How many times did you feel already run-down and exhausted when you woke up? And what’s the first thing you do in the Morning? Is it reaching to your phone and scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, or your emails? I used to do this too and I used to feel tired as well – truth is there is no better way to stress yourself than starting the day with other people’s problems.

The major reason why I woke up with social media and started replying to my messages before getting out of bed, was because I had no sort of plan to adhere to in the Morning. The result is that I had no idea what to do when I woke up. And sometimes, you just feel lost, stressed, overwhelmed, and short of excitement.

The good news is it’s surprisingly easy to wake up fully energized, and ready to win your day. You just need to stick to an efficient Morning routine that will help you up your game mentally and physically. Waking up early can make your day, as it will allow you to get the right quality time with yourself. You will be able to strategize peacefully, and face the day ahead with a great sense of purpose.  

In this article, I’m sharing the Morning routine I developed for myself, the very one that helped me transform my previously boring Mornings into moments of pure indulgence. I try to stick to this routine as much as I can. But there are obviously days where I can’t perform all of these actions.

Even if emergencies happen and it’s not always possible to tick off everything you planned, it’s very important to design your morning routine and keep adjusting it. You will feel a sense of confidence when you wake up, because you already have a roadmap to follow. Otherwise, you might just get out of bed a bit lost asking yourself the same never-ending question every single morning: what should I do now?

Creating a morning routine will help you power and start the day with a positive mind. Choose to do a series of things that will lift your spirit and fix your biochemistry. It sets up your mood before firing up.

Ground #0: Cleansing Kicker

Turmeric-Lemon-Ginger morning tea recipe (10 minutes)

Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot turmeric-lemon-ginger tea first thing in the morning. I like to drink a cup of this miracle tea on an empty stomach. It cleanses everything inside and strengthens your immune system, plus it tastes amazing. I like the combination of turmeric, lemon and ginger, as they are very rich in antioxidants and have so many anti-inflammatory properties… that’s just the perfect recipe to start your day.

Here’s how you can make it:

1. Prepare the fresh roots of ginger and turmeric by peeling them and slicing them thinly. I like to add much more ginger – the more the merrier.
2. In a 1 1/4-quart pot, add the water, the sliced ginger and turmeric, and bring to a boil for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger.
3. Add the juice of one pressed lime.
4. Remove it from the heat, and strain.
5. You can add a bit of honey to taste and enjoy your special morning tea.

Even if this recipe is very easy to prepare, I usually make a big patch on Sundays for the whole coming week. I just need to store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. The ginger and turmeric will infuse even more. Every Morning, I just have to heat it up one cup at a time, put some nice music on, et voila…

Action #1: Still the Mind

Meditation (10 to 15 minutes)

I prefer to have my daily mindfulness practice early in the morning. I find it the perfect time indeed as everything around is still quiet, and your phone hasn’t started ringing yet. you can fully immerse in the world within and connect with the now.

Action #2: Move the Body

Stretching exercises (10 minutes)

After achieving stillness in the mind, it’s time to wake up your body through gentle stretching exercises. You can find plenty of nice stretching videos on YouTube.

Action #3: Get Perspective

Daily goals-setting (10minutes)

Here, I just think about the different tasks I have to perform that day. I write them down on a small piece of paper that will serve as a reminder. I take a moment to organize myself and strategize. This small routine helps you feel in control and ready to tackle the challenges for the day ahead. I also like to end up this ritual by asking myself the following question: “What am I going to do today to become a better person?” And it could be anything really – I can learn something you, I can play with the kids, or I can help somebody.

Action #4: Awaken

Cold shower (5 to 10 minutes)

It has been scientifically proven that the exposure to cold provides your body with a lot of purifying virtues such as:

1. Increased fat loss
2. Decreased stress levels and elevated mood
3. Improved immune functions

A lot of professional athletes use the power of cold as a post-workout routine. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo frequently soaks in ice water after a football game. This practice reduces swelling and tissue breakdown and helps the body to recover faster from fatigue.

As far as I’m concerned, I still enjoy the comfort of a hot shower in the morning. However, I started to make the last 2 minutes of my shower pure cold. It’s a complete game changer – you feel fresh, ready for the day ahead, and completely awaken.

I also like to practice the Aloha laughter exercise while taking my shower (check out My laughter routine ).

Action #5: Indulge

Caffeine shot and positivity (10 minutes)

Now that I’m fully awake, it’s time to indulge with a cup of black coffee. I like to accompany it with a few pages of Sufism or Stoicism – it helps to put everything into perspective and be grateful for what you already possess. I personally enjoy reading Seneca’s books or Rumi’s poems. And remember that you can’t forget a good reminder when it’s stuck on your refrigerator. Mine has the following quote from Marcus Aurelius: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love…”