Mornings can be tough to master, especially after the long quarantine that interrupted the routine of life with the pandemic. There's a lot of reasons why taking on the day why finding our morning gusto might be challenging. Check out these morning practices and see which resonate or have the most bang; try one or two and see which ones make the difference. Setting up your day for success may require some svadhaya, self-inquiry and small adjustments.
Each person has a different way to connect to the energies of life. The best healthy morning routine may even change with the seasons or according to the demands of life. My goal is to optimize both mindfulness and productivity while greeting life anew each morning.
- Meditation doesn't always need to happen before anything else. In fact, for some of us, it may work better after some yoga asana, reading something inspirational, skin brushing, etc. Take the pressure off to sit immediately and see if coming back to it a bit later in the morning feels like a yes.
- If you often find yourself swimming in emotions, spend five minutes logging your gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal and connect to what you have or feel is a blessing to your life. You might find it funny, but hot water is often at the top of my gratitude list. Sometimes you need to go back to the basics!
- Some people really do need to get in touch with their bodies. Grounding the free spirit and calming the mind can happen in a short 5-15 minute yoga practice. This practice can be as lively or as calming as you need depending on the day! Dive in and let your mind and body come into conversation for a truly great morning hello.
- Do you jump into goals and to productivity before you do you? This is how a lot of successful people kick start the day. Yet, they forget the most important part of the equation; taking time to take care for themselves. Try skin brushing or take some extra time massaging your face and neck as you apply the morning lotion. You can rule the kingdom and feel amazing at the same time.
- Release tension, toxins and emotions with some self massage. Loosen up and get grounded while you consider how you want your day to evolve. An extra 5 minutes of self care by invigorating your skin and loving up your muscles can soften the intensity you bring into the day.
- Need a cup of joy? Bring in some creativity and beam some of your favorite music into the morning mix. Pumping yourself up may mean drawing in some delight from a song that stimulates your brain into a happy place. Look out, though, you might be dancing while stirring up the eggs!
- People who are sensitive to their environment and the energies in the home can benefit from nurturing some plants or brushing the dog. Activate your cuddly side and bring some love into the beginning of the day.
- One of my favorite and most productive ways to start the day is to read something motivational. A sutra from The Radiance Sutras translated by Lorin Roche is always uplifting. Pulling a card from one of my decks and reading the interpretation is a super mindful way to drop into the pulse of the day. The Inner Compass Oracle by Evelyn Terranova is a favorite.
- Breakfast can truly be the way to champion your morning. I suggest keeping it low glycemic and high fiber so that you can rock all the way till lunch and feel like you've honored one of the finer delights of life...the gift of high quality fuel.
- Are you a snooze button aficionado? Me too and that's why I set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier than I need to arise and shine. I absolutely LOVE lingering in the soft sleepy and yet lovingly respectful slow build. You might say I'm wasting valuable sleep time, but I say don't knock it till you try it. Roll around, stretch, snuggle, lengthen your breaths, anything that will help you nurture yourself into the magical moment of throwing back the covers and saying YES to another sweet day of living.