My morning routine for increased energy and less stress
What’s the first thing you do in the morning when you get out of bed?
Do you hit snooze a few times, grab your phone, or jump straight into helping others?
How do you feel when you wake up?
Energized? Not fully rested? Stressed out even before the day has begun?
Many of us wake up and feel like we’re already behind.
We may have emails to answer, kids to feed, and might not even feel rested from the night’s sleep! Many mornings we’re thrown into our day and our to-do list without taking a pause.
I felt like this for years, until I intentionally created a morning routine to give me some “buffer” time at the beginning of my day.
I started small, by taking 5 minutes in the morning to breathe and decide how I wanted to feel that day. I’ve since changed and grown my morning routine and I’d love to share it with you today for some inspiration!
Many of my clients find that their stress starts the minute they wake up. Although this may have been the pattern and reality for years, it’s my goal to show you a new way and help you get curious about how an intentional morning routine can help you bring more calm and energy into your day.
My morning routine begins the evening before
I take time to look over my schedule and understand my appointments and commitments the night before so I can fully give myself time in the morning without feeling like I’m missing something.
I also sleep with my phone outside of my room and use a wake-up light as my alarm clock (I’m a Seattleite, this light is necessary for the dreary Winter months!)
Keeping my phone outside of my bedrooms allows me to fully disconnect mentally which is really important. It also reduces the EMR I’m exposed to and any lights in the bedroom which can disrupt sleep as well. I don’t touch my phone when I wake up.
When I wake up in the morning the first thoughts that flood to me are usually those of obligations I have, client issues (yes I work out how to best support my clients in my sleep too ;) ) and my long to-do list.
Instead of giving in to these thoughts straight away and grabbing my phone, I allow myself to move through my morning routine without checking my phone. We all know how easy it is to just check “one thing” and be swept up into the demands of your day! This piece is critical to my morning (and I have to be so strict with myself, it’s tough!)
I take a moment to wake up, acknowledge I’m here in this new day and get out of bed.
I first take my morning supplements that need to be taken on an empty stomach (currently taking L-glutamine to help support leaky gut) but they change. I build this into my day to make sure I get them in and move on!
From there I dedicate anywhere from 10-20 minute to a meditation. Lately, I’ve been doing guided meditations on my Insight Timer App which have felt better than silent meditation.
Create a sacred space to set the tone for the day
I get my intuition muscle working early and feel into what I need for the day. This time used to feel forced to me, but over time has become almost sacred and I really look forward to it as a way to set the tone for my entire day.
When we wake up and get thrown into our day, we get stuck in a cycle of reactivity where we only have time and space to react to what is thrown at us.
By taking this time in the morning to set the tone and intention for how I want my day to go, or how I want to feel, I become more proactive rather than reactive.
Although I don’t know what the day will hand me, this time allows me to feel calm, get present, listen to myself and my body, and feel strong, centred and empowered to face whatever does come my way.
Often times I will use essential oils or light incense or candles to help me get into the zone.
If I feel compelled afterwards I will jot down a few things that came up, or that I’m working through in a journal and that’s that!
I always make my matcha latte after that with coconut butter, matcha, cinnamon and collagen peptides to give me something with a boost of protein and fat in the morning. Sometimes I’ll eat a full meal right then, but more often than not I will drink my matcha and then an hour later have a more substantial meal. This is what works for me right now to ensure my blood sugar is balanced.
If I’m taking a shower (which happens way less than it maybe should….) I will use a dry brush before to help with detox but also just wake me up! It feels amazing and I always feel a buzz of energy afterwards.
From there I start work whether that be client sessions, prepping and creating timelines for new clients, or creating content to share with you all!
Although many of these things remain the same, I allow myself to feel into what I actually want or need that morning which might be a quick stretch, a walk outside to breathe fresh air or even an extra 20 minutes of sleep ☺
If you don’t have much time in the mornings, that’s ok…
When I was working at the hospital and was at the mercy of the bus schedule, my time constraints were a lot greater. If I was shorter on time I would make sure I work up with enough time to create a “buffer” so I didn’t feel rushed and stressed. I also did my best to prep any breakfast or lunch I needed the night before. If you don’t have much time in the morning that’s ok. You don’t need a long, fancy morning routine to reap the benefits!
I recommend setting your timer for 5 minutes, sitting with your hand on your heart, breathing and getting into the place of how you want to feel in your day. Literally, start to feel that joy rise up in your chest or feel the ease or calm you wish to cultivate melt over your shoulders. You don’t need to do this for long, but by tapping into that feeling place you are training your mind and body how you want to feel and everything else will follow.
I’d love to know what your morning routine looks like!
What do you do first thing when you wake up? How do you feel?
How would you like to feel?
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If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, breathwork, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
