How To Start Your Day Off The BEST Way!
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How To Start Your Day Off The BEST Way!
Happy Monday, my lovely friends! Who’s ready for another exclusive article? I love being able to share my thoughts with you in this space. I used to write for my blog, but when I transitioned mainly to YouTube, writing took a backseat. Now, I get to write articles just for my premium Substack subscribers - and that’s pretty cool!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to start your day off the right way. It’s so easy to end up doing all of the wrong things before it’s even 9 AM - and suddenly you realize you’ve been feeling off all day long. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed can become a chronic problem if you constantly take missteps first thing in the morning. I know, because I’ve been there!
But one of the great things about being a classic woman is that you know how to bounce back from bad habits. You can look at your mistakes, recognize them, and try to improve. So today, I want to share with you 5 small ways you can set yourself up for a fantastic day, every day. Being mindful in the morning can help you so much throughout the rest of your day - and it takes so little effort.
Check in with your feelings before immediately checking your phone. This idea was actually the inspiration for this entire article. I recently read somewhere that we often reach for our phones before even taking a moment to check in with our emotions when we wake up. Then, we let whatever we see on our phones determine how we feel for the rest of the day. Oh, you got an important email filled with work? You’re stressed and grumpy. Oh, your colleague got a promotion and you didn’t? You’re resentful and upset.
I used to do this. I would reach for my phone as a way to wake myself up for the day. But I didn’t take a moment to see - how am I feeling? Did I have a wonderful night’s sleep? Maybe I had a nice dream that could set me on a happy path! Instead, all of my emotions would be determined for the day by that tiny little screen.
Instead of reaching for your phone when you wake up, take a moment. How are you? Do you think you could be in a good mood if you weren’t initially in the moment your alarm went off? What thought would make you happy right now? Now, with all of that in mind, when you go to reach for your phone, you won’t allow whatever you see there to determine how you’ll take on the rest of the day.
Drink a full glass of water before having coffee. Most of us wake up parched in the morning. We’ve gone a number of hours without drinking anything. Taking a moment to drink a full glass of water when you wake up will make you feel refreshed and hydrated. And hydration has so many wonderful benefits! It makes us feel revitalized and it is so good for your body.
We often reach for coffee first because we want the caffeine hit first and foremost (I’m not a caffeine drinker, but I know that’s the case for many of us!). But water is even more important. So instead of immediately reaching for your coffee, give your body what it craves. Drink a big glass of water and replenish yourself. And that cold glass of water in the morning feels great before having a hot coffee. Your body will thank you!
Wash your face and put on sunscreen. There is nothing more refreshing in the morning than splashing water on your face. Taking a few moments in the morning to clean your face and then apply sunscreen is a little ritual that A) will help wake you up, and B) is actually great for your skin!
Wearing sunscreen every day is not only great for preventing wrinkles, it’s an important step in preventing skin cancer. Doing something good for yourself in the morning, taking care of yourself, sets you up to continue making good choices throughout the rest of your day.
Choose your outfit the night before. Look. Most of us want to look our best for the day. We want to wear an outfit we feel good in and maybe even get a compliment! But how often do you feel like you have the time and energy in the morning to pick something out you’ll be proud to wear? I’d hazard to guess pretty darn rarely!
The best and easiest solution to this is to pick out your outfit the night before. Give yourself ten minutes to pick out the pieces you want to wear. Look at the weather report for the following day so you’re prepared. Choose the accessories you’d like to pair with your clothing. You’ll be so happy you did when you wake up in the morning and have to put in little to no effort - but you’ll look and feel like a rock star.
Write your to-do list before doing anything else! I write out my to-do list Every. Single. Day. I think it is the easiest way to keep on track and ensure I have the best day I can. Without my to-do list, I feel at sea, worried that I’m going to forget something! But if I have everything I need to do laid out neatly in front of me, I have a game plan.
Every day, take ten minutes before getting started with your work to make a to-do list. Write down every single thing you need to get down, whether it be housework, cooking, computer time, whatever. Then, divide it into sections and into “what needs to get done today” and “what I’d like to get done today.” Now, you too have a game plan. You can head into the day knowing what you want to accomplish and how you’re going to get there.
What do you do to start your days off right? Let me know in the comments below! And make sure to share with your friends if you liked today’s article :)
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Welcome to Classically Abby!
I'm a wife, mama-to-be, opera singer, entrepreneur, YouTuber, and your guide to becoming the classic woman you've always wanted to be! Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to see how! And together, let's be classic.
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Thank you for the wonderful suggestions, Abby! What I like to do - before I am even out of bed - is to say a prayer asking for help and guidance for the upcoming day.
What a timely article! I've recently changed my morning routine to have a healthier/more positive mindset first thing when I wake up! Not checking my phone has been the biggest game changer! Still working on my habit of drinking coffee before water though😅