Priming yourself for a successful day: Morning Routine

I am not a morning person. I never have been and I don't know if I will ever be that person that jumps out of bed ready to seize the day. I would much rather stay snuggled under the covers until the very last moment but that never served me well. From a young age I knew that I had to CHOOSE to be productive and get out of bed each day in order to be a successful human being. Starting in junior year of highschool, I did online school and so it was all on ME to wake up and get school work done. Now that I run my own business, it is more important than ever for me to prime my day for success. My morning makes or breaks my day and so over the years I've had to set some boundaries in my schedule so that I can stick to a routine. I am learning that boundaries are not bad or selfish or limiting. Setting boundaries is a way for me to show myself self-love and respect for doing things that keep me inspired. 

My boundaries for success:

1. SCHEDULE in your "Power Hour". I write this on my calendar every single night when I plan out each day. It takes me about an hour to get everything I need to get done in the morning to make me feel inspired to start my day (This doesn't include the gym or podcast listening which are also crucial components to my routine each day). Because I know this, I purposefully don't plan meetings or business calls in the mornings because I know I will feel stressed about starting on work rather than filling my cup with devotion & inspiration. 

2. WAKE UP an hour earlier. I am still not a morning person but I have SLOWLY trained myself over the last year to start waking up earlier. I don't know if I will ever be that person up before the sun rises but I try my hardest to start my morning as early as possible so that I have time to just BE before my day starts. 

3. PLAN your morning inspiration. This will be different for all of us! For me personally, I spend some time in my Bible and in prayer first thing in the morning and then I will pull out a current personal development book I am reading to read for twenty minutes or so while I drink my matcha. This may look different for you! Maybe you need to journal, maybe you need to stretch and do yoga or meditate. It may take some time and trial and error to figure out which activities are going to best inspire you in the mornings. Just keep devoting an hour each morning to YOURSELF and you will figure out what works best for you! 

4. CREATE an inspiring atmosphere. This is super important for me. I really like to diffuse essential oils in the morning and open all my windows and doors so I get natural light in my home. I will also play inspiring music. Lastly, I always make sure I have a warm beverage in hand whether thats herbal tea, coffee, or a matcha latte. 

my typical morning

-Wake up- 6:30-7

-Power Hour- 7-8ish

-Go to the gym or start my work day- 8:30-9am 

Because I work from home, I don't have to be as strict with my schedule as most people and I am very blessed for that. That being said, I try to stay as disciplined as possible to make sure I am on some sort of schedule because it truly impacts the productiveness of my day!! 

This photos are from today's morning power hour. Simple & quiet & perfect. Plus, I HIGHLY recommend this book Girl Wash Your Face. It will change your life. 

I hope these practical tips help you have a more productive morning and a more productive day! You've got this!

xo,

Lauren

THINGS I LOVE MENTIONED:

The Ultimate Morning Kickstart Smoothie Recipe

I am so excited to share with you my #1 favorite smoothie with you! I drink this smoothie as my breakfast almost every single morning and I LOVE it because it fuels energy and is full of healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and protein! 

It's chocolatey, rich, just enough sweetness, and a WHOLE lot of nutrients! 

Why start every morning with a smoothie for breakfast? A smoothie is the best way to give you all the nutrients you need in a short amount of time and with hardly any prep! It's truly the perfect breakfast option! Also, since you are eating solely fruits, vegetables, healthy fat, and nuts, you are saving your body from having to use energy to digest solid foods in the morning! Its a win/win for you and your body!

Here’s the recipe:

3 Ice cubes

1 frozen banana

1 handful of spinach

1 cup of Almond Milk

1 Scoop of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

1 Scoop of Vanilla Vegan Protein

1 tsp Chia seeds

2 Tablespoon Cacao Nibs

Optional: 1 Tablespoon of coffee/espresso beans

Optional: 1 Tablespoon of Coconut Butter or Coconut Oil

*Blend for 30 seconds and drink up! You are fueling yourself for an incredible day!!

Snap a pic of your smoothie and share it!  Make sure you tag me in it and use the hashtag #livewellwithsmoothies so I can show you some love!

Check back tomorrow for another new recipe!
xo,

Lauren

Current Favorite: Easy Breakfast

I posted my breakfast of choice on my Instagram story recently and got a ton of questions about it! I went back and forth between doing a blog post on it because it is seriously the EASIEST breakfast to make. Steel-cut oats, raw cacao, agave, coconut flakes, chia seeds, and anything else your little heart desires! On days I need something a little more hearty then an acai bowl or smoothie, this is my go-to. Full of fiber, omega's, healthy fats, and more. Try it out and add your own favorite toppings! 

Speak soon!

Lauren

RECIPE: The perfect bulletproof coffee

I remember when I started hearing about the "bullet-proof coffee" craze. I had no idea what it was or what was in it, but I had heard it had good health benefits and so I wanted to try it! After searching online, I found a bunch of complicated recipes with ingredients i'm not exactly sure I wanted to drink with my coffee! I've tried numerous different recipes but I've finally found my perfect cup o' joe! My recipe is simple and allows for some experimentation if you want to get even more fancy with it.

Also, I do NOT drink bullet-proof coffee as my entire breakfast and I suggest you don't either! Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day and so making sure you eat with your coffee is crucial. It will also make sure the coffee isn't too hard on your stomach!

Lastly, I want to add that I do NOT support the diet and lifestyle that was made around this drink. I am not a supporter of a heavy fat diet! I simply love the taste of this decadent drink and believe I have been able to come up with a recipe that is yummy, nutritious, and gets your brain goin'! 

Soooooo... here goes! 

What you need:

- blender

-8-10oz of hot coffee

- 1 tbsp Organic Coconut Oil

-1-1/2 tsp Blue Agave

- 1 tsp Organic, pasture-raised Ghee

- 1 tsp- Your superfood of choice! This is where the experimentation comes in. I LOVE putting Moon Juice's "Sex Dust" into my coffee because it helps with regulating and balancing women's hormones! I know many other people that put in collagen, amino acids, and many other things but I have found that this powder not only makes my coffee taste yummy (think, chocolate) but it really gives me energy and gets my brain going so I can have a productive morning! 

All you have to do to make the yummiest cup of joe is to put all of the ingredients in a blender or NutriBullet  and blend for 15 seconds! What will come out is a frothy, rich, decadent cup of coffee that is, in my opinion, guilt-free!