Do you roll out of bed with a smile on your face, feeling inspired to embrace the day ahead of you? Not so much? I understand. But I also know a simple way to transform your mornings from meh to magical.
What’s the secret?
Conscious mornings.
The concept is simple. Consciously choose how you start your day instead of mindlessly going through the motions.
What does your current routine look like? More importantly, how does it make you FEEL? If you wake up feeling grumpy, rushed, overwhelmed or stressed out, it’s time to create a new morning experience that helps you feel and be your best.
Shaping your mornings in a more conscious and intentional way is simple and free. All that’s required is that you identify whatever rituals light you up and practice them daily.
The sweet thing about conscious mornings is that they’re completely customizable. This isn’t some 4-step process that tells you to wake up at dawn, exercise, write in a gratitude journal, or even meditate to reap the benefits (not that there’s anything wrong with those options!). There are no rules to follow, only self-selected activities to embrace.
We are not one-size-fits-all people, and we certainly don’t need to follow one path to make our mornings mightier and more enjoyable.
You are in the driver’s seat, with free reign to empower yourself by making conscious choices. You can choose to start your day any way you desire.
Not sure what changes you should make to your routine? Below I’ve included some practices to consider. I’ve tried all of them myself. Most of them are simple tweaks that make a HUGE difference when practiced daily.
Why are they so impactful?
Because they help you connect to yourself and elevate your energy so that you can launch into your day feeling grounded, grateful, relaxed and ready.
If you’re inspired to create a morning routine that sets a positive, high vibe tone for the rest of your day, consider adding these activities to your conscious morning:
Wake up to a less jarring alarm.
Using a loud, conventional alarm clock causes you to wake up abruptly and can set off your nervous system’s fight-or-flight response, filling your body with stress hormones. Pick an alarm sound that wakes you up gradually and peacefully, like the Tibetan singing bowls featured in the Progressive Alarm Clock app.
Set intentions before getting out of bed.
It’s impossible to know exactly what the day will bring, but you can decide how you intend to show up. Perhaps you want to focus on being of service, noticing the good in others, being grateful, or practicing more patience. Announce to yourself and the universe that this is your intention and see how it influences you throughout the day.
Stretch.
Stretching in the morning improves circulation and increases energy levels, among many other benefits. If yoga is your thing, try this 10-minute sequence or do your favorite poses to jump-start your day.
Drink a glass of warm water with lemon.
After a night of sleep, your body’s tissues are dehydrated. Drinking water with lemon before anything else (including coffee and tea) is ideal if you want to give your body a major boost of benefits. Here are 20 of them.
Check in with yourself, not social media.
What does your higher self want you to know? What is your heart telling you to do? If you never take time to connect with yourself, how will you hear the answers to these questions? Use your mornings to meditate, journal, or creatively touch base with you. Online distractions will be there later. Focus on YOU first.
Play upbeat music while you shower.
Why not make shower time more fun with some of your favorite tunes? I bring my portable speaker into the bathroom