Every season is different and should have a slightly different morning routine. Changes in sunrise and sunset, temperature, and activity availability necessitate changes to your own morning routine, especially your winter morning routine.
Your winter morning routine ends up being very different than other seasons because you are dealing with shorter days and much cooler temperatures. It is important to continue to have a morning routine, even if you are dealing with a tough winter that makes you want to stay inside and relax. Continuing your morning routine through the winter will let you continue to stay efficient and effective in your day-to-day.
Even if they are darker and colder, your mornings are the most important part of setting the tone for the rest of your day. These tips will help motivate you to make slight changes to your morning routine that could be big difference-makers.
Maybe you already have a strong morning routine plan. One that helps you be productive each and every day. Even if this sounds like you, there may still be a few hidden tips here that could be incredibly useful.
This post is all about easy tips to help you fine-tune your winter morning routine!
Winter Morning Routine Tips
Winter is challenging, but you can overcome it with a great morning routine. Continue reading to learn about some easy tips that could be game-changers for your morning routine!
Why Winter is the Toughest Part of the Year for Your Morning Routine
Winter brings challenging conditions that you will not find in any other part of the year. Depending on your location, you could be dealing with snow, below-freezing conditions, and significantly reduced sunlight. These factors can cause you to feel less motivated to get a good start to the day.
In the summer, the sun often rises early in the morning, usually well before 6 AM. This makes it easy to get out and do a walk, run, or other activity before the day really gets started. The motivation to get your morning routine started is much more achievable in this situation. On the other hand, in winter the sun can rise after 7 AM and the temperature will be much lower. This combination of conditions can make it hard to even get out of bed on time, let alone get your morning routine started.
Winter is generally considered a more “stay-at-home” season as well. Major holidays (plus the vacations that go with them) cause people to let their typical morning routine slide a little bit. Again, motivation is the key factor here. There can be a distinct lack of it in the winter, which makes winter a tough time to maintain your morning routine.
With the tips described in this post, you can stay on track with your morning routine and make changes that will make it feel more sustainable. Continue reading to learn more!
6 Tips to Help You Fine Tune Your Morning Routine
These tips will help you make the changes you need to make in order to maintain your morning routine into the winter. They are not particularly major, but they are important. Check them out below!
1. Wake up early even if it is still dark
This tip can be tough at the start of winter when the time change is still fairly new. Our bodies naturally like to wake up with the rising sun, but this is not always possible in the dead of winter. If you want to make it to work on time, while still getting your morning routine done before you leave, you need to wake up before the sun comes up.
It may be tough at first, especially if you are used to sunlight waking you up, but you can get used to it! Do not give in to the thought that you really need just a few minutes more of sleep. Try to get up right when that alarm goes off and get some light on in your room. This will help you get started on time so you can complete your morning routine.
This tip is easier if you already wake up at a consistent time. The key is to maintain that time through the winter, regardless of when the sun is rising or setting.
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2. Get some movement in the morning
This tip applies year-round, but is especially important in the winter! Getting your body moving first thing in the morning is one of the best things you can do for yourself. By getting your body moving, you are able to get your blood flowing right away and get some exercise out of the way immediately.
Your movement does not need to be significant. It can be as a short walk, some pushups, or a 5-minute yoga session. The important part is that you got up and did something!
Getting some movement in first thing in the morning is especially important in winter because it is way too easy to skip that movement later in the day. With cold days and early sunsets, your usual evening workouts get much tougher to do. It is tough to get yourself outside when the sun is already setting and temperatures are well below ideal. For that reason, it is important to get your workouts done early! It might not be much easier in the morning, especially at first, but at least it is out of the way, and you can feel accomplished all day long! You also will not have to harbor any guilt if the tough winter weather keeps you indoors in the evening.
3. Dress appropriately for the weather
This one is probably the most important tip for the winter and may seem a little obvious but it is still important! If you want to have the best chance of completing your winter morning routine, you need to be able to withstand some colder temperatures.
The cold weather does not just affect you outside, it also can cool your house and make the internal temperature much lower than usual. That can make it tough to even get out of bed unless you have the right clothes!
When winter comes, your morning routine needs to shift to include warmer clothes. With the right outfit, you will be much more comfortable doing activities outdoors or in your house. This will make it much easier to complete your morning routine each and every day!
4. Pack a warm lunch
This tip is simple but can make a big difference. In the winter, it is important to trade your usual cold lunches for something warmer. Instead of a sandwich out of the fridge, having some warm soup will do a much better job of keeping you comfortable on a cold day.
If you meal prep, your goal should be to make a meal that is easily heated up in the microwave instead of something out of the fridge. Soup, pasta, or casserole are all things that are easy to make but also can be heated up. Warm food like this can keep you warmer and happier through a cold winter.
You do not necessarily need to cook your own meals, although it is healthier and cheaper, but try to keep looking for warmer options even when you eat out. Having warmer food will be a game-changer for your winter!
5. Give your car a chance to warm up
This one might not be as appreciated in the short term, but it will be in the long term! When you start your car on a cold morning, you might have noticed a blue light on your dashboard. Usually, this is a signal that your engine needs to warm up before you start driving. Your car will not stop you from driving away, but it is not great for your car.
Over time, your engine can be damaged from driving around when it is not completely warmed up. That damage may never be a significant problem but if it is you will not forgive yourself!
Instead of leaving right away, give your car a few minutes to warm up in the winter. Ideally, your RPMs should be well under 1000 before you drive away. This will be beneficial to the long-term health of your car and could prevent you from needing any nonstandard maintenance!
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6. Leave a little earlier than you usually would
For some reason, it always takes longer than it should to get places in the winter. Snow, rain, or darker mornings can easily cause delays in your mornings. It should not be an option to drive faster or in an unsafe way, so winter mornings can cause you to be late.
To solve this issue, all you need to do is leave a little earlier than you typically would. 5-10 minutes should be plenty! With a little extra time like this, you should be fine getting to work on time no matter the weather conditions!
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I hope you better understand how to get started on your winter morning routine and have learned some great tips! Be sure to reach out to ourteam@wellroundedyou.com if you have any comments or questions!
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