"If you win the morning, you win the day."
I’m seriously in LOVE with my morning routine so I’ll share it in a little more detail with you.
I think we can all agree that it can be a serious struggle to wake up on the first alarm instead of just thinking ‘5 more minutes, hitting snooze, and rolling back over into your warm, cosy bed. I’ve definitely been there.
But it’s well known that morning routines can be a deal breaker for people having great, productive days. A morning routine is giving ourselves the best opportunity for feeling confident, full of energy, positive & focused.
This is why I often try to work out in the morning because it gives me so much energy & motivation for the day.
So, let's dive into my routine. I do this routine almost every morning, even if I need to be somewhere early. Of course, I'm not perfect & some days are more difficult than others, and as most of us, I also lack motivation and positiveness.
The point of sharing this with you, is to help you figure out what will work for you, so I’ll just say now that if you’re not a morning person try to set yourself up with a morning routine that will give you the best chance of succeeding. Make sure you only choose a few things and be proud of yourself when you do them. This is about you, not about comparing yourself to anyone else.
Here are my 5 go-to activities in the morning:
1. WAKE UP
Ok, so I know that waking up is kind of assumed in all of this but I still think it’s super important to include this as the first step as often it can be the hardest.
2. WATER
I love to wake up & drink a lot of water. This activates my digestive system and hydrates my body after a long 8-hour sleep.
3. STRETCHING
As I do a lot of sports, and workout pretty much daily, I love to slowly wake up my body with a foam roller or just easy movements on the mat or on the bed.
Too often we ignore the benefits of stretching, whether before or after sports, or simply before or after a long active day. Indeed, most people rarely stretch, but it really should be incorporated into every daily workout routine. Ideally, you should set aside at least 10-15 minutes to properly stretch post workout. It is key to stretch after, because it reduces the risk of injury and increases the overall benefit of the workout.
We neglect this step because of timing, but it really it is highly recommended; flexibility is a very important component of physical fitness.
Here are just a few of the benefits of stretching: decreases muscle stiffness, reduces risk of injury, helps relieve aches & pains, improved posture, reduce stress... and I could go on and on!
This is why I always make time to incorporate stretching my back, head & legs into my morning routine. Perfect to release all the tension & to start the day.
NOTE :
You might not know this, but World Sleep Day is actually coming up this Friday 18th of March! Together with Auping, we really wanted to take the opportunity to promote the benefits of stretching and encourage each and everyone of you to add even just five minutes of stretching into your daily routine. On this occasion we are organising an ONLINE LIVE class, via my Instagram account Muse Of Greens, to share with you some stretching methods & tips and show you how easy it could be to implement daily.
Don’t miss out on this feel good experience and join us at 9.30 AM this Saturday 19th March. The class will be in French, but no worries it’s all about the movements.
4. DRY BRUSHING
Dry brushing is something that I really love to do, especially in the summer. It's a technic that will soften your skin, it's like an exfoliator and will remove all the dead skin cells, which will lead to softer skin. Next to the soft skin, it will increase your blood circulation and promotes lymphatic drainage. This will also reduce cellulite, thanks to better blood circulation.
You can get this kind of brush via Kazidomi, or all other online shops.
5. MATCHA
If you’ve been following me for a while now, you surely know that Matcha is my go-to drink in the morning. I like to drink it pure or with some oat or coconut milk.
Matcha has a lot of amazing virtues; filled with antioxidants, it will boost your energy, reduce any jitters or nervousness, boost you brain cells and so much more!
I personally love the Matcha from BOOSTE, founded by a Belgian trio and made in Japan. Get yours here and get 10% off with MUSEOFMATCHA.
6. GRANOLA BOWL
And the final step is the breakfast bowl. Sometimes it's a smoothie, sometimes it will be porridge. But my favorite combo is oats & chia, hot or cold. It's the perfect energy bowl to get started for the day. Add a banana, some blueberries & granola, and VOILA! You can prepare it overnight to save time!
My favorite granola is the new peanut butter one from BAMBOO.
I hope this morning routine can inspire & motivate you to start the day the right way!
See you all this Saturday 19th March for World Sleep Day for a sweet 30min Stretch on my Instagram.
Lots of love,
Marie
