from too much friction. Silk/satin ones are recommended.
Don’t fall into the perfectionist trap! The best thing you can do for yourself is the first something.
you don't need to spend hours crafting a perfect diet with balanced macros - just have a fruit or veg with your meal
you don't need to get the newest water bottle - drink a glass of water right now
you don't need to have an elaborate skincare routine with expensive products - wash your face and put on some spf before going out today
you don't need the big life-changing day 1 - just do something right now, I promise you will feel better
The sign on your 5th House cusp and/or planet(s) in your 5th shows how you shine. Bright like a diamond! It's the key to finding not only your talent but your star power, your It Factor. If you were a celebrity, it would be what people praise you the most for. But, everyone gets the most hype for their 5th House energies. So, be your own talent agent and take advantage of them!
Life hack for creatives and performers out there: your 5th House shows you "your lane" as an artist. Not your 10th House. It's the direction you should go in creatively if you feel like you're struggling to successfully carve out your niche or attract recognition. You will gain the biggest following by emphasizing it.
SUN IN THE 5TH and/or LEO ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Lucky you! You seemingly just have to be you to gain an adoring following. People love how authentic you are, how you're not trying to be anyone other than you. This is "movie star" type energy. The kind of performer who is constantly "playing themselves" but is so charming and magnetic that nobody minds. You have Stage Presence. You could just stand around, doing nothing, and people want to watch. So, remember that you never have to try hard. You're just naturally entertaining and charismatic. Don't be afraid to play the role of the star, either! Admit it. You enjoy the attention. And others enjoy giving it to you! Your confidence plays a big role in this (whether it's natural or you're faking it til you're making it), creating this golden aura of greatness around you. You could turn the grocery store into a Red Carpet event just by walking in.
MOON IN THE 5TH and/or CANCER ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
No matter your age, you remain the girl or boy next door. Your star quality is cute, comforting, safe. Wholesome vibes. This is the actor who does a dozen rom-coms or tearjerkers that are like a fuzzy blanket on a rainy day. You gain the most applause via your vulnerability. In spite of what you may fear, shedding a few tears or having a cathartic meltdown only earns you admiration, not ridicule. Sensitivity allows you to shine! You might have a very charismatic mother figure that you clearly get your greatness from. Or, if/when you have children, they could look up to you as the brightest light in their life. Your whole immediate family may be very talented or entertaining and you're most in your element when around them.
MERCURY IN THE 5TH and/or GEMINI ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Hello, Jack/Jill of all Trades! People will be enthralled by just how multi-talented you are. Double/triple/quadruple threats! It may even exhaust others a bit and even if you're not exactly mastering all those interests, you still make it fascinating to watch. But, let's be clear: writing is your bread and butter, whether it's screenwriting, prose, poetry, or blogging. You are a top-tier storyteller, even in person, and will probably gain the most attention for your writing. Your star quality stems from that witty, smart, cheeky, clever voice you have. When you have something to say, people listen! And it usually takes them in an unpredictable direction. Your duality is also the key to your charisma, as you are an entertaining bundle of opposites that others can't truly figure out.
VENUS IN THE 5TH and/or TAURUS/LIBRA ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Okay, let's be honest. Your attractiveness keeps people in the palm of your hand. Most of your audience is so entertained by you because they think you're such a babe. Also, that you're just such a sweetheart! This would be the kind of actor whose characters you always root for because they're so damn likable. But, before you see your star power as superficial (as you may sometimes complain about not being taken seriously enough), you have some serious artistic prowess. It's largely visual. You'd make a fabulous director, painter or photographer because your aesthetic and eye for beauty leaves others wanting more. (You might even just be the best at curating your social media) PS: You are either the ultimate muse, constantly inspiring others' art or other notable efforts, or you tap into your light by making a special someone your muse.
