A Morning Routine for Everyday Success
Each day is a new beginning. What do new beginnings look like for you? Do you arise each morning with doves gliding in through your window, pulling back the covers and unveiling your peaceful self to rise and shine? Or do you push snooze a few times, bury yourself deeper in the sheets and silently curse the day before it barely starts?
The way you begin our day not only has a huge impact on the whole day ahead but on your overall well-being. Mornings are a sacred and powerful time for you to tune into yourself and connect mind, body and spirit. If you can anchor yourself in some well-and-good morning intentions, you’ll have a much better chance of riding the wave of positive momentum throughout the day. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is true too. If you give in to thoughts and feelings of doubt and dread, there's a good chance you'll be dragging your mind through the mud all day long.
Since cultivating a solid morning routine for myself and experiencing the amazing benefits, it has been non-negotiable part of my day for many suns. My morning routine helps me to clear my mind, uplift my mood and allow myself to be guided from a place of truth and trust. From that place, I surely attract good vibes and opportunities throughout the day.
I absolutely love helping my clients craft their own personal morning routines and watch how it helps them in their lives. It varies from person to person of course, depending on how much time in the morning is actually available due to schedules and responsibilities. However even with limited time, a consistent morning practice has everyone feeling more energized for their day and life!
Here's a look at my personal morning practice. Please feel free to try any or all of these suggestions.
1) Drink water. Water is a cure-all, so let's heal our lives by doing this first thing everyday. Drinking a glass or two of water upon rising helps to flush the digestive system and rehydrate the body after a night's sleep. I suggest warm (or room temp) water so that your body can absorb it easier than cold water early in the AM. I add a squeeze of lemon and a tsp of finely chopped fresh ginger. Be sure to drink filtered or spring water (best option). I am currently using a Zero Water pitcher. So far, so good.
2) Breakfast & Elixir. After hydrating, it’s elixir time. Do you have favorite morning beverage? Currently mine is a single cup of locally-roasted coffee (decaf) with a scoop of Om mushroom powder and Nutpods French Vanilla almond-coconut creamer. Holy bliss! Many people report to not be very hungry upon rising so you might save breakfast for the last step in your morning routine (but don't skip it)! I'm usually ravenous when I wake up and find that eating helps to ground me. What you eat depends on your body type too. I currently prefer some variation of Medical Medium’s Liver Rescue Smoothie and a warm bowl of oatmeal topped with berries and a scoop of nut butter. Experimenting with different types of breakfast will help you determine what makes you feel satiated and gives you sustainable energy until lunchtime.
3) Journaling/ morning pages. Writing is one of the very best paths to self discovery. But don’t just take my word for it! Take at least 5-10 minutes to jot down your thoughts and feelings each day. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, suggests Morning Pages, which is stream-of-conscious style writing. She says "There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages, they are not high art. They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind." She also describes them as "meeting your shadow and taking it out for a cup of coffee." Watch her 2-minute video explaining Morning Pages. For me, journaling/morning pages are like taking a brain dump. It's an opportunity to empty my mind of all negative/mundane BS and create space for...
4) Meditation. "Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." - Buddha. In a world that is so fast-paced and chaotic at times, this is the best way to slooowwww down. Meditation is an opportunity to get quiet, to go within, for self-acceptance, for experiencing the calm before the storm (or in the midst of it). Many find it difficult to meditate. Well, that's why it is a practice, and I assure you that each day the practice will be different depending on how you feel and how active your monkey mind is. But as you continue with this each day, I guarantee that you will start to become more mindful, accepting and loving of all areas of your life. Something I also like to point out is that meditation is not just a mindfulness practice but a chance to connect with your body through breath and stillness. It is a wonderful time to simply feel alive as you start your day. If you are new to meditation, here are some guided medis from Tara Brach to get started with.
5) Prayer/ Intention/ Gratitude. Deepak Chopra says the best time to plant your intentions is during the period after meditation, while your awareness remains centered in the quiet field of all possibilities. I find this to be a potent time to say affirming prayers of thanks to the Universe for the day ahead. I give thanks for all that I have and all that is yet to come. This is my favorite part of the morning, when I feel truly connected to Source, fully trusting that I have everything I need in this life to flow with the day ahead. Your thoughts create your reality, so take a moment to get a good perspective. This will change your life!
I hope that you find these tools useful as you begin again each morning. If you do not have time for all of these steps, pick one or two that is manageable for you (in addition to eating breakfast). Stretching, yoga and exercise would be great additions as well. (I like to move my body mid-morning). I would love to hear what works for you! Please feel free to comment on the blog or send me an email. Everyday blessings.