I don’t start my days in survival mode anymore. Nowadays, I prioritize doing the things that create space to thrive. Below are the three ways you can build a better morning routine.

Give yourself permission.

I haven’t always been this way. I vividly remember, before my head left the pillow, I would check my emails, text messages and social media. I just HAD to know what I had missed overnight. And what I read in those first few moments of the day and how I responded and reacted would set the tone for the entire day. Oftentimes not in a good way. 

Because I cared more about what everybody else was saying and doing than my own care, I started the day rushed and struggled to breathe. Living that way and in that vicious cycle was burdensome. One day, I gave myself permission to stop living that way. It was a slow start, first I stopped checking emails, social media and text messages were a fast follow. And even when I reached the mountaintop and figured out what worked, I continued to give myself permission to make adjustments along the way.

Identify your three non-negotiables.

Regardless of how much time you have, what MUST you do in order to set yourself up for success? For me it’s coffee, meditation and devotion/quiet time.

If you are on Instagram, you know I love to do many other things to start my day, but only three of them are must haves. 

I unapologetically give myself space and grace to make adjustments depending on how I feel when I wake up. If I miss a Monday and don’t workout, that’s ok. If I sleep in and miss my time to read, that’s ok. Not enjoying that first sip of coffee, not ok.

Invest more time into your evening routine.

I used to stay up super late working, watching tv, scrolling social media, etc… and wonder why every morning felt like an episode of Wipeout. Simple answer, I had unrealistic expectations and thought I could only get a few hours of sleep and have a charged “battery” to do all the things the next morning.

Something had to change.

Similar to the shifts in my morning routine, I slowly started shifting my night time routine. First up, determining what time I needed to go to bed to feel my best the next morning. Not everybody needs eight hours of sleep, so I did what was best for me. Even with a newborn, I’ve maintained what’s best for me give or take, losing an hour or two. And your nighttime routine is more than just sleep.

Living balanced, not busy is so much more than how you organize yourself and what you have to do. Prioritizing the way that you are, the way you show up in the world and the way you shift from surviving to thriving is the ultimate goal!