MARS IN THE 5TH and/or ARIES ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Do you hear that? It's the sound of your fans salivating over you! Your star power makes you hot as a summer day and it's not necessarily about how you look. You just have this sexual charisma to you. It's giving sexy rock star, with all the panties or boxer-briefs thrown on stage to prove it. So, if you were to be a performer, that would be your lane. Or possibly a rapper (depending on your skills/interests, obviously). Anything that lets you be wild, raw, hard-hitting. Regardless of your talents, you shine brightly when being daring and living on the edge. This also makes for extreme-sports enthusiasts and excellent athletes, the latter of which can lead to a killer bod. Which will definitely gain you much attention. Tbh, there are some himbo/bimbo vibes here but in the most empowered way. Like, "yes, I will wear little to no clothes because I know people love it and it's my power move."
JUPITER IN THE 5TH and/or SAGITTARIUS ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Listen, you're not just talented. You have serious Chosen One energy. Whatever you are good at, it's blatantly obvious that you were put on Earth to do it. You live out your path like a God-given mission and it leaves people kind of in awe. If you're an artist (and there's a good 83.5 percent chance you are, with this placement), you are capable of either becoming a larger-than-life force in your creative field or gain a passionate cult following that is convinced you're terribly underrated (even though you're quite popular) and no one gets your work like they do. In the midst of it all, your sense of fun and humor remain, never taking yourself too seriously. You shine bright by being funny, colorful, a little bit extra and uncensored. Blunt, on-the-edge statements that others would be crucified for are mostly seen as entertaining and refreshing coming from you.
SATURN IN THE 5TH and/or CAPRICORN ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
This is definitely the girlboss position, even for the boys with this placement, lol, because you know how to be in-charge in a way that others find exciting and engaging. Like, "Yes, I want to get that bread, too!" But, few people can actually match your work ethic or authority, which could stem from a father figure who you worship and adore and make you a very commanding figure. It's funny but the more intimidating you are, the more you shine. Or should I say the brighter you shine, the more that light intimidates others? Most of you with this placement embrace it, seeing the perks of being feared. Popular people often are! You might not get the credit for your actual talent that you deserve, especially if you're an artist. People may think your greatness is a matter of image or focus more on how you hustled to the top. It may not be until you're a bit older that people start seeing your actual substance.
URANUS IN THE 5TH and/or AQUARIUS ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
You are most charismatic or entertaining when you're not trying to be. The nerdy, weird, or chaotic parts of yourself that you may cringe at or think nothing of are actually what gain you the most praise. You might be like that celebrity who acts like they're not famous or doesn't understand why they are. But, as time goes on, you learn to just go with it! Similar to Jupiter/Sagittarius in the 5th, your creative talents can be truly iconic. But, there's like an "artistic genius" or "young prodigy" vibe here. You might completely stumble into a skill and shock everyone, especially yourself, with what a natural you are. You also shine by defying certain gender roles, impressing others as a sensitive or beauty-loving guy or a tomboyish or aggressive lady.
NEPTUNE IN THE 5TH and/or PISCES ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Your star power stems from the entire worlds and dimensions you can create. Obviously, this is a particularly artsy, imaginative placement. But, a role as a fantasy/sci-fi writer, especially, could lead to lots of praise. Few would excel at intricate world-building or provide glorious escapism like you. Whatever you do creatively, your special magic shines through. A chameleon type presence is also evident, like the type of actor who can easily "disappear" into roles. Even in regular life, people are most entertained by your disappearing acts. You might be very quiet and internal, even in a room full of people, intriguingly fading into the background. Or you could just be evasive, like a spirit that quickly vanishes and whose absence haunts you. Regardless, it's your softness, your mystery, your fantasy life that enthralls people. Bonus points if you have a particular alter ego you constantly assume.
PLUTO IN THE 5TH and/or SCORPIO ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
You entertain folks best when your highs and lows are on full display. People want to see the drama with you, the "sturm und drang", the tears and the ecstasy. A creative outlet is actually quite recommended for most of you with this influence. Those emotional extremes you're capable of draw your audience in the most, whether it's through introspective poetry or soul-baring music or the kind of raw character work that is worthy of Best Actor or Actress. The deeper you go, the more you shine. And while that may be scary, you embrace that fear and enjoy conquering it. But, there are limits to this intimacy, as you can be equally guarded in a way that ironically gains you more fans. It's that "leave them wanting more" star quality, a kind of Greta Garbo mystique. Even when you tell people you want to be alone, it doesn't stop them from trying harder to get into your business. The dilemma of such a private star!
