Mornings are my favourite time of day, especially on weekends or when I don’t have to rush off somewhere. My routine always consists of four things, hydration, caffeine, some form of movement, and a good breakfast. Healthy morning habits are so important in creating a positive day.
I like getting up early because I love starting the day off feeling like I have accomplished something before I leave for work. The first thing I do is grab a glass of water to rehydrate my body from an overnight fast. Then I brew coffee or make myself a cappuccino to sip on while watching the sunrise. In the fall, I especially love sitting outside on my porch in my PJs, wrapped up in a warm cozy sweater with a steaming cup of coffee.
After I’ve had time to finish my coffee and reflect on the day ahead, I head inside, turn on some music, and start making my breakfast. I love this quiet time, when no one else is awake yet and I get free reign of the kitchen. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I alternate between some form of oats, such as my Blueberry Cobbler Oatmeal, Banana Bread Pancakes, Lean French Toast or poached eggs with fresh veggies and avocado.
After I eat, I take my supplements. These change from season to season, and year to year, but right now I am taking a high quality multi, a probiotic, vitamin D drops and Floradix (liquid iron) because my iron is usually low. I then spend some time prepping meals for the rest of the day. My meals oscillate between plant-based and Paleolithic depending on the season and my energy levels.
I also make sure to pack snacks, which include hard boiled eggs, veggies and hummus, turkey meatballs, roasted chickpeas, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt, energy balls, and occasionally a skim milk cappuccino. I also make sure to bring my Lifefactory water bottle filled with infused water or a ginger Rise Kombucha on days that I feel my energy levels are low or I feel under the weather.
After my meal prep, I get dressed and walk the dog or if I am feeling really energetic, I go for a run in the woods. I love getting outside into the morning sunshine as it gets my digestion going and helps me sleep at night by properly setting my circadian rhythms. I also just love feeling the warmth of the sun on my face and being surrounded by nature calms my nervous system before the start of a busy day.
I find that nowadays it’s so important to start the day off with self-care as it helps keep you grounded before a busy day. I find when I skip out on my routine, I end up frazzled by the end of the day. Taking time to connect with nature and the elements of the earth and getting back to moving the way we used to keeps me refreshed, centred, optimistic, and focused on the important things in life.