4 reasons why women in tech need a morning routine

One of the keys to a highly productive and successful day is to start the day right, which is why I am a huge advocate for having a morning routine.

Many successful leaders today have a strict morning routine. For example:

• Mark Zuckerberg wears the same clothes each day, to reduce decision fatigue so he’s more productive at work
• Barack Obama has a strict morning routine of weights and cardio, breakfast and helping his daughters get ready for school
• Victoria Beckham dedicates her morning to herself, washing her face, fruit for breakfast with green tea followed by a double espresso
• Arianna Huffington loves morning routines, starting the day with meditation and gratitude, then sets her intention for the day, and goes to yoga
• My personal favourite is Oprah Winfrey. She wakes up at 6:30am, opens the windows to get some fresh air, burns incense, enjoys a hot herbal tea, has breakfast with her husband, then practices yoga and meditation.

When I first started morning routines I had a very long list and found myself getting up so early to fit it all in. As a result I was exhausted for the rest of the day, and saw zero benefits. I was also extremely overwhelmed, and disappointed if I didn’t achieve everything on my list.

What I have learned about morning routines

• Set three non-negotiables, and ensure these inspire you the most
• Time box your morning routine, so it has a clear start and end time. This will ensure it doesn’t negatively impact your working day, and help you plan your sleep so you’re getting the 8 hours your body needs.
• Accept that sometimes life throws curveballs and you may not get your list completed

My morning routine now looks like this:

Three non-negotiables:

1. Tongue scraping
2. Hot water with a lemon slice, and lemon and peppermint essential oils
3. 20 minutes Vedic meditation

The remainder of my morning routine includes:

• Snuggles with my partner (whenever we are together, we are currently in a long distance relationship)
• Gratitude with my partner
• Some form of exercise, and moving my body
• Say one nice thing about my body in the mirror

Still not convinced you should have a morning routine?

Here are 4 reasons why women in tech will benefit from a morning routine, and why it will positively impact your life and help you live more intentionally.

1. Opportunity to practice self love

Women often tell me they don’t have time for self love. A morning routine is an opportunity to kick-start your self love practice.

It’s an opportunity to wake up early, before the kids, and dedicate some much needed time to making YOU feel great! Make sure your three non-negotiables are about YOU.

They don’t have to be hours long – it needs to be realistic, otherwise it’s not sustainable. If it wasn’t for my 20 minute meditation, my routine would take less than 5 minutes. And if I’m really pushed for time, a 5 minute meditation is better than no meditation.

Dial up that worthy-ometer, and prioritise time for yourself. You will be springing with energy and overflowing with love before you know it.

2. Sets you up for success

Filling the morning with activities that inspire you, help set the tone for the rest of the day.

Creating your own soulful sequence and establishing boundaries will materialise into your everyday life in other ways, improving your health and wellness, and mental focus.

3. Grateful heart, and bursting with love and energy

A morning routine is a great way to kick start your gratitude, particularly for the smaller things in life. For example, some of the reasons I am grateful throughout my morning routine are:

• I am grateful essential oils have entered my life, and are now a part of my morning routine to help me feel energised and ready for the day
• I am grateful I have allowed myself time this morning to complete my routine, to ensure I am the best version of myself today
• I am grateful I have a kettle that allows me to set the temperature, so I can drink my hot lemon and peppermint water without burning my mouth
• I am grateful for the teachings of Tom Cronin who introduced me to Vedic meditation. His teachings have helped me to be in an improved state of flow, where I am more self aware, present and calm throughout the day.
• I am grateful for being exposed to so many challenges in life, which are helping me to grow
• I am grateful I can afford delicious, nourishing breakfast to fuel my body

4. Be the best version of yourself

When you’re running on half empty, you’re more susceptible to snap, lose your temper, and get frustrated. No one likes to be that person.

Starting the day with a morning routine will help set the tone for the day, giving yourself permission to be the best version of yourself, every day.

Are you feeling inspired to create your own morning routine?

If that’s a HELL YES, please share with me in the comments below. Making a public declaration with our epic tribe means you are more likely to stick to your intentions.

Already have a morning routine? Share it below to inspire others.