Vuka ubangene: How to create the ultimate morning routine

Raise your hand if this sounds like an average morning: Your alarm goes off and your first instinct is to hit the snooze button. So, you follow your gut and sneak in a few more minutes of sleep. Then you realise a few more minutes of sleep was actually half an hour in bed, and now you’re forced to cut your shower short, wolf down your breakfast, zip through bumper-to-bumper traffic, and clock in just in time to avoid a talking to from HR. That’s no way to start the day.

Mayhem happens in the morning, but so does magic. Have enough good mornings and before you know it, you’ve had a good year. Are you trying to rise and shine, but not sure how to map out your mornings?

Here’s how to vuka ubangene not just in the morning, but throughout the year.

Sleep and wake up at the same time

Consistency is the cornerstone of any real routine. The idea of a fixed bedtime might seem a bit weird to anyone who isn’t a toddler, but there’s a lot to be gained from hitting the sack and waking up on schedule every day. Falling asleep and waking up at the same time does wonders for your internal clock, which leads to way better sleep.

Don’t hit the snooze button

Hitting the snooze button does more than just give you a few more minutes of sleep. It also reinforces the idea that immediate wins are better than delayed gratification. In the moment, it feels good to say buzz off to your blaring alarm. But the temporary satisfaction it provides isn’t worth the headache it causes later. If you find yourself hitting the snooze button way more than you’d like to, try to figure out the reason. If it’s because you still feel tired, sleep a bit earlier. On the other hand, if it’s because you feel overwhelmed, start the day with an activity that calms you down.

Get out of bed

Plenty of people spend the first part of their day browsing social media before they get out of bed. It’s a tempting habit, but one that does more damage in the long run. As soon as your alarm goes off, the first order of the day should be getting out bed and channelling your attention to an activity that demands your full attention, such as preparing to leave the house or squeezing in a bit of exercise before you hit the road.

Get a good breakfast

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ more times than you care to remember. But clichés carry a world of truth, which explains why they’re repeated so often. Once you’ve mastered the art of ignoring the snooze button, make sure you dig into a good breakfast within an hour of waking up. By good breakfast, we’re not talking about a garage pie and Coke. We were thinking something more along the lines of the Wimpy Vuka Brekkie. That’s one egg, three rashers of streaky bacon, a frank, pork banger, grilled tomato, and a slice of toast. All for just R49.90. Order yours from a Wimpy near you.

Starting your day with the right habits goes a long way to boosting your productivity. Building and sustaining that routine is the key to not only a morning to look forward to, but a year to look back on with a smile.