Little Things That Make My Mornings

Good morning! I hope the week is going well for you so far.

We’re off to a busy one in our neck of the woods, but for now, let’s slow down, grab a warm mug of [insert your favorite hot beverage here], and talk about the little things that make our mornings a little brighter.

Mornings often get a bad rep, don’t they? We’re so busy getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that it’s easy to forget to take a step back and appreciate the little things that can make a normal morning routine more likable.

I wouldn’t consider myself to be a morning person who voluntarily rises with the sun, but there is something to getting up early enough to be able to slow down and take in the day before it begins.

Today I’m highlighting some of the little things that make my mornings a little brighter. Can you relate to any of them? I’d love to hear about some of the things that make your morning, too. Feel free to chime in below!

 

• pressing snooze to snuggle

Try as hard as I can, I can’t remember the last time that I woke up without pressing snooze at least once. I’ll purposely set my alarm fifteen minutes early (as well as a second alarm with the real time that I need to get up), just to enjoy snuggling up in a cozy blanket with my fur kids in the morning.

They’re always right next to us in the mornings, and it’s a few quiet minutes that I know I can enjoy every day with them without fail.

 

• reading a motivational quote

I don’t do this every morning, but I definitely should. It’s easy to scroll through social media pages in bed, so that means it’s just as easy to search for a little morning motivation. Whether it’s fitness quotes, Bible verses, or positive mantras, finding something inspiring to kick off the day is always a win.

 

• making the bed

Personally, making the bed in the morning helps set my tone of attacking the day. I’ve shared this before with other easy tips to staying clean and organized, and I’ve been in the habit of immediately making the bed after we jump out of it for years. Doing so helps with an urge to climb back into it, and I love the feeling of tidiness it gives the entire room as a result.

In desperate need of a bedding refresh, I was extremely grateful when Crane & Canopy reached out and offered to help me transform my master bedroom space into something a little more us.

Crane & Canopy is an online bedding brand that offers luxury bedding and duvet covers, without the department store markup. Loving their inventory, it took me a good while to pick out what pieces I wanted to select for our bedroom!

Duvet Cover & Shams: Ellis Coral Reversible Bedding c/o Crane & Canopy

Euro Shams: Mirabel Euros c/o Crane & Canopy

Sheets: Kate Spade via HomeGoods

Throw Blanket: HomeGoods

Throw Pillow:

The bedding features a white top that reverses to a coral patterned back, hidden zipper enclosure, and white piping. Thanks to our fur family, it probably won’t be flipped around to white any time soon, but it’s nice to know that it’s an option. I love the bunched design of the Mirabel Euros, and am thinking that I might need a third one to finish off the look! I chose a patterned throw pillow for Scott, since he prefers brighter, busier patterns.

I’ve been making the bed every morning, and I usually lay the blanket out to protect the bedding while we’re gone. (The cats go crazy and jump all over it.) Cat tested, washing machine approved!

 

• opening the blinds

Natural light is one of my very favorite things. I love opening all of the blinds shortly after I wake up and closing them soon after the sun sets at night. In the mornings, the burst of warm sunshine puts me in a great mood to kick-start the day.

 

• drinking a tall glass of water

One thing that I always make sure to do right after I wake up is drink a tall glass of water. I’m a big fan of coffee (I wouldn’t dare dive into my day without it!), but I’ve learned to start with water first while it’s brewing. Doing so keeps me feeling hydrated and energized throughout the day.

 

• tasting that first sip of coffee

Whether your morning beverage of choice is coffee, tea, or even hot water with lemon, that first warm sip is everything. The smell of coffee instantly wakes my senses and takes me to a happy place.

My favorite part of the weekend is waking up on Saturday morning feeling rested without somewhere to rush off to. I make coffee and unwind by catching up on something lighthearted from the DVR or browsing online.

 

• taking a multi-vitamin

I’ve been an advocate for taking a multi-vitamin for a long, long time. If nothing else, doing this helps you stay focused and healthy on the good days, the busy days, the lazy days, the cheat days, and the travel days.

I’ve been really loving gummy vitamins lately. I realize that the gummy version of vitamins may not be as healthy as regular supplements in the form of a powdered capsule, but man … they’re such a treat! I legitimately look forward to taking two every morning, which is how a vitamin earns it’s spot on this list.

 

• listening to music while getting ready

Right? If I’m rocking hard enough, sometimes I’ll forget that I’m going off to work for the day. Music is that mood-setting for me. I often change up what kind of station or playlist I listen to, but there is always some kind of jam playing in the background before I get out the door.

 

• breaking the occasional sweat

It would be easier to plan my workouts in the mornings if I had a consistent schedule, but with some nights requiring me to work later than others, an early morning workout isn’t usually an option. When I know I’ll get a good night’s rest and don’t have to start working until 9 a.m., however, that is when I will usually go running or plan to attend a group fitness class to start my day.

Getting a good sweat in and starting the day knowing I’ve already accomplished something (well, two things — getting up earlier than I needed to and doing something good for me) feels amazing. I need to get up and at ’em more often!

 

• enjoying breakfast that isn’t rushed

There’s something about actually sitting down to enjoy breakfast in the morning that makes days a little brighter. Maybe this is why brunch is so popular? It doesn’t always happen, but those days where I have fifteen or so extra minutes to make and sit down and eat breakfast always start off on the right foot.

 

• “commuting” to work

Commutes aren’t for everyone, and I’ve dealt with several different versions of it throughout the years. I’ve driven a half hour across town before sunrises to teach fitness classes, fought morning highway traffic for a 9-5 in Downtown Orlando, and I felt grateful to be under ten minutes away from my old workplace in Rochester Hills, Michigan. These days, I walk to work. I know it won’t be as great during the winter months (I’m planning to layer all the things), but for now, I really love the time to myself that I get on my way to and from work.

Occasionally, I will need to be somewhere that requires me to hop on the subway, and even though they can be unpleasant and crowded, the times where I get to sit down and read a book or listen to music is cherished. It forces me to unplug and breathe without trying to multitask.

 

• listening to podcasts

I always bring my earbuds and listen to either music or a podcast while walking around Brooklyn or the City. Any time I walk Roadie down to the park and back, it’s a minimum of thirty minutes, so I always have time to listen to a message from Daily Audio Bible. I’ll listen to other podcasts, too, and would love you to share some of your favorites in the comments section below.

 

So tell me …

What are a few little things that make your mornings? 

 

Disclaimer: While the bed set featured in this post was provided to me by Crane & Canopy, I was not compensated for this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own!