Autumn is in full swing, and with winter not far around the corner, it can feel like the year is melting away before our eyes.
Today I wanted to talk about how to keep yourself motivated when the mornings are dark and days are shorter. I don’t know about everyone else, but I find it increasingly difficult to wake up and get myself ready for the day when it’s pitch black outside and freezing cold. There’s nothing less motivating than having to leave the house when the frost is nipping at my skin and waiting for the bus in the dark. Anyway, enough of the whining!
It can be hard to get yourself out of bed, awake and in the zone for the workday ahead, but here are a few things I like to do to make my days a little easier to handle.
Wrap Up Warm
For me, the hardest part about getting up when days are darker is the temperature. Why would I want to get out from under my toasty duvet and expose my body to the elements? Instead, I keep my slippers and dressing gown at the side of my bed. It means that in the morning I don’t have to move far before I’m wrapped up warm once again. It makes leaving my bedroom a little less of an ordeal.
Wash My Face
Most of us don’t get enough sleep, but it can feel like we’ve had even less when we wake up in darkness. The first thing I do once I’m out of bed is splash my face with water. It wakes me up and preps my face for skincare. I don’t shower in the morning because I prefer to do it at night, so for me, this is just a great way to awaken my body in the morning.
Drink Lemon Water
This might seem a bit of a random one, but I honestly believe that drinking a big glass of lemon water each morning gives me that boost and kickstarts my body for the day ahead. It might not be warming, but it awakens the body from within.
A HUGE Cup Of Tea
It just wouldn’t be right to start a cold morning without a big cup of tea, would it? My favourite is green tea, and I love to make myself a gigantic mug first thing in the morning to wrap my hands around and warm me up. When I mean huge, I mean like those mugs you get free from sport’s direct, that you could take a bath in if you liked. Big is always better when it comes to a hot drink.
Make A Plan For The Day
I use my bullet journal every single day to write a plan of everything I need to do, jot down moments of inspiration and reflect on how I spend my time. I love writing lists; I would happily write lists for a living, actually. If any of you want a bullet journal setting up, hit me up. Anyway… lists help to focus my brain, get my head into gear and decide which tasks I want to complete at which point in the day. It means that once my working day has started, I have a clear schedule to look back and refer to throughout the day. It makes my day way more productive and makes me feel much better about what I am doing.
Split Up My Working Day
As I said above, I like to set myself a clear schedule and stick to it throughout the day. That also includes taking tea breaks and allowing myself planning time for different tasks.
Read Positive Quotes
Some might find them useless, but for me, motivational quotes can make a huge difference to my day. I love to find the most positive and inspirational quote and use that as my mantra on a stressful day. You should try it.
Make Big Batches Of Food
When the day is over, the last thing I want to be doing is cooking a huge meal. That’s why I love making huge batches of food and placing portions in the fridge or freezer for easy access. I will often make a recipe such as my Chilli at the weekend and use it throughout the week after a busy day. it makes things way less stressful and stops me reaching for the dominos app!