Mornings set the tone for the rest of your day. It's so easy to wake up, hit the snooze button until the last minute, and then hurry out the door or to your work desk. What does this do to your nervous system, digestion, and mood? What does this do to your body over time?
Having a self care routine in the morning helps you pause and regulate your nervous system. It helps you begin the day with a sense of calm and vigor which helps you tackle anything that comes your way during the day. Some days, self care may be doing absolutely nothing, sleeping in, and that can be nourishing as well. It may be beneficial to sprinkle those kinds of mornings into your self care routine or keep them for weekends. I keep my morning routine fairly simple during the week and thought I'd share this with you.
My Morning Routine
Early wake up time - Waking up early allows time in the morning for self care activities. This might mean going to bed earlier at night. If you're a parent, consider having a morning routine before the kids wake up.
Gratitude mindset - A gratitude mindset is where you wake up and first think of what you're grateful for. Gratitude reduces inflammation in the body, the core process of all major diseases.
2 cups of water - Drinking room temperature or warm water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach hydrates the body, helps to flush out toxins, and supports metabolism. Add lime or lemon to support liver cleansing and digestion.
Meditation - Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind on an object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. I set my timer for 10 minutes and focus my attention on the inhale and exhale. Whenever I get lost in a thought, I simply bring my attention back to the breath.
Exercise for 30-45 minutes - Exercising can be a brisk walk outside, a jog, lifting weights, yoga, kickboxing, or any other form of sustained activity. Working out has numerous benefits for the mind and body. If you really want to feel refreshed, jump in a cool shower afterwards.
Uplifting music - Music is a form of medicine. Listening to uplifting, positive, and calming music as I get ready for the day helps me feel that way also. You can find various playlists on Spotify and Youtube.
Whole food breakfast - A whole food breakfast will look different for everyone. For me, this includes dark leafy greens such as kale, eggs, and avocado or steel cut oatmeal, coconut oil, blueberries, and honey. To make things easier, you can meal prep hard boil eggs and make overnight oats.
Consider trying this routine during the week for a month and see how you feel. If you enjoyed this article, share it with your friends and colleagues!