Tips For Creating A Cosy Morning Routine To Help You Feel Refreshed And Calm

01 - Start The Night Before

You can really increase your chances of starting the day in a cosy, calm state of mind by doing a little prep the night before. Try not to stay up too late and avoid letting work creep on into the evening if you can. Mobile phone and laptop screens can disrupt your body’s natural rhythms and keep your brain whirring longer than it should, so try to set them down a couple of hours before you go to bed.

02 - Something To Look Forward To

You know that feeling of anticipation and excitement you’d get on Christmas Eve when you were little - that when you woke up on Christmas morning there’d be presents and fun and lovely food? Recreate that in a small way by deciding on a breakfast treat for yourself before you go to sleep. This could be something really indulgent like Eggs Benedict or a silky smooth flat white, or it could be something super-healthy like Overnight Oats or just a beautiful, ripe peach. Whatever it is, it should be something that gives you pleasure to think about.

03 - Resist The Siren-Call Of Social Media

Technology is designed to hijack our minds. When we reach for our phones first thing, we are often confronted with a host of notifications from different apps, all purpose-built to convince us we should look at them right now, however frivolous they might actually be. Avoid the temptation to be pulled into that black hole of distraction by putting your phone on airplane mode overnight and not turning it off until your morning routine is complete.

04 - Surround Yourself With Comfort

Pick out your softest robe, cardigan or throw and have it to hand when you get out of bed. As your body is waking up, use these items that you love to welcome it into the day. The sensation of pulling on your favourite socks or wrapping yourself in an insanely soft old blanket can feel like such a treat.

05 - Ten Minutes In Heaven

…Or more if you can manage it! This is where you get to freestyle. Set aside at least ten minutes to do something that exists solely to nourish you in one way or another. It could be about shaking off the fog of sleep from your body. It could serve to enliven your mind. Here are a few ideas for a morning ritual:

- Do a short, gentle yoga practice to stretch out those sleepy limbs and focus your body’s energy

- Listen to a podcast on a subject that really interests you, but that isn’t work-related. Wake up your mind and your curiosity.

- Find a quiet spot and sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed. What can you hear? It may seem silent at first, but you’ll soon start to notice the sounds around you. Birdsong, distant traffic, the hum of the fridge, your own breathing. Try to identify as many as you can. Welcome the world in through your ears before opening your eyes and starting your day.