CHIRON IN THE 5TH and/or VIRGO ON THE 5TH HOUSE CUSP
Feeling particularly neurotic? Like you're not good enough and like you have no clue how to do what you're supposedly talented at? This is the struggle of many creatives. But, for you, this insecurity is actually the essence of your star quality. You are the underdog that everyone roots for. Your fans might find it especially endearing or rather heartbreaking that you don't see your greatness. But, it creates this narrative around you where others want to invest in your endless journey to prove yourself. One secret you may keep, even from yourself, is that a part of you knows you're good. But, you're afraid to admit it because you think it'll jinx you. Or you think you have to squash any potential ego and remain impeccably humble. Allow yourself the occasional private "I'm feeling myself" moment. No one else will know!
Thank you for attending my Hype Session. Keep shining, babes.
I like this!!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
Girls, repeat after me:
If my energy doesn't arouse you, I'm not right for you.
If my soul does not inspire you, the bond between us is not strong enough.
There's no point in chatting with me if my mind doesn't make you think deeply.
If my passion doesn't move you then it would be good to change direction.
If my presence doesn't help you grow, my absence certainly will.
If my love doesn't open your heart, don't worry, another love will. Go and find the person who makes your being tremble, don't even stop to look back.
The soul finds what is good for itself through its feelings. ✨
add some fruit and or veggies to your dinner
do your skin care routine when you wake up and before bed
write in your journal, meditate or do yoga for 30mins
spend time off of social media / put your phone away and do irl activities
drink more water
rest – take a 30min-hour nap to calm your mind and body
have irl interactions with a friend, laughter is medicine
spend time in nature – go for a walk, feel the warmth of the sun
make your space tidy – clean your room, make your bed, wash and put away your clothes. these things are important and you’ll feel better when your comfort place is neat
take a bubble bath – you can romanticize your bath time by lighting candles, bringing a book, laying crystals around the tub, using bath bombs etc .. doing these special things for yourself is important
take time out to dance! putting on your favorite songs and moving your body is therapeutic, it’s also a fun way to exercise. grab a hair brush, be the main character and have fun!
∿ it’s the little things, the small adjustments that can make life way better, healthier and fun. improving your mental health and physical health is so important and doesn’t have to be difficult. i hope these tips can help you and if you have any questions or need advice on anything feel free to write me, i’d love to hear what’s on your mind.
sending love and positive energy , please accept ‹𝟹
Setting and accomplishing goals is an important aspect of personal and professional development. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of success:
SET SMART GOALS : Use the acronym SMART to set your goals
S: specific: set real numbers with real deadlines.
M: measurable: make sure your goal is trackable
A: attainable: work towards a goal that is challenging, but possible.
R: realistic: be openly honest with yourself.
T: time bound: give yourself a deadline
DEFINE YOUR GOALS: Start by clearly defining what you want to achieve.
BREAK IT DOWN: Break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. This will make them less overwhelming and easier to tackle.
CREATE A PLAN: Develop a detailed plan of action for each goal. Identify the steps you need to take and set deadlines for each task.
STAY FOCUSED: Avoid distractions and stay focused on your goals. Prioritize your tasks and allocate time each day to work towards them.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Monitor your progress regularly. Keep a record of your achievements and make adjustments to your plan if necessary.
STAY MOTIVATED: Find ways to stay motivated throughout your journey. Celebrate your accomplishments, seek support from others, and remind yourself of the reasons why you set these goals.
LEARN FROM SETBACKS: Setbacks and obstacles are a natural part of goal-setting. Instead of getting discouraged, view them as learning opportunities. Identify what went wrong and adjust your approach accordingly.
Remember, setting and accomplishing goals is a journey. Be patient with yourself, stay committed, and celebrate your achievements along the way!
🎀 Workout Youtubers
I currently do exclusively pilates and yoga workouts from youtube. However, I've done other body weight workouts with various youtube videos and seen results in the past. Here is my list of workout youtubers that you could check out! I will put a * next to my personal favorites! I will include a short list of my current at home workout equipment at the end as well as some items I plan on buying soon!
