Of all the wellbeing tips and tricks, mindset practices and lifestyle changes I’ve implemented in my life – creating a morning routine has been one of the most effective. The benefits of it have rippled into all aspects of my life, from my work to my relationships and even to my self-confidence. Starting your day on the right note means setting yourself up for a magical day ahead.
We’ve probably all had a morning (or two!) where we snooze our alarm multiple times, wake up feeling groggy, snooze our alarm again, force ourselves out of bed, rush to get ready, and begin our day. And it’s more than likely we’ve spent the rest of the day feeling out of alignment. How we use our energy in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. And this is exactly why establishing a morning routine is SO important.
Now, I’m not going to tell you to wake up at 5am every day, do a 10 mile run and have freshly squeezed orange juice before the sun comes up. However, I will share my tips on how you can create a magical morning routine that works for you. And if 5am wake-ups are your thing – amazing! They certainly work for me.
Start your morning the night before
It might sound silly – but getting yourself prepared for the morning before you go to sleep can help you approach the day in a calm and relaxed way. Whether this is having your yoga mat laid out, breakfast in the fridge or laptop set up for work – take the time to do something the version of you in the morning will thank you for! Plus, doing these things can give you back extra time in the morning which can be spent focusing on setting your desired tone for the day ahead.
No screen-time until after your routine
Checking our phone as soon as we wake up is often a natural reflex for so many of us. But spending an hour scrolling on Instagram or reading through conversations can shape how we start the day. Make it a habit to only look at your phone once you’ve finished your morning routine. It might be difficult at first, but it can make such a difference. Those emails can wait – trust me.
Integrate silence before the day begins
Incorporating silence into your morning routine promotes a sense of inner calm and stillness before the day begins. And with so many of us having an always-on mentality these days, a few moments of stillness can be so beneficial. Whether it’s through meditation, visualisation, a walk in nature or repeating affirmations to yourself in your head – start your day with silence and take a moment to really get grounded.
Move your body in a way that feels good
Stretch out any tension from the day before and move your body in a way that feels good for you. And if no movement feels good, that’s fine too. Listen to your body and adjust your routine accordingly – it could be running, yoga, doing a workout, dancing or stretching.
Transfer your emotions from mind to paper
Sometimes we wake up with a lot of mental clutter and it can stay with us throughout the day. It doesn’t need to be this way. Grab a nice notebook and pen, and journal your thoughts until they’re all out on the paper. The act of simply writing them out can help you feel like you’re releasing them. And this gives you more space in your mind to think about the things you want to think about. If writing isn’t your thing, don’t worry – you could draw your thoughts, voice note them on an app or speak them aloud.
Nourish your mind, body and soul
However you choose to establish your morning routine, remember to nourish your mind, body and your soul. The ways in which you choose to do this are completely up to you. And if it’s different every day – then so be it. Do what feels good for you. If that means feeling like an extra hour in bed before going for a run, or waking up early before cooking a delicious breakfast – honour that.
The key to the most effective morning routine is not doing what everyone else is doing, nor is it doing what you think you should be doing – it’s figuring out what works for you and integrating into your daily practice in a way that feels right. That’s the secret to creating a magical morning routine.
Words courtesy of @littlestepstohappiness
