Life is busy isn’t it? Sometimes a little too busy maybe, but then can you ever be too busy if you are having fun? Mornings are a funny old beast, some of us love them and embrace them with open arms and some see them as the enemy. 

I sit smack bang in the middle, I could easily lie in and have a lazy morning, and I don’t wake easily. I most definitely need motivating a little in the morning. Chris is positively annoying in the morning and wakes up full of the joys of spring. Which when you like to feel reflective in the morning drives you blooming potty.

But here’s the thing, when we travel we do a complete flip. I am up bright and early for a swim, walks on the beach and generally breakfast alone whilst that lazy lot just want to have lazy morning lie inn’s.

I most definitely need a strategy in the morning to get a great start to the day, if I start out right it sets me up for the whole day. Here are my top 5 tips to getting a great start to the day. 

Obvious I know, but get a good night sleep the night before.

When I go to bed  if I can’t sleep I practice my yoga relaxation technique. This really works for me. I like to read a little to wind down, I then turn out the lights and work through the relaxation. Do you know since I have started yoga I have never got to the end? It totally relaxes you and is a great way to get to sleep.

Set an alarm

Even at the weekends I now set an alarm. If not I will just lie in. Having teens that just want to sleep really doesn’t help. They would sleep all day if they could. I find if I set an alarm I make myself get up and make the most of the day.

Have a good breakfast.

Some people can manage without breakfast; both the boys are not fans and have to be forced to eat in the mornings. I am a 3 meals a day kinda gal. Chris laughs at me, as even when we travel I have to know where my next meal is coming from. I never leave home without breakfast, whether it’s a healthy cooked breakfast or cereals and fruit and of course it goes without saying coffee!  Without breakfast I am eating rubbish by 10.30.

Book an early exercise class. 

This is possibly the hardest thing to get into a routine with but makes me feel so great. I used to wake dreading exercise classes, where now I am getting into that routine of doing a morning spinning class a couple of times a week. I love it; I leave feeling great with loads of energy ready to take on the day.

Make job lists.

And lastly, leading a busy life is amazing but some days it can fog your brain a little. Keeping lists works. Start the day with a to do list, it seems less intrusive on paper than when it is buzzing around in your mind. Even the little things go on the list, it makes all the jobs seem much more manageable.

And there it is, how I try to start my day to keep me motivated. And it really works for me. Because when you are like me and not a morning person at all, you need all the help you can get.