With any workout program or routine, always be safe, check with your doctor if necessary, and if something doesn't feel good or right, don't do it! No matter what your goals are, it's always important to be safe and stay healthy. Please always take care of yourselves and know how beautiful, worthy and valuable you are no matter what! I love you all <333
🩷 Pilates
Move with Nicole * (also posts occasionally barre and yoga videos as well! I love her videos so so much)
Madeleine Abeid
IsaWelly
Pilatesbodyraven
Lidia Mera
Lottie Murphy
Amanda Blauer
Margaret Elizabeth
Jessica Valant Pilates
Bailey Brown
Dansique Fitness
Flow with Mira
Sivi (she's began posting some pilates inspired workouts and to my knowledge is currently getting certified as an instructor)
🩷 Yoga
Yoga with Adriene *
Yoga with Bird
Boho Beuatiful Yoga
🩷 Bodyweight Fitness/Strength/HIIT
Chloe Ting * (I don't like the click bait, but I like the workouts)
Blogilates
Pamela Reif *
Madfit *
Lilly Sabri * (Some of her videos are titled with pilates, but the older ones I used to do were not pilates, so I categorized her here)
Emi Wong
Shirlyn Kim
Vivian Yuan
April Han
growingannanas
growwithjo * (I love her walking workouts)
Hinafit
Mish Choi
Sami Clarke
Elenifit
Coach Kel (she posts what looks like more barre, ballet, pilates inspored/fusion workouts it seems)
Caroline Girvan
TRAIN WITH GAINSBYBRAINS
Daisy Keech
🎀 Current At Home Workout Equipment I Own
Thick Yoga Mat - since I do mainly yoga and pilates my thick yoga may (amazon brand) has served me well. Even tho I am a heavier woman at the moment, I've never had pain or any issues with this mat, and it came with a carry strap which I love! A good, thick workout mat is definitely necessary for working out at home for comfort, safety, etc. Make sure to disinfect it on occasion, especially if you sweat on it a lot!
Resistance Bands - I have about 3 or 4 at different resistance strengths, and they're incredibly useful for a variety of movements, especially lower body ones. They add some extra resistance and make the workouts a bit more challenging when you need something more advanced. I also got mine from Amazon/Walmart a while back. I prefer fabric over rubber because I like to wear workout shorts instead of workout leggings.
Pilates Ball - not a necessity, but useful with some pilates workouts and movements. I have seen sole videos using this, but am not advanced enough to try it on my own yet. Will use for sure once I'm more advanced.
3lb dumbbells - I thought these would be useful for the pilates workouts that had some upper body focus, and as someone who wants to develop a lean and toned upper body, they are perfect for low weight high rep, controlled movements. Again, not advanced enough to use as I want to master my form, but they're gonna come in handy for sure!
Foam Roller - so so good for stretching and muscle recovery on rest days. I love mine but want one that has the bump things on it to help my muscles more. I can imagine how good it'll feel on my legs during a recovery day when I begin wieght lifting again.
Massage Gun - my holy grail for the days I am sore and needing some recovery. my body feels like jelly after using this, and it's just so nice for the days my muscles feel extra tight and super sore.
🎀 Equipment I Want To Buy
Yoga Blocks - these will help me get deeper into the yoga poses once I get more advanced in my practice
Pilates Ring - this honestly looks so fun and challenging to use, I'd love to add it to my collection of useful workout equipment!
Jump Rope - I used to love this as a form of cardio and as long as I don't move into an upstairs apartment, I'm definitely buying one
Pilates Bar - still iffy on this one, it's supposed to mimic a reformer but I want to get better at mat pilates and see if I even end up ever needing or seriously wanting to buy it, its on my list tho
Ankle/Wrist weights - these are gonna be so useful for workouts where hand held dumbbells aren't useful. Want to buy some low weight ones just to help with resistance and extra strength during pilates workouts
Kettlebell weight - I think this would be useful for a workout at home type situation if and when I switch to not doing just pilates and yoga. I know these are useful in their own right, but not needed in my current fitness stage of life.
