Make the Most of Your Mornings With These 10 Simple Tips

If you’re guilty of shouting, “10 more minutes!” in your head every time the snooze button goes off, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there—but there’s something empowering about jumping out of bed, hopping into the shower and diving into your day. It’s true what they say about the impact of your morning. As people who have been on the rushed, scurried side of things, as well as the productive, streamlined side, we can confidently share what we consider the best morning routine to feel confident, ambitious and ready for the world.  

When we kick off our day with productive practices, we’re left with less stress and anxiety, and we’re more eager to get ahead in all priorities of our life (whatever they may be!). We’re not talking groundbreaking efforts here—we’re suggesting simple steps that will make a more-than-simple difference. If you’re sick of sleeping in or feeling lethargic during those early hours, keep reading for 10 tips to easily make the most of your morning.

1. Keep A Regular Routine

First and foremost—whether developing a morning routine or otherwise—consistency is key. Research suggests it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make a permanent lifestyle change. From personal experience, we can say starting with early rising, it only took two weeks for our body to naturally adjust.

If you want to beat that snooze button, a great way to start is by setting a fixed bedtime. Get your body in the habit of going to bed and waking up at a certain time. While it’s tempting to scroll through your friends’ vacation Stories on Instagram, or get your Netflix fix, disconnect from digital and put your head to rest. Waking up and falling asleep at the same time sets your internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which makes for better quality sleep.

2. Allocate Time for Yourself

There’s something so calming and fulfilling about giving yourself even an hour before you’re “supposed” to be awake. Whether you choose to go all out with a fancy egg breakfast, or you get an early jump on emails, nothing beats a productive morning spent with your fresh cup of coffee, or simply just a clear head. 

If you struggle with time management, be realistic about your first serious engagement of the day, and how long it’ll take to complete prepping. For example, a Zoom commitment at 9 a.m. will differ from a coffee meeting, or in-office obligation at that same time. If it takes you an hour to get ready for a serious commitment, try getting up an extra hour before your normal time, so you can enjoy the calm before the storm. 

We recognize for some, it’s easier said than done. Depending on your lifestyle and familial obligations, mornings can be complicated. If this sentence speaks to you, check out our Ultimate Skin Care and Self Care Routine for a Busy Lifestyle.

3. Don't Hit Snooze

We’ve already touched on hitting snooze, but seriously, listen up—it’s a horrible idea! Yes, we get it, there’s a mental and physical comfort that accompanies those 10 more minutes. But before you know it, 10 minutes turn into 30, and those precious moments you could spend getting a jumpstart on your day are completely wasted. 

If you wake up feeling groggy or unrefreshed, that’s a sign to adjust your bedtime, not your sleeping in time. On the flipside, if snoozing is your way of avoiding an overwhelming day filled with tedious tasks, ensure you have even the littlest bit of excitement to anticipate. Whether it’s a delicious morning smoothie, a peaceful solo walk, or a long, rejuvenating shower, always give yourself even the slightest something to look forward to when you wake up.

4. Stay Off Your Phone

While it’s tempting to reach for your phone as soon as you rise, a good morning routine will start with self-care first and phone last. Especially if you’re giving yourself extra time that isn’t mandatory to be awake, this is when you should prime your day for success. Once you’ve gotten the most important things out of the way (ie. shower, skincare, breakfast and meditation—if that’s your thing), then dive into technology. Scrolling through Instagram or getting caught up in a text exchange may not have a negative effect on your mental health, but it’s a passive activity that can make the time go by quickly and therefore lead to unproductivity.

5. Rehydrate

We’re not going to sit here and preach staying away from caffeine. We drink coffee and we have no shame. But, as for our first sip of the morning? We stick to a tall glass of water.

Whether with lemon, a natural supplement or on its own, first reaching for a glass of water is among the healthiest ways to start your day.

If you wake up often in the middle of the night, stick to morning and afternoon sips, but if you can sleep through bathroom breaks, we recommend keeping water by your bedside. 

To reiterate what you may already know, water is essential because it helps your body digest the food you eat, absorb the nutrients from it, and get rid of internal waste. After a night of (hopefully) solid sleep, rehydrating your body is crucial to having a clear mind and offering the energy to move forward with your day. Fill up your favorite trendy water bottle of the moment, and keep it with you at all times.

6. Fuel Yourself with Breakfast

Food is fuel. To ensure consistent energy all day, balance your hormones with a nutritious breakfast. However, to avoid spiking your blood sugar, try to reach for the healthy fats, protein.. and yes, carbs!

If you want something sweet, though, opt for fruit and yogurt -- According to some nutritionists, the morning is actually the best and easiest time to digest fruit.

Overall, just be sure not to skip breakfast. This actually slows down your metabolism, giving you less energy throughout the day.

Need some breakfast inspo? Below are a few of our favorites (p.s. some also have skin benefits, too) --

• Eggs: healthy source of protein, Vitamin E and A
• Fruit: provides energy and helps to detox the system
• Oats: will keep you full, and are made with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that help protect the skin from free radical damage 
• Yogurt: rich in riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and probiotics. Probiotics are essential to gut health and a healthy immune system
• Whole Wheat Toast: gives boost of energy to start the day, great source of fiber and healthy minerals

7. Get Your Body Moving

Our next tip is a polarizing one, but it has to be said. We personally believe a healthy morning routine starts with some activity (and no, we don’t mean moving your spatula around in the pan). By increasing your heart rate during a a workout, endorphins are released, boosting your mood and thereby decreasing your stress. And of course we can state the obvious—working out will help you maintain a healthy weight. A morning workout can also help regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Wondering where to start? Just try getting outside and walking! Walking actually burns fat, decreases stress and is a great form of getting in exercise. From there, try implementing workouts you enjoy, like pilates, yoga and strength training. Trust us, if you like the workout, you'll actually do it more.

8. Journal

To kick off your day on a positive note, it's thought that gratitude journaling can have a strong effect on your day. Start by writing a couple things you're grateful for that morning, then feel free to write any other thoughts that come to mind. Getting your thoughts and emotions pen to paper is a great way to relieve stuck feelings, and start the day feeling a bit clearer. Try this practice before reaching for your phone, or at least putting it away for 5-10 minutes.

9. Make a To-Do List

Each day brings new priorities, challenges and obligations. To feel more organized and less overwhelmed, try making a to-do list in order of priority of what needs to be tackled. It helps you feel more able to conquer the day, plus just ensures you don't forget anything before you close up for the day. We always love being able to cross things off our to-do list, too.

10. Start a Morning Skincare Routine 

You didn’t think you’d come here without some skincare discussion, did you? Whether you’re an avid beauty enthusiast or you just want to feel fresh-faced in the morning, assembling the right routine for you is key. Start with the basics, like YSE Beauty's Take-It-Off Gel Cleanser, Xtremely Rich Moisturizer and Skin Glow SPF Primer to start your morning routine. It'll brighten your skin, give it some glow and protect it from any sun protection ahead.

If you need additional guidance for tackling your morning routine more YSE(ly), check out our steps HERE.

Start Intentionally..

Productive days ahead. We know this sounds like a lot, but try waking up 30 minutes earlier one week and implementing what you can. Once that happens, try 30 minutes early another week. Soon enough, you'll be sure to look forward to this new routine that starts your day on a positive note, reduces stress and allows you to feel more confident to achieve the day's goals ahead. The YSE(est) start early (most days).