My Current Morning Routine

As a type A early riser, nothing sets my day better than a structured morning routine. I’ve always operated better first thing in the morning—even in college I would purposely choose all morning classes so I could have my afternoons free and get to bed early. But waking up early and jumping right into work or studying like a machine isn’t healthy. Neither is hopping onto the apps and scrolling mindlessly in bed, which I’ve been very guilty of as well.

Over the last few years, I tried out different habits until I came up with the perfect morning routine for me. If you’re reading this and you’re not a morning person, I don’t want you to feel bad. Being a morning person or a night owl are both acceptable! I just want to emphasize that this is what works for me and I share it because 1- I get asked about my morning routine a lot and 2- hopefully you will be inspired by it! 

Meditate

First thing I do every morning is sit up and go into meditation. I’ll admit, many times I have the urge to check something on my phone out of habit (the worst habit!). It could be the weather, my emails, social media… but I remind myself to check in with myself first. I keep my phone on DND while I meditate, pray, and practice gratitude. I take deep breaths and start my morning as grounded as possible.

Gratitude Journal

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I am all about gratitude journaling. I have four prompts I write out every morning that hit on gratitude, affirmations, intention setting, and manifesting. 

Today I am grateful for: (gratitude)

Today I want to feel: (affirmations)

Today I will accomplish: (daily intentions)

For my future self: (manifesting)

There is absolutely no right or wrong way to express or practice gratitude. Again, this is just what works for me and helps me start my morning with an abundance mindset. If you’re interested in learning more about my process check out my blog post on starting a gratitude journal HERE! 

Move My Body

If I don’t workout in the morning, I probably won’t later on. Mornings are when I have the most energy and focus so I channel some of that into moving my body. My favorite workout (I don’t even know if it’s considered a legitimate workout, but to me it is) is walking. I LOVE to walk. It’s one of the many reasons I love New York so much because I can walk everywhere and anywhere.

When the weather is good, I #HotGirlWalk outside, but in the winter, I stick to 12-3-30 on the treadmill. I go to Pilates twice a week, and when I’m in the city and able to, I go boxing. If I want to exercise at home, I’ll turn to YouTube and try a fun workout by MadFit. A lot of the time I’m reluctant before starting any workout, but after a few minutes I feel better, and by the end I never regret going. 

Green Smoothie

Every morning, I drink one nutrient-packed smoothie. It’s the same one every day, and I never get tired of it—or at least I haven’t yet after three years! My recipe is two handfuls of spinach, pineapple chunks, half a frozen banana, almond milk, chia seeds, goji berries, and collagen powder. Basically all the superfoods! I drink this to ensure that I am getting my fruits and veggies and vitamins every single day. Plus, it automatically makes me feel healthier, boosts my gut health, and helps strengthen my immunity. I’m also a strong believer in having a well-balanced and protein-filled breakfast to get my brain working in the morning. For me, that comes in any variation of eggs and avocado.

Get Ready

Taking a few minutes to focus on how I want to present myself automatically sets my tone for the day. It’s easy to get into a sweatpants and old t-shirt routine while working from home, but even with loungewear, I’m a little more considerate with it now. I’ll take a few minutes to make my hair presentable and concentrate on my skincare, and rotate through comfy WFH fits. I enjoy mindfully taking time with my morning skincare routine, using my NuFace or ice roller in the process. If all else fails, at least I know my skin prepped, hydrated, and glowing! Cultivating these mindful habits into my morning routine has helped me stay focused and feel better.

What do you do in your morning routine?

XoXo,
Azadeh