Core Sliders - these look fun and interesting. They're on my lost for sure, but not sure about the practicality of their use in my life just yet.
That's all that's currently on my at home workout equipment list! As someone who primarily works out at home, the things I currently own are most useful and most of what's on this list is for fun or extra challenge. Just not necessary yet.
hope you enjoyed this list! if you have any questions about my favorite youtuber workout instructors or favorite videos, please feel free to ask, I've tried so many and can give some guidance from my own experience and research.
til next time lovelies 🩷
reprogram your mind in 4 days ♡
Full credit to the original creator, I’m simply summarising the video here (it’s originally for shifting but can be used for manifestation and the void too imo)
Day one: make a list of beliefs and non beliefs
These lists of beliefs and non beliefs can be anything, from personal beliefs to religious beliefs to universal facts.
An example of a list of beliefs: the sky is blue, grass is green, I am a master shifter, my hair is black, my eyes are blue, I am a master manifester, the sun is hot, we live on earth, I have mastered the void state, water is wet, my favourite subject is maths
An example of a list of non beliefs: my hair isn’t blonde, my eyes aren’t green, I never have fear of shifting, we don’t live on Venus, grass isn’t purple, I never fail to manifest anything, the earth isn’t flat, my hair isn’t straight, it never takes more than 1 minute for me to tap into the void, the sky isn’t white, the sun isn’t cold
Read over the lists as many times as you want and manifest that they are true.
Day two: do a bunch of things that will get you in the mood
It’s like a birthday party. With each day passing, the day of the birthday party comes closer and closer. You do all the things you usually do every day as you anticipate the birthday party nearing. Like, you brush your teeth and think about what outfit you’ll wear. You have lunch and think about what gift you’ll give. You do your homework and wonder about who else will come.
Be grateful while thinking about your journey. You’re so glad you found out about LOA. You’re so happy that you will finally shift to your dream reality soon. You’re so excited to tap into the void and get all your desires.
Throughout this day, repeat to yourself that you can and will do it. You can manifest easily. You can shift. You can tap into the void.
In short, just hype yourself up and feel grateful and excited for whatever you want to do.
Day three: confirm your belief and make sure no one can gaslight you into believing otherwise
Watch and read reliable sources of people who have shifted, manifested or tapped into the void and feed your beliefs.
It’s like you watching get ready with mes before going to the birthday party to kind of get the feel of what’s coming for you.
So day one, you’ve established your beliefs. Day two, you’ve felt how happy and grateful you are. Day three, you’ve felt how happy and grateful other people are.
Day four: this is the day you achieve what you want to
Today is the birthday party! You can’t show up late, you can’t go a week later or a day later. You have to go today.
Relate everything to manifesting/shifting/the void. You’re drinking a glass of water, it’s bringing you closer to your desire. You’re watching a show, it’s bringing you closer to your desire. You’re going on a walk, it’s bringing you closer to your desire.
You’re getting ready and excited and hyped for the birthday party. Go edit your Pinterest boards, go read your scripts, go look at edits of your DR.
The time has finally come for you go to the party. Have fun!
i have come up with a kind of challenge to become our best version before the end of the year.
with this habit we are going to implement healthier habits in our lives and abandon those that are not benefiting us, also get to know ourselves better and manifest our desires or goals for the next year.
the challenge has a duration of 21 days but obviously after that we have to continue with this healthy lifestyle that we have created.
drink two liters of water a day (recommended for physical and mental health).
movement (training at home, at the gym, going for a walk, running, yoga, pilates, any activity that allows you to exercise your body)
commit yourself to one habit during these 21 days, for example journaling.
choose a meditation on something you want to improve in your life, it can be self-love, relationships, economic abundance, health and do it daily (i recommend before going to sleep) during all the days of the challenge.
also choose a video of affirmations, a subliminal, mantra that has to do with the meditation you chose and listen to it at least once a day and if you can more, whenever you feel like it.
print, make or buy a calendar to keep track of this challenge and mark the days you met, if you miss one, start again, propose it.
