Creating a Morning Routine
How do your days begin?
Do you wake up alert and alive, ready to go and anticipating the people, events and activities to come?
Or, is your mood a bit grey... your head filled with an endless to-do list, and your heart heavy?
If it's the latter, having a morning routine will set the tone for your day, helping you keep focused on achieving your goals.
You can start this off by first setting your intention.
Ask yourself; "What do you want more of in your day?"
Is it to stick to the program? Weight loss? Better health? Better mood? Increased energy? Happiness?
Figure out what your goals are, and go from there.
You need to find a morning routine that suits you, meeting your needs while also being flexible enough to adapt to your likely varied schedule – kids, unexpected meetings, etc.
Look at what ways might best nourish your mind, body and spirit, knowing you need to take care of all those aspects of yourself in order to set yourself up well for the day.
Here are some ideas, which I have found effective to get your day off to a great start:
Affirmation/Personal Mantra
Choose an affirmation/personal mantra for the day, eg. “I am beautiful and I make healthy choices for an ideal body.” As you read and re-write your goals in your journal every day, they'll become forged in your subconscious mind, and you will start taking action!
Meditation/Breath Work
You can listen to music, do a guided meditation, or focus on a mantra. I love Louise Hay and you are spoilt for choice with her meditations. Another easy form of meditation is to concentrate on your breathing. Inhale deeply through your nose to the count of four. Then, with lips puckered, exhale very slowly through your mouth to the count of 6, or for as long as you can. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times.
Yoga/Stretching
5-15 minutes of stretching/yoga poses to energise you and help jump start your day. I start in a Child’s pose, then go on to Cat-Cow pose, followed by a Downward-Dog. I then do a few rounds of Salute to the Sun, or a series of stretches that my body feels like. You can go on YouTube and find lots of quick, easy-to-do routines. Mix it up so that it doesn’t get boring.
Movement
5-10 minutes of movement to get your lymphatic system and circulation moving (set phone to "airplane mode" so you're not tempted to check social media). You can try running on the spot, dancing, or Donna Eden's Daily Energy Routine. It takes no more than 10 minutes. Check out my video above, where I share a set of simple exercises to release stress, and to get more joy and energy into your day!
Lemon Water
Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon and 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar to warm filtered water. If you are suffering from pain and inflammation you can include 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder, or 1 tsp. of minced ginger for a sluggish digestive system.
Journaling/Gratitudes
In a journal list all the things in your life that you are grateful for. Then jot down anything that has come up overnight, good or bad. Journaling is a beautiful and powerful facilitator of self-discovery. It will provide you with clarity about what you want in life, while improve your ability to commit to new, healthy habit changes.
My morning routine ritual fills me with peace and relaxation. I find this crucial to sustain me throughout the day, helping me to make healthier choices, and deal better with problems at work or home.