“Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.”
— Lemony Snicket
You wake up in the morning and restlessly get out of bed dreading to start your day. We all have been there, and still do on some days.
Don’t beat yourself up for it…life happens for the best of us.
If you find yourself doing this every morning, then maybe it’s time to change some things around.
How you want to start your day, believe it or not, it’s up to you and your attitude.
Your thoughts, your attitude, your morning routine will set the tone for the rest of the day, so it’s important to start it the way that elevates you.
There are so many practices to incorporate in the morning, the list is endless and different ones work for different individuals. You just have to find the ones that work for you.
Here are five practices which work for me in the morning to calm myself and get my focus so I am ready to tackle the rest of the day.
5 Simple Practices to Elevate your Morning Routine
1. Hydrate – Warm water
First thing I do when I wake up and you should try it for yourself is have a warm cup of water.
And when I say “first thing” I literally mean it.
Studies have found drinking warm water could reduce stress and feelings of anxiety.
It acts like a vasodilator so it helps expand the vessels improving circulation and blood to muscles.
It also will help you with digestion by reducing the risk of constipation and supports regular bowel movement.
Now who can say no to that?!
Aside from the health aspects of it…drinking warm water in the morning really gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling to really wake you up in a gentle calming way.
A helpful tip: Have warm water ready in a thermos from the night before, so it’s there by your bedside when you wake up, so it’s literally the first thing you do.
2. Make your Bed
Doesn’t this take us all back to our childhood days where mom is always complaining about how messy the room is and nagging us to make the bed every morning.
But we still don’t do it.
Well, I think it’s time we do it. Because moms are always right.
Also, because it does make a difference in our everyday life.
Making your bed, believe it or not, sets you up for success in the morning.
It may seem like an insignificant act but it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Beginning the day with this small act can start your day with calmness, relaxation and in an organized manner.
It takes less than 2 minutes to do and can significantly impact your attitude for the rest of the day.
Trust me…it’s worth it!
3. Stretching
After having a long night of sleep, your body can feel stiff making you feel barely awake.
Stretching can help with both by easing your muscle and getting you out of the sleepy state.
It can also enhance your flexibility, decrease discomfort, improve blood flow and circulation and energize the body.
Stretching in the morning can be a form of self-care to start your day with calmness and focus.
You do not have to jump into advanced yoga right off the start, ease yourself into it.
Even starting with a few basic stretches can yield a world of difference if done consistently for a few minutes a day.
4. Breathwork
Similar to stretching, breathwork can help you relax, bring calmness and focus to your morning routine.
Spending even a few minutes focusing on your breathing, can bring awareness to yourself by being in the present moment.
When you are in the present moment you are not worrying about the past or present, you are simply here.
This automatically reduces the stress in your body, lowers blood pressure and heart rate bringing your body and mind a state of serene.
Start slow with just a few minutes a day in the morning and slowly increase the time to what works for you.
5. Gratitude
It can feel overwhelming to rattle your head in the morning trying to think of all the things to be grateful for, but it’s a game changer.
Saying your gratitude, helps you see the positive in life and reminds you of all the good things to be thankful for.
This allows you to appreciate the things you already have in your life, and doing this in the morning sets your attitude on how the rest of the day will go.
This simple practice will boost your mood, positive emotions, and increase your self-esteem by reducing any negative self talk.
The more gratitude you feel within yourself the more good you will start to see in your life leading to more good happening.
Cup of Final Thoughts 🍵
I truly believe having a good morning ritual is essential in how the rest of the day will turn out.
A good morning routine will give you the head start to a successful day.
Practices which elevate your emotions and bring calmness can promote your overall wellness leading to a productive day.
You don’t have to dive deep into an overwhelming routine, that’s not what this is about.
Start with something small, one practice at a time and slowly incorporate more into it as time goes.
