Mornings are as predictable as the sunrise, but if you are not a morning person it can be a struggle to make them a productive part of your day. . . ;-)

. . .If you know me at all . . . you know that I am NOT a morning person! According to a study by sleep expert and speaker, Carolyn Schur, about 50% of the population is forced to rise earlier than they would prefer due to work, school, and family obligations/schedules. If that is YOU, you probably feel like you are doing good to get ready for the day and get out the door – much less try to plan a workout, devotional, or breakfast routine!
I personally have come to grips with the fact that my best time for planning these activities is NOT the morning.
Despite this, mornings are obviously a great time to get set for our day. As much as the clothes we wear can help us look and feel better about whatever our day has in store, it's all for nothing if we're not doing the best for our core inner selves as well – from what we put on and in our bodies - to what we feed our heart, mind & soul!

Here are a few things that have helped me get going in the morning:

1.    Get a good night's rest & wake up earlier . . .
Well this is obvious, right? But how many of us want to get up EARLIER? I do! I do! I do! That's usually not the response you hear unless you are naturally a morning person. If I want to have a good start to my morning -then it's helpful to have more than 15 minutes before I head out the door. . . believe me, I've tried it! LOL!

TRY THIS:
No matter what time you have to get up – it's going to be easier to wake up if you get enough sleep, so give yourself a better chance when your alarm goes off and go to bed at a decent time. If you occassionally OR often have trouble falling asleep – Try using Lavender (most popular) or some of the following: Goldenrod, Vetiver, Valerian, Peace & Calming, Roman Chamomile, Stress Away, Cedarwood, Marjoram or SleepyIze to help you get to sleep faster and longer – either apply topically on wrists, bottom of feet, behind ears, and/or back of neck OR diffuse 4 – 5 drops in a diffuser next to your bed.

SleepEssence is also a great natural & non-addictive essential oils capsule to try helping you get a more restful nights sleep. If I have been lying in bed for an hour and I can't get to sleep then I will get up and take SleepEssence – OR if I know that I have an especially busy day coming up and am not feeling ready to go to bed when I need to, I will take a capsule – does the trick every time!
Another supplement to try for improving sleep is ImmuPro - It contains melatonin that helps improve the length of the time the body sustains deep, Stage 4 sleep. It also contains mineral and polysaccharide complexes to resore natural sleep rhythm and support restful sleep.

2.  Hydrate – Drink Water, Move, & Shower   :-)
The habit of drinking water when you first wake up might be the easiest and the simplest to implement, but it has the potential to have a huge impact on your morning.

When you sleep you become dehydrated. Before you make coffee or take a shower grab yourself a big, tall glass of water.

TRY THIS: Try adding 1-3 drops of LEMON essential oil to your water for a refreshing taste, antioxidant, immune support & cleansing properties. Dehydration has negative effects on your skin, eyes, and your general well-being. The water will also help wake up your sleepy eyes and get your body's metabolism started. After your glass of water, take just a few minutes to do some squats or stretches to get your body moving after being comotose all night – Getting your blood flowing increases the oxygen levels in your skin, muscles, and brain. Studies show that you'll not only feel better, but your mind will perform better as well!
Even if you only have a few minutes of some simple exercises . . . your body will start waking up – then it's shower time! ! !
If you do – or don't - have time to get in a few quick stretches or squats . . . Use a peppermint scrub while showering to help invigorate you & wake you up even more! Here is an easy DIY recipe to have on hand:

PEPPERMINT SCRUB – DIY RECIPE
6 drops of YL Peppermint Essential Oil
½ cup of organic brown or white sugar
¼ cup of fractionated coconut oil (fractionated does not harden when cold)

MIX ingredients together in an 8oz wide-mouth glass mason jar or other easy to access glass jar and cover with a lid to keep from drying out. Keep in your shower or bathtub and, TO USE: Scoop some out with your fingers OR a small spoon and scrub your arms, legs & entire body for an invigorating & refreshing wake up with added benefits of sloughing off dead skin! :-)
Rinse with warm water.

COFFEE DRINKERS want to put those coffee grounds to good use? Instead of throwing those grounds in the trash or compost . . . substitue coffee grounds for the sugar in the above recipe and make an extra exotic smelling exfoliating scrub!

Need to fight eczema? Use 3 TBS of leftover coffee grounds and add about 30 drops of Juniper Essential Oil together in a glass jar. TO USE: massage on clean, damp skin using circular motions. Rinse with warm water.

ADDED BONUS:  Showering first thing in the morning gives your hair more time to air dry. You may not be able to avoid blow-drying all together, but you can reduce the amount of time you spend doing it. And as an added benefit you'll reduce the damage blow-drying does to your hair. A great toxic-free DIY hair volumizer spray using pure essential oils is:

SWEET & SASSY HAIR - DIY RECIPE
15 drops Lavender EO
10 drops Lemon EO
8 drops Cedarwood EO
½ oz of Witch Hazel
5 oz Distilled Water
*Do you have dry hair? Also add 4 drops Geranium EO

ADD all ingredients to a 6-8 oz sprayer bottle and shake before spraying on damp hair. You will find that you need fewer- if no other – styling products. This helps free your hair of residue and product buildup. Now that's sweet! :-) ( Chemical Free Home – Melissa Poepping)

3.   Eat A Healthy Breakfast for your body & your soul!
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TRY THIS:
Finally, it's time to feed your body and your brain with a good breakfast. Many nutritionists recommend oatmeal or peanut butter on whole-grain toast. Whole grains contain complex carbs which are slowly absorbed and keep your energy levels more stable. Adding fresh or frozen fruit to oatmeal can add antioxidants and vitamins!

TRY ADDING Cinnamon Vitality or Thieves Vitality Essential Oil (depending on your preference) to your oatmeal to help support your immune system!

If grains or oatmeal aren't your thing, consider something with yogurt or eggs. These foods are full of protein and will help you feel full and reduce cravings.

**Drinking 1 or 2 ozs of Ningxia Red Nutritional Drink is also an excellent way to help get you going in the morning! If you haven't tried it is super yummy! I sometimes add oils to my Ningxia Red – like Lime, Thieves, Jade Lemon, or so many others to change up the routine or depending on my needs that day – maybe some Digize, Ginger, or other . . .
If you are a member and got a Starter Kit you should have received 2 sample pouches with your kit. If you are not a member yet and would like to try it or any of the above oils, let me know and I will send you a sample!

Lastly, and certainly not least – take time to feed your soul too – with some truth as you start the day! This helps me have perspective as I begin my day – even if some days it is only for a few minutes.
My new favorite thing to do is tap on the FREE Bible Gateway app that I have downloaded on my phone and then tap on AUDIO BIBLE. I started in Genesis and have been working my way through the Bible listening to a few chapters a day while I get ready for work, stretch, shower, or while I fix a quick breakfast or smoothie. It helps me focus and prioritize what is really important - and God uses it to remind me of many things – and align my thinking with my Creator. Things like: how much He loves us, how He daily gives us grace and breath to live, wisdom for understanding life and so many more truths that help me remember my purpose and where hope and unconditional love is found. It gives me a lens of truth through which to view whatever God's assignments are for the day.

I have also found it refreshing and calming to listen in the evening – especially if I didn't get to start my day with the Word – listening while I make dinner, do laundry, clean, or sometimes in the evening while getting ready for bed – AND, IT is super easy to access! After you tap on the app – you tap on the book you want to listen to – you can start any where and change it with a tap. Max McLean is my favorite reader and his voice is very calming. You can choose the version you want to listen to as well and the book, chapter and verse. It will continue until your battery dies or you untap the app unless your settings are set to time out! Enjoy!

The Takeaway
If you're NOT a morning person, changing up your regular routine might be a challenge, for me it is a daily one. . . but the added benefits on days when I must conform to the regular working world schedule are always beneficial and help me start the day with added energy and focus. Here's to a happy, healthy morning! :-)