As you all know, mornings are hard and waking up is even harder. Like most people, waking up and getting going is not the most exiting part of the day but with these steps it can be the most productive part of the day. So here are my tips for a successful morning to get you on your way to a great day.
- Get Enough Sleep:
By far this has to be the most important. When you get enough sleep not only does your skin and hair thank you but everything inside you, including memory and emotions are rebalanced and recharged. Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep is very important for all ages. Lets be real, adults need as much sleep as children do because we are working harder and using more energy and brain function throughout the day. So just make sure you hit the sheets earlier and give your body the rest it needs. 2. Wake Up Early Ever heard the saying: “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”? Rise with the peak of sun, it’s hard to do, but will get easier with time when you’ve gone to bed early and gotten enough sleep. When you do something 900 times you learn it, when you do it 9000 times you break a habit. Its easier to learn a new habit rather than break one. Start by teaching yourself to rise with the sun. Not only is it invigorating but you have so much more time in the day. I don’t know about you guys, but time seems to be going by so fast lately. Why not take every moment of it and use it? 3. Drink Lemon Water As soon as you wake up, drink a glass of lemon water. It can be cold or warm depending on how you wake up feeling. Lemon water relives indigestion and can ease an upset stomach. It promotes the enzyme function in your body which stimulates the liver and flushes out toxins. It’s great for weight loss and a flat stomach in the morning. It improves your skin. It gives you a head start on your hydration intake for the day and it even freshens that stank morning breath. 
4. Pray I wake every morning and thank God that I am even able to wake up one more day and enjoy everything this world has to offer us because of Him. Not everyone believes in God and if that’s so, take this time in the morning to meditate what you’re grateful for and to reflect on everything that you have and who you are and how you can better yourself. This starts positive and self-reflective thinking. We always need to have gratitude in our hearts and in our eyes. 5. Write Down Goals and To-Do’s the Night Before I am a very organized person. I love to look at my planner and see what I have going for the day. Of course leave room for improvisations but writing down your goals and things you need to get done the night before gives your brain a rest and therefore you are able to sleep more peacefully. I recommend keeping it near your bed incase an anxious mind keeps you up, so you can quickly jot it down and forget about it until morning. Write down your short term goals so you can keep reminding yourself and keep your long term goals somewhere always in sight. We as humans need constant reminding of what we are really going for and keeping a journal or a list or a planner is a great way to start. 6. Put On An Overnight Face and Hair Mask I love masks. It doesn’t matter what kind, I love them all. My skin always loves a good mask and recently I just discovered that they sell overnight masks. My favorite overnight masks are: Origins Plantscription Overnight Lifting Mask ($60) and Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ($25). These both feel SO good when I wake up and my skin is brighter and is so smooth. As for hair masks, I put straight and organic coconut/avocado/olive oil to soak in my hair while I sleep to help give it life again. When I wake up I quickly splash my face and go to the gym with the mask still in my hair. 
7. Go To The Gym Eating chocolate cake feels amazing, you know what also feels amazing? Getting your workout done before the rest of the world is starting their day. Just get up, and go do it. Like I said earlier I go to the gym with my hair all coated in oil just so I can work hard and get it done. If you can’t go to the gym, go for a walk or run outside. If you can’t do that, do some exercises and stretching to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up. There is no excuse to not keep your body healthy and looking good. 8. Set Your Outfit Out the Night Before Ever stand in your closet completely naked and stressed out because you have no idea what to wear? Yup, me too. I learned that setting out your outfit the night before saves you time, energy and stress. I love clothes hence why I work in the Fashion Industry so I want my outfits to shine and show who I am. At night, you are able to think more clearly, rather than trying to reach the fashionista in your groggy mind in the morning. Set out an outfit the night before, even add the accessories and I promise the morning will go by so much smoother. 9. Clean Up Before Bed Cleanliness is everything. When you are clean and everything around you is clean, your mind is at ease. So before you go to bed, tidy up. Clean up your makeup thrown onto your counter from the morning, put stuff back into drawers, tidy up your bed for a better night’s rest, organize your purse/bag to grab and go come the morning. Take simple steps to help you feel that cleanly ease. 
10. Listen to Soft Music I love music. My favorite music is Trance music but it’s not the best thing in the morning to be listening to a high intensity beat until I get to the gym. So while you’re waking up, put on some soft piano music or relaxation music. Don’t worry, it won’t make you sleepy, it’ll make you ponder more deeply and keep your stress levels down and your mind quiet. Artists I recommend are: Sunlounger, Deuter, 2002, Alina Baraz and Sound Remedy for a chill vibe and a chill morning. 11. Eat Breakfast Eat! Enjoy something small or something big. For me personally, I don’t like to eat large amounts of food in the morning. I usually love a simple smoothie (see previous post for recipe; Power Smoothie) or even small eggs and a half of an avocado so I stay fuller longer with the protein and fat. Keep your fruits frozen so you are able to quickly pull them out and blend them for a cold and refreshing smoothie. Even some protein pancakes with fresh berries and honey are the perfect breakfast to get you feeling good. 12. Tell Yourself: “You are worth everything” Every Morning Hey Beautiful/Handsome, you know what? You are worth everything. EVERYTHING. Who you are, what you do, why you’re here is because you are priceless. You are a child of God with the potential to become a God or Goddess. So look yourself in the mirror and you tell yourself that you are worth everything, you are everything and you are priceless. We all need to understand our worth and when you do, you change lives. 