Routines are meant to be used as a guideline and that’s why I enjoy changing them up seasonally. However, winter (and January) is especially difficult to get into a proper routine. It’s gloomy, it’s cold and we’re all low on energy. That’s why I’m hitting the reset button and setting up my winter 2025 morning routine.
Wake up by 8am
So I doubt I’ll ever be part of the 5am alarm crew. I do like to get up early in the morning but winter is the time I allow myself to ease into the morning. I set my alarm for 7.15am and then try to get out of bed by 8am. I’m not perfect and do have a lie-in at least one day a week but 7.15am is my sweet spot, provided I’ve gone to bed by 10.30pm.
Drink a glass of water
I like to fill up my water bottle or glass before bed so it’s ready for when I wake up in the morning. Most of my water bottles are stainless steel so they stay cold until the morning. I try to get in at least 300ml of water before even getting out of bed. It’s a habit that I’ve been slacking on lately so I need to get back into the swing of things.
Gratitude journalling
Morning journalling doesn’t have to mean three pages of unfiltered writing. All I do is write down three things I’m grateful for that morning and get on with my day. Whenever I’ve tried long-form writing in the morning, my hand cramps up and I run out of stuff to write about. Writing down three things takes two minutes maximum so it’s over quickly!
Make the bed
Whilst my bed is super comfy, once I’m out of it, I’m out. By making the bed, it ensures it doesn’t look as cosy and warm than if it were unmade. I fold over the covers, prop up the pillows and fold up my blanket. It’s a small task but my room just looks instantly neater.
Get ready for the day
This comprises of my daily skincare routine, brushing my teeth and getting dressed. I’m over 30 now so my skin needs to be taken care of. My routine isn’t complicated (just cleanser, hyaluronic acid serum, double moisturiser and eye cream, SPF on days I leave the house) but I can definitely feel my skin get worse when I miss a day! After that, I brush my teeth and get dressed. I work from home so getting dressed usually means loungewear and my dressing gown in the winter!
Do some housework
One task I’ve tried to add most days is doing some housework before properly starting my day. It could be putting on a load of laundry, clearing the clothes horses of dry clothing, a quick vacuum or just a general tidy up around the house. I’ve found that getting it done first thing means I don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the day!
Make a hot chocolate
So I don’t eat breakfast or drink tea or coffee. Instead, I make myself a hot chocolate and drink a probiotic yoghurt. It’s rare that I’m very hungry first thing. If I am, I just have a slice of toast or two. However, my hot chocolate is enough for me. I’ve been using a milk frother for some time now (a cheaper alternative to the Velvetiser) and it works wonders!
Make my other drink selection
Like many of us who WFH, I can’t sit at my desk without at least one other drink. Usually, I just refill my water bottle. Sometimes, I’ll add a glass of pure orange juice or dilute orange instead. Since getting an additional monitor and stand, I only have room for two drinks now!
Get my desk set up for the day
I do like to tidy my desk the night before but it also needs setting up in the morning. That means putting my laptop back on the stand, setting up my keyboard and mouse and checking my to-do list for the day. I’ve got into a rhythm when I sit at my desk so everything has its own place!
And that’s my winter 2025 morning routine. It’s simple compared to others that I’ve seen online and on TikTok but it works for me. I’m all about personalisation and adapting it for every season.
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