Mindful Morning Routine

Often we think that this week is "starting fresh" week,  and with it come a few things you can use to start fresh in any moment of your life.

The way you decide to start your morning can have a major impact on how the rest of your day will go. You can start your day randomly each morning if you want, but creating a meaningful morning routine may be the better route to take if you're looking for the most productive and stress-free use of your time.

Every moment is an opportunity to start fresh, to become fully awake to our lives in the present moment and let go of the past. In fact, to become fully awake to the present moment with …being mindful itself to let go of the past.

In every moment that we're mindful, we've decided to live our lives most fully and have chosen freedom instead of the chains of the past. And this doesn't have to be something specific like a relationship or difficult challenge, it can be anything…simply anything…

But at times that can be easier said than done when we have so many other responsibilities. And if it's not responsibilities getting us, it's just plain forgetfulness with all the potential distractions that exist around us in each moment.

Morning routine is One of the most beautiful and powerful tools I've found for helping me live with more awareness...enjoy and live in the moment. And indeed, I'm not alone in seeing the power of the early morning, as morning routines and early rising, in general, have become an entire topic on their own in the past several years. And if we are specifically talking in the context of our emotional well-being or mental health…at times it is very difficult for some of us and it’s very very important to carry out a simple routine as simple as waking up in the morning for our emotional health...

The morning is a special time for us to be with ourselves, reflect within ourselves, and simply be present to the peaceful silence of the morning.

I do indeed take my morning routine seriously and find it a very important part of my day, but everyone is different. So know that when I talk about morning routines and creating a mindful morning, I don't mean anything specific except for waking up in the morning and being fully present for a few simple activities...

Whatever you do, do it with mindfulness, fully present for the peace and quiet of the morning and find solace in the silence. Silence can be a very nourishing and empowering experience.

Ways to Create a Mindful Morning Routine That Nourishes Your Mind and Jump Starts Your Life

So, where do we start? So How do we begin to take advantage of the early morning to help us live a more mindful and deeply nourishing life? Here are a few steps to creating a mindful morning routine:

🌿Get enough quality sleep (have a nourishing nightly ritual)

Creating a mindful morning routine is all about intentionality. 

First thing's first- before anything you need to decide on a time to wake up and have your sleep schedule down pat. Even if you're just waking up a few minutes earlier than normal, without proper planning it not only won't work out but you'll be lacking sleep in the process, and that will affect the entire rest of your day.

Before you can wake up early, you need to make sure you're getting good sleep and have a regular set bedtime and nightly ritual.

This nightly routine is exactly what you need to help support your mindful morning routine. Early risers, and those who have effective morning routines, plan their day on paper. The best strategy that has worked for me for years, as well as many other people, is to plan tomorrow on paper tonight. It's highly effective to have an evening boundary, where you stop your work for the day, in order to properly plan the next day. 

🌿Start slowly (at least a little) 

This one might sound obvious, but it's the most difficult point on this list to do and something.

Again, remember that this doesn't have to be anything crazy.  everyone's circumstances are different. So decide what time you'd like to shoot for and work on it in 30-minute increments. Starting a morning routine is to start out slowly with one where you add little windows of time, and small tasks. Take this time to meditate, you may get an energy boost and feel calm also.

🌿We all have morning rituals and morning habits

So, how do we decide what's a part of our mindful morning routine?

A morning routine is really just a collection of activities, usually referred to as morning rituals, and they can be anything from meditation to arts and crafts to your daily work. Anything can be done with mindfulness, so really anything can be included here. But there are certain things we're shooting for.

As I mentioned, it's best to keep it simple here as anything overly complicated will be difficult to stick to.anything can be done mindfully.

Sometimes you just need to pick the right activities that will not only help flex your body but your mind as well. "There are many habits you can choose to include in your morning routine, and one of the best strategies is to focus on energy. Choose habits that will engage your mind and body so that you are up and awake when your workday begins. This could include drinking a large quantity of water, making time for a quick but vigorous workout, or preparing a healthy smoothie for breakfast. (anything can be done mindfully as I mentioned, but some activities lend themselves to greater mindfulness).

