This Actress Has a Well-Rounded Morning Routine for a Demanding Schedule
Photo:
Stephanie Diani
Photo:
Leandro Crespi/StocksyMy favorite time of the day is morning, as it's filled with possibility! I wake up to a gentle alarm. Having thrown away the more forceful alarms, I now use anything with birds chirping or harps and have found I'm more productive and respond better to them, especially if I'm jet-lagged from traveling around the world—something I do a lot with my show Treadstone on the USA Network. We went to 15 to 20 different countries and cities around the world, so a good morning routine is important in order to have a productively fulfilling and enjoyable day! It's the springboard on which the rest of my day flies. It takes just 60 days for something to become a habit. I've stuck to this, and it's stuck with me! I am now officially a morning person! The Creative Habit talks about this.
As an international actress working across the globe, the key to establishing and maintaining a good morning routine for me is to start slowly and have a really good evening routine in place.
My morning routine is a direct continuation of the evening routine carried out the night before. Good sleep hygiene is everything, something I talked about this week on my Instagram. My good sleep hygiene post will surprise you, especially if, like me, you have trouble sleeping. It'll change your life. It did mine!
Photo:
RuslanDashinksy/Getty ImagesOutside of filming, where my call times can be as early as 4 a.m., I take every opportunity to start as late as possible!
Waking up slowly to harps and birds chirping, if only on my phone, and giving myself, my body, and my mind even just that 15 minutes to get centred (yes, I did spell it correctly—I'm English!) enables my mind and body to become friends. [They're] working together better throughout the day.
Photo:
MyFitnessPalFor this reason, I love MyFitnessPal. It is an amazing app. Being able to scan the barcode of any product and instantly know all the nutritional content and value is a huge bonus. Planning ahead is such a blessing. This stops me aimlessly grazing if I have a goal. I know how far to go with my workout and when to pull back. Days with fish and no meat, for instance, mean less cardio, and days with more carbs than protein mean less energy, so I plan ahead in the morning.
Photo:
Flavia Morlachetti/Getty ImagesI travel internationally quite a lot, so giving my mind and body the opportunity to reorient is a must. I cannot tell you how many times I've leapt out of bed and realized I was in a different country/room/place in the world. It's really important to focus and start my day from a place of relaxation in order to not only get the most of my day but more importantly be able to give the most creatively. Life is a beautiful journey. I think, Let's take time to enjoy it.
Photo:
Leandro Crespi/StocksyNow I'm awake. I do the most important thing in my day: turn to HTB app with a complete audio option. I love this. It centres my mind and soul and reminds me of what is truly important in life; it is the definition of purpose. It sets the tone for my entire day, and I notice the difference if I skip a day. It encourages me and reminds me of who I am and whose I am and reminds me just what I've been called to do.
It's important to silence those voices of doubt and insecurity that pop up even for the most successful people. Remembering also that each person I encounter is also "fearfully and wonderfully made" gives me such a sense of calm, peace, and stability, even in times of uncertainty. I spend time reflecting and journaling about what I feel God has spoken to me through His Word about. I end this with a prayer to God and Jesus, putting on some Travis Greene and reflecting on my baptism verse: "For I know the plans that I have for you [insert your name here], plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Photo:
fortyforks/Getty ImagesNow I have renewed my mind and worked out my spirit. I'm ready to work out my body. For a fresh-faced look, I use these products below and regimen. I love the smooth skin and look these products give me, not to mention the quality of my skin afterward!
Photo:
Tracy IfeachorI power-walk to my gym. This walk also gets logged into the MyFitnessPal app! It's really so very important to me to have a dedicated workout space outside of my home. No equipment in the corner that slowly just becomes an unintended coat hook or clothes horse—no, no! It's great to look across and see other people going for their goals too.
Photo:
Tracy IfeachorI love inventing workouts that engage my mind. Timed workouts with skipping rope and a superset involving my own bodyweight give the best muscle definition, adding strength whilst still promoting natural femininity that propel me forward into my day. I take time to listen to my body and pay close attention to what I have been eating the day before. Today will be a lighter workout, as I had a lighter dinner and the weather is getting colder. Well, now that I have worked out mind, body, and soul, it can only mean one thing…
Photo:
Tracy IfeachorMy breakfast needs to be light and consists of oatmeal made with hot water as opposed to milk. I think it tastes much better, and I feel healthier. [I also include] 19 grams of honey (well, I have just worked out, so I've earned it!) and heated organic blueberries and raspberries. I avoid wheat in the morning, as it makes me feel sluggish, and I plan a protein meal for lunch. Having meals to aim toward means I am more motivated throughout the day and have more energy. Juices have more processed sugar than a small chocolate bar, so I avoid them first thing in the morning, and caffeine is a migraine trigger, so they're both out for me, I'm used to it now. I'm partial to a light Earl Grey English tea, though!
Now I'm fueled and ready for the day!
Next up: This TV Exec Wants You to Start Every Morning Feeling Like a Goddess