go to bed an hour earlier than you usually go to bed and get up half an hour earlier than you usually get up.
screen time, stop being so much connected to social media and do something outside or even at home but you don't have to use your phone.
in any social media, stop following 10 accounts that you think are "hurting" you and in turn follow 5 new ones that you think will help you in your personal growth and development or at least inspire you something positive, the time you are going to use social media at least see things that nourish you.
stop worrying, when a problem or difficulty of any kind comes up, write in a journal how you feel, do a meditation or anything else that keeps you focused on something other than the problem, if necessary you can feel the anger or sadness, but don't get stuck in those thoughts.
instead of spending time watching tv or any streaming platform, read a book or listen to a spiritual/personal growth podcast.
during these days you can write in your diary these kinds of things:
how you would like your year 2024 to be.
all your goals for the next year.
how you would like your best version of yourself to be from now on.
an extraordinary event that you would like to happen before the end of this year.
a letter of forgiveness to someone who hurt you (it can be yourself too).
a list of 10 things you would do or would like to happen to you if you believe that everything is possible for you.
list of books you want to read from now and this 2024
a mantra or affirmation that you will write daily every morning for the next 21 days. write one that comes to mind or one that resonates with you.
organize your day to implement the habits i mentioned at the beginning such as exercise, journaling, drinking the two liters of water, doing the meditation you chose, listening to the affirmations you chose.
if one day you don't do any of these things, propose to start again from day 1.
you don't have to exercise daily either, if you are just starting out it can be 3 or 4 days but for example the other days go for a walk or do a stretching routine.
what i have proposed are small habits that can be done daily and complement the routine you have right now, you can do it and after those 21 days you will see a significant change in your life.
this challenge is just a kind of game to make it more fun and have more motivation to implement these habits in your day and start doing it now and not when the year begins. that your best version does not wait any longer to come to light.
and i hope you tell me how it went 🤍
Why is your morning routine so important?
I used to be that girl who woke up to the sound of a blaring alarm seconds before school started. Got up grabbed myself a bowl of fruit loops or a bagel and left for school. Of course, I was younger back then. It didn't affect me much until I got older. Firstly, your body is hypersensitive to everything in the morning. Your brain is being activated after a long night's rest, it's hyper-aware of its surroundings. Your cortisol is at its peak in the first few hours of waking up. When you make your body wake up to the sound of a stressful alarm, and rush yourself out the door, especially with bad nutrition, it sets your day up for stress and less productivity or motivation. You may not notice it, but your body definitely does. If your body is in a chronic state of stress or even In the mornings, it can lead to a multitude of side effects such as anxiety, digestion problems, weight gain, fatigue, high blood pressure, and the list goes on. Some of us like me won't even notice how stressed out our bodies are until we change it. So don't think because you don't notice it much doesn't mean it's not there, you're just used to it. So, my solution? Here is (in short) what I did to help make my morning routines a lot more relaxing to set me up for a successful day.
1: Wake up much earlier before you leave the house, I wake up around 6:30-7 most days. Make sure you sleep early the night before because sleep is so important!!!
Tip: Stay off your phone an hour after waking up to reduce any excess stress
2: Changed my alarm to birds to make it more of a natural wake-up. I know you might think this won't do anything, but the one apple makes for the sleep setting is super loud!
3: Do a morning meditation. This can be affirmations, guided, or even just music.
4. Work out or stretch. It can even be 5 mins, just wake up your body.
5. Get some vitamin D. Getting some real sunlight on your face without sunglasses helps our body naturally align with our circadian rhythm and can help wake you up and also get a good sleep when its dark out.
6. Eat a healthy breakfast. For me, I love something with high proteins and a balance of fats and carbs.
7. Have a ritual drink. This can be an herbal tea or just some regular coffee. Having a warm drink every morning helps me relax.
8. Journalling. Journalling helps me find my thoughts for the day or plan it out, it's a game changer when I do.
Of course, these are a lot of things and many of you might have other things to do in your lives, so take it slow and just start little by little! Eventually, you can add more things into your routine to make it personalized, but this is what I've found to help most. All journies are personal and what works for me may not work for you.