What kinds of activities are those?  Few examples:

🌸Meditate

🌸Drink tea (or coffee) mindfully

🌸Keep a journal

🌸Mindful walking or running outside

🌸Do something creative (write, draw, paint, create)

🌸Create something / Passion project 

Remember, the main idea to keep in mind is the question, "what do I want to accomplish with my morning routine?" A mindful morning routine is about nourishing the mind and finding a quiet moment of peace through the practice of mindfulness or with any other practice of your choice.

Know what you want and decide what you'll do with your mindful morning routine based on that.

🌿Give your best effort

Try to give your best effort to stick with your morning routine, which will no doubt take a bit of work at first. That's the main idea here, to be mindful throughout this entire time you have in the morning to yourself...

If you're waking up 30 minutes early and you've decided to sit and meditate for 15 minutes and then walk mindfully outside for another 15, then your goal is to be mindful in every moment from the moment you wake up to the moment your routine ends and you have to get ready for the day.

Of course, you're making your best effort here. 

A few tips for making the most of your mindful morning routine:

🌸Move slowly- It's a misconception that you have to do something slowly to do it in mindfulness, but that's mostly because slow + mindful is a very nourishing combination. I'd suggest that whatever you do you do it slowly, paying close attention to each and every little action.

🌸Silence..appreciate it- You could always appreciate some good music in the morning, but my suggestion would be to bask in the silence. Silence is a very nourishing experience and no time is better for that then in the morning. And silence is another great complement to mindfulness practice.

🌸Change it up- You don't literally have to do the same thing each and every morning. Plan and experiment different morning rituals, if for no reason other than to try them out. This can really help keep things fresh and that makes it easier for you to stay in mindfulness.

. Each and every morning is a moment, an opportunity, to start fresh and begin anew.

No matter what happened the previous day, month, or year you can put your best foot forward and walk mindfully, live mindfully, fully awake to the beauty of the present moment.

🌿Don't Hit The Snooze Button

Often the moment you hear the alarm you hit the snooze button over and over again, just rethink your morning habit ...be mindful about it. It's probably not a good idea to feel stressed the minute you wake up because you're running late. Take the time to set one alarm and wake up right away when it goes off.

🌿Do Something That’s makes you Feel Special

Your serotonin is stimulated when you feel special. We all have some conflict around this because it seems 'not nice' to be special, but it’s what your brain longs for. So find a way to give it to yourself in a small way every morning. This could entail adding berries or almonds to your yoghurt and have it in a mindful way or styling your hair in the morning and admire yourself in front of a mirror. Whatever you choose to do, continue to do it until it becomes mundane, then find something new that will make you feel special again.

🌿Ignore Technology 

I highly recommend you don't watch television, or even check email until you have completed your most important morning habit. Technology is enticing and be mindful about it.

🌿Connect With A Loved One in a mindful way

Your oxytocin is stimulated when you have the safety of social trust, so connect with one person you trust before you launch into the world of people you may-or-may-not trust. connecting with someone that you love can positively boost your morning ritual.

🌿Go Exercise, mindful yoga or some other physical activity of your choice

Instead of eating a sugary breakfast right when you wake up, reward your brain by exercising, mindful yoga, stretching ….anything of your liking.

🌿Get Others Involved In Your New Morning Routine

If loved ones are partaking in your morning routine with you, you may feel more inclined to continue this new habit. It's also a great practice to get your whole family on board with an intentional mindful morning routine so that the entire household can engage in healthy habits.

…

Depending on what you'd like to do with your own mindful morning routine, your morning will differ. 

Starting the morning out right may help you feel less stressed and more focused so you may be able to accomplish more tasks throughout the day

🕉Mindful morning mantra

To close, here's mindful morning mantra for starting fresh each day and making the most of your mindful morning routine:

As I open my eyes,

I awaken to the beauty and freshness of this moment,

A whole new 24-hours has been given to me,

I will live it mindfully,

Appreciating deeply every moment of it.