Iโve been home for almost three weeks straight and itโs been so, so great. As much as I love traveling and exploring new places, back-to-back trips (especially ones that are well over a week, sometimes longer!) can really take a toll on me after a while. Itโs been wonderful to slow down a little bit and re-establish a sense of normalcy. The last time I had a few weeks at home was back in July and before that, it was prior to April. My needs and preferences are ever-changing, so itโs been kind of fun to figure out what my new morning routine looks like!
Thereโs been so much press about the importance of morning routines in the last few years, which I think is awesome. (If youโre looking for a deeper dive, check out Miracle Mornings.) While Iโve never been an early riser, Iโve gotten a pretty good handle on what works best for me and my current schedule.
Iโve always been such a fan of leisurely morningsโฆ In fact, I think thatโs one of the things I love most about traveling. (And thinking back to balancing the blog alongside my full-time corporate job, mornings were never my strong suit. Thereโs nothing I hate more than a frantic, rushed morning!) Personally, I think thatโs what a morning routine is all aboutโฆ Slowing down, savoring the moment, and easing into your day instead of rushing around, full steam ahead!
We all know that Paris is like my home-away-from-home. Outside of somewhere Iโve lived, itโs the city Iโve spent the most time in. Whenever Iโm in France, I find myself getting a glass of orange juice with my espresso in the morning and itโs become a little morning treat that I look forward to. (Maybe itโs because fresh-squeezed orange juice is the norm in Paris! Or maybe itโs because Iโm always looking for a little boost to my immune system when Iโm on the goโฆ) Maison Plisson was the spot that Hallie and I would venture to each morning on this last tripโฆ The best freshly-squeezed orange juice, great coffee, and to die for almond croissants.
But now that Iโm home and not planning much travel for the next few months, Iโve been trying to find to ways to strike a balance in my new morning routineโฆ On one hand, a little routine that sets me up to feel successful throughout the day. And on the other, something that brings some joy to my mornings. We shouldnโt have to be away from home to feel that type of happiness in the mornings, am I right?!
Hereโs what Iโve been up to in the morning these past few weeksโฆ
1. Getting the day started with a glass of Trop50 juice beverageย || Why should we save those little everyday luxuries for travel only? Starting the day with a fresh glass of orange juice almost makes me feel like Iโm back in Paris. Thereโs something about it that just kind of wakes you up in the morning, isnโt there?
If you read last week’s blog post, you know that Iโm really trying to limit sugar in my diet and that includes fruit, too. Trop50 is one of my #SugarHacks because you get that delicious taste of orange juice with 50% less sugar (and calories). Itโs squeezed from fresh oranges and does not contain any artificial sweeteners!
Plus, thereโs 100% of your Vitamin C in one glass, which is much-needed this time of year! If youโve been following my health adventures over the last few years, you may know that I hate bananas and Iโm always looking for ways to get extra potassium in my diet. Trop50 is a good source of potassium, too!
Check out Tropicana.com for more info about Trop50 and check out #SugarHacks on social media to get more tips and tricks for reducing sugar without sacrifice!
2. The Five Minute Journal || Iโve mentioned this on the blog before (read this post!), but this little journal has been the biggest constant in my morning routine since I moved to Chicago. Iโve snapped a few of the morning quotes this week and Iโve had so many messages asking for the book! Itโs not a book, but more so a journal that you just spend a few minutes filling out first thing in the morning and right before you turn out the lights. Itโs so easy to implement and encourages you to start the day in a more mindful way. There are some mornings that Iโm in a rush to get started on my to-do list(s), but I love that it forces me to sit still for a few moments and set my intentions for the day to come. I highly recommend it, and it also makes a great stocking stuffer!
3. Make Your Bed! || I think thereโs definitely something to making your bed each morningโฆ Imagine that, something else our momโs were right about! (I actually donโt think my mom was big on having us make our beds in the morning, I canโt remember.. haha) At least in the movies, it always seemed like something that was stressed to keep the house tidier. While thatโs obviously a huge added bonus, thereโs something about making my bed every morning that helps set a productive tone for the day. Maybe Iโm just crazy, but making my bed helps me feel like Iโm in the drivers seat* for the day and just makes me feel like I have my sh*t together, plain and simple.
*another way of saying I feel like Iโm in control, haha. You know youโre a control freak whenโฆ Working on that.
4. Meditation || Iโm going to do a full post about meditation because thereโs so much ground to cover, but incorporating a meditation practice into my day has been hugely impactful! (And while I have you โ any and all questions around the subject are much appreciated while I write that post to go live later this month!)ย I think thereโs a stigma about meditation that it means โcompletely clearing your mind and not thinking.โ In fact, thatโs exactly why I would try my hand at meditating over the years and promptly quit because I โjust couldnโt turn off my brain.โ Sound familiar?! Thought so. More to come!
5. Fueling my body with healthy things! || I mentioned the smoothies Iโve been making earlier this weekโฆ Depending on when I have my workout scheduled, I make my smoothie as soon as I get dressed or once I get home from exercising. I try to down a big glass of water every morning, too! And to be totally honest, between the water, Trop50, and Brain Octane Oil in my smoothie, Iโve really reduced my coffee intake over the last few weeks. Itโs kind of crazy because it happened totally by accidentโฆ I never meant to stop drinking it, but Iโve been very focused on getting a good night of sleep every night and just havenโt found myself needing a cup of coffee in the morning. I really love the taste of coffee, though, and thatโs what I now find myself craving instead of the caffeine. Iโve been meaning to run to the Nespresso boutique to pick up some decaf pods! (Never in one million years did I think Iโd be someone drinking decaf coffee, haha. Whatโs next?? OโDoulโs?! Haha)
Itโs getting harder now thatโs itโs quite chilly in Chicago, but I also make it a point to get outside everyday. It might not be in the morning, and itโs usually just to-and-from my workout, but getting some fresh air always does wonders for my state of mind. Yes, even when itโs cold! If Iโm having a particularly stressful day or finding myself in a creative rut, getting outside for a little bit gets the job done nine times out of ten. You can read more about that in this post!
Are you a morning routine person, too?! Iโd love to hear some of the ways you start your day on the right foot!
Created in partnership with Trop50
I have never heard of the 5-minute journal! I’ll have to give it a try!
xoxo,
Rin
Ramblings with Rin
I LOVE the 5 Minute Journal! I highly recommend it.
Making my bed and taking time to meditate is something I should totally implement as part of my morning routine. ๐
https://lartoffashion.com/shopping-made-easy/
I am a morning person and I couldn’t agree with you more on enjoying the peace and serenity of morning while the entire world is asleep. Now that it is getting colder outside, it’s getting tougher to wake up but I still force myself to just because it is nice to get in that “me” time.
http://www.littlemisscasual.com
I start off my morning with a warm glass of lemon, then prep the ingredients for my smoothie. After I make my smoothie, I try to do a 10 min meditation/yoga flow. I take a quick shower and get myself ready in less than 20 minutes.
I recently bought the 5 minute journal but haven’t had a chance to use since I feel rush to get out of house due to my commute. I think I’m going to start to use it at night and then after meditation in the morning.
I love this; thanks for sharing! I’ve been trying to come up with a morning routine and love the idea of the Five Minute Journal (buying it on Amazon as we speak ) I also really love this Trop50 idea because vacation IS the only time I have orange juice but I like how you have it as a little treat in the AM and the benefits sound delightful! Have you posted on your meditations yet? I would LOVE to know what you do!