Twinkle Khanna just gave up her morning beauty routine

For years, my Instagram and Whatsapp bio was ‘Procaffeinating’, which seemed apt given my expertise in procrastination. I sip on my morning cup of coffee for half an hour before I let my to-do list sneak its way into my consciousness. Safe to say, it’s not enough. My brain is never prepared to face the day, and I usually daydream of falling back into bed as soon as I am out of it. Productivity is a challenge.

This was cute when I was in college. But now that my job requires me to be a creative thinker, the procrastination and brain fog need to leave my body yesterday. In a bid to hunt for tricks to make my mornings, and consequently, my day productive, I turned to Tweak India’s Youtube channel to watch the Twinkle Khanna Morning Chai episode. From her ande ka funda to her organisational skills, and skincare routine to the quick workout hacks, you might be inspired to supercharge your mornings.

5 life hacks we’re stealing from the Twinkle Khanna Morning Chai episode

Check it off

The organisation gurus will tell you about the power of a good checklist. When you write it all down, you will never forget and there’s no joy bigger than ticking off a task after completion. Khanna goes one step ahead. “I make a list of the day and divide the day into hours and allocate those hours to the tasks I have to do. Even if I don’t achieve everything, I just feel better knowing there is some organisational principle behind all this and I will get it done,” she says.

A 10-minute workout fix

No matter how chaotic your morning is, look to the Twinkle Khanna Morning Chai episode for ideas on a quickie workout to get those mood-enhancing endorphins pumping. If you’re not motivated to sit through a 25-minute burn video, maybe Khanna’s 10-minute routine will help. She proposes two sets of this combination: planks, squats, lunges, bicep curls and overhead rows to cover a full body movement. And when all else fails, “I just suck in my stomach and leave the house.”

No-fuss makeup hacks

If like me you’re scrambling in the morning to get to work, chances are that you don’t have the time to pull off an entire makeup routine. The Twinkle Khanna Morning Chai episode has tricks that’ll cut your morning GRWM time in half. First up, tinted sunblock. It’ll give the illusion of having foundation on and save you blending time. Two, foolproof makeup products — “I have this chubby pencil in bronze which brings out the brown in my eyes and I can apply it without a mirror in a moving car. I use a kohl pencil after that, using a mirror,” Khanna says, revealing that her ophthalmologist recommended the kajal from Urban Decay. Time to *add to cart*.

Get your F&B right

Khanna admits her morning F&B habits are erratic, but she likes to start off her mornings with a glass of warm water and lemon, followed by black coffee. Drinking warm lemon water in the morning takes care of dehydration which helps in reducing brain fog. Her preferred breakfast is two boiled eggs, a protein-rich option that will ensure your blood sugar and energy levels stay stable throughout the day, leaving you with more focus to finish tasks. She also has a committed relationship with supplements, including one she takes to balance the symptoms of perimenopause.

The power of positive thinking in the morning

Being cheery and greeting the day upon rising might sound absolutely annoying. But the Twinkle Khanna Morning Chai episode reminds us to not underestimate the power of positive thinking. Research says that happy thoughts release endorphins in the brain and give you an energy boost, which in turn reflects in your productivity. Maybe it’s time to replace cursing at the alarm with a greeting in the morning. And whatever else you do, don’t forget the sunscreen.