Waking up on the right side of the bed is a real thing – and unfortunately, so is the opposite! From the second we open our eyes, the decisions we make can impact how we feel and how we tackle the day ahead. Whether your alarm is set for 5 am or 5 pm, the little rituals that setup your morning are incredibly nuanced and deeply personal – no two mornings are the same.
When considering your morning routine, it’s important to set realistic goals. If you’re not a morning person, making plans to hit the gym early and setting your alarm for 4.30am, only to snooze for the next 2 hours, will leave you feeling defeated before your day has even started – not an ideal mindset! Work your morning routine around what makes you feel best. Something as simple as making sure your go-to beauty products are ready to go, can ensure that you leave the house feeling confident, put together and ready for success!
Here, six marie claire editors share what a regular morning looks like for them.
Grace Back, Digital News & Entertainment Editor
“Before I go to bed every night, I always make sure that my bag and clothes are hanging up and ready for me in the morning. That way I don’t have to jump out of bed with the added stress of where everything is and what I’m going to wear. That way I can focus on waking up, and getting ready for the day.”
Hannah Crawley, Digital Content Manager
“As someone who commutes to work, I need my morning line-up to be effective and simple, allowing as much sleep time as possible without skimping on togetherness. Coffee: long and black. Outfit: ironed and hung. Lunch: premade and packed. The same philosophy is applied to my morning skincare regimen. Multi-purpose products like NIVEA Q10 POWER Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream SPF30 – which acts as a moisturiser, anti-aging cream and SPF in one – are essential to getting me out the door feeling fresh-faced and ready to take on the world.”
Arielle Tsoukatos, Senior Digital Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
“I am definitely not a morning person but I found that taking some time for a little self-care allows me to tackle the day with a sense of calm and confidence. I set my alarm fifteen minutes earlier so that I can meditate for fifteen minutes – research has shown that meditation helps filter out the negative self-talk, internal and external noise and that can sabotage our mental acuity. Next, I freshen up my washing my face with a cool towel to take away morning puffiness and tired eyes. ”
Alley Pascoe, Deputy Features Editor
“Every day on my walk from the train station to the office, I listen to ‘Run The World (Girls)’ by Beyoncé and remember how strong and powerful I am. Pair that with a double shot iced latte and an almond croissant, and you know it’s going to be a good day.”
Francesca Wallace, Senior Digital Fashion Editor
“I always like to leave enough time in the morning for 10 minutes to lie in bed and wake up. I find this time of my day one of the most productive, as it’s where I choose what I’m going to wear, sift and delete emails, reply to friends who messaged me overnight and figure out my headspace for the day ahead. I find that if I don’t get this 10 minutes to myself in the morning, my whole day is thrown out of whack. Don’t ask me why, but it’s really important!”
Isabelle Truman, Assistant Digital Content Manager
“On the days when I get up and go to the gym, before heading home again to shower and get ready for work, I find I’m in such a better headspace and have so much more energy to get through the day. The hard part is forcing myself out of bed (hence not doing it often enough!)”
