We all have that friend that eases into their day in a quiet, peaceful manner– a hot cup of tea or coffee in hand meditating with the morning glow illuminating their face. God, I want that, we think as we wake in a ball of anxiety and are thrust into our day. Guess what? It’s possible. You can have that and you deserve it. Instead of jumping right into getting ready for work and your important tasks for the day take some time for yourself. We often emphasize having successful days and a successful life when we should really be prioritizing our mental, physical and emotional health. A healthy morning routine is a great way to prioritize this first thing!
I recently started a morning ritual as part of my yoga and meditation practice. Honestly, there are days that it just doesn’t happen and it is on those days that I suffer. I have noticed a significant difference in my mental health on the days I make the time for my morning ritual. It is truly so important. I especially notice this difference on the days I start my day on social media. It is hard with children, work and any other responsibilities you may have to maintain a routine like this. So give yourself grace and do your best. Remember this is for you, it’s not intended to add stress, but instead alleviate it. I promise, once you make that time for yourself, you won’t regret it.
How To Start A Simple Morning Ritual
Carve out time each day.
Start with something small and reasonable. That could mean setting your alarm clock just 5 or 10 minutes earlier and utilizing that time in a specific way. Try not to hit that snooze button although it is always tempting! You may find that you begin to crave more time and decide to take 20 or 30 minutes instead. I have found waking up early to be the best way to make this time for myself. You may not consider yourself a morning person but if you start to create a habit and go to bed a little earlier, you may surprise yourself!
Find a peaceful setting for your ritual.
I created morning routine doing yoga in a small room connected to our bedroom and it did not work. I could hear my husband snoring and my baby crying and it was anything but peaceful. Make sure you pick a space where you can have the peace and quiet you need and deserve in order to make this time beneficial for yourself.
Set realistic goals.
If you start with the goal of an hour long morning ritual, you are most likely going to avoid it and then feel guilt, shame and like a failure. Womp, womp… That is literally the opposite of the goal in mind here. Remember to start small and you can always build. Keep it simple. If you try to do too much, you will feel overwhelmed and create more stress for yourself. Pick one or two things that are important to you and go with it. You can always switch it up based on your mood. Some mornings I journal and some mornings I meditate. Feel into your mind and body and find a groove that serves you.
Be easy on yourself.
If you slip up and miss a couple of mornings, that’s okay! We are our own worst critic. If you had no morning ritual practice to begin with celebrate the fact that you did it, whether it’s three times or once. That in and of itself is a success. This is meant to be a self care practice to make you feel better, not another stressful thing in your life.
Are you an externally motivated individual?
Same, same. Find a morning ritual buddy. Check in with your friend about your morning rituals and help to hold each other accountable. No shaming for slipping up on goals. Help to motivate each other and celebrate successes. Have discussions about how this morning ritual has helped and it will encourage you to keep up with it.
Personalize your morning ritual.
Everyone’s different and everyone has something that works for them. Trying to force yourself to do yoga every morning when that is not your thing is going to make you dread your morning routine and in turn it won’t last. What makes you feel good? What helps you feel relaxed, energized, rejuvenated? How do you want to start your day? Create a routine that is unique to you.
6 Ideas For A Morning Ritual
Drinking a cup of coffee/tea.
Sitting in silence and enjoying a cup of coffee or tea is a nice easy, relaxing way to begin a morning ritual. Drinking coffee in the morning helps to jumpstart your day and having this in quiet peace sounds so luxurious! It can be as simple as that. Oftentimes, we skip right to coffee. Make sure to drink water first! You can add some lemon or another fruit to your glass of water to make it refreshing and rejuvenating.
Yoga and Meditation.
If yoga and meditation are your thing, then there is no better way to start your day. This will set you up to feel more relaxed and content for the rest of the day. Ease your mind and body into the day and set yourself up for a physical and mental state ready to take on whatever comes your way. Yoga and meditation are both great ways to reduce stress, especially if you tend to wake up feeling anxious. I fluctuate between 20 and 40ish minutes. Sometimes I do my own guided practice with a playlist that fits my mood for the day and sometimes I utilize a Glo class. I love Glo, but you can also access free classes on youtube or you may have a favorite local teacher that offers virtual options.
Journaling & Reading.
If you are a reader or writer these practices are such a nice way to begin your day from within. For so many of us, the first thing we see when we wake up is our phones. This immediately sends our brain into autopilot. Allowing your mind to begin functioning for the day by utilizing one of these simple practices is a healthier way to wake your mind and check in with yourself. If you’re looking for something to guide you through your journaling practice, try this– I’m a big Glennon fan and I just bought a bunch of these as gifts, as well as one for myself of course… Get Untamed Journal.
As always, try your local bookstore first! If you are looking for beautiful lined journals to get those creative juices flowing, I also love these personalized notebooks on Etsy. If journaling isn’t your thing read a book instead. Reading is such a relaxing and enjoyable way to start the day.
Taking a bath.
How luxurious would it feel to take a bath in the morning? I personally haven’t done this yet, but I’ve heard it is such a powerful way to wake our bodies that are 60% water. Feel free to give yourself permission to enjoy a bath! Why not?
Build a fire.
If you have a wood stove or fireplace the ritual of building a fire first thing in the morning can be so comforting and soothing, especially this time of year. It feels almost meditative and brings warmth and love. Maybe even a little bit of fiery energy that you may need to kickstart your day. You could even try making a simmer pot with some essential oils, fruits or herbs. Try peppermint for an energizing boost, rosemary and lemon for a clarifying scent, cinnamon, oranges, or pine for a seasonal feel.
Take a walk/run.
If you are the active type, getting out and moving first thing is so helpful to release some pent up energy and bring balance to your day. This will set you up for a good morning and day ahead by bringing your energy levels up. Not only is moving our body first thing good for our metabolism and physical body, but also a great way to improve our mental health. Not to mention, spending time outdoors first thing (or anytime of day) is so good for our mental and physical health. Taking a walk or run without music/podcast helps us go within and listen to that inner voice, but if you need some motivation try one of Spotify’s themed mood playlists or a podcast of your choice. Jess and I will be suggesting podcasts later this week too 🙂
How Long Should a Morning Routine Be?
Honestly, a morning routine can be as long as you want it to be! Most people set aside between 30 and 90 minutes for their morning routine but again, you can start small with just 10 minutes. You may find over time that you are craving more time to yourself in the morning and this will motivate you to wake up a little earlier or designate a little more time to your routine.
Why Is A Morning Routine Important?
A morning routine is important because it helps us to feel good in our body and mind for the coming day. It can even help us to have a more productive day. We often wake up feeling anxious about the day ahead and jump into it without grounding ourselves or doing something to help shift our mindset. This only leads us to become more anxious and stressed as the day progresses. Do yourself a favor and reset so you can start your day on a calm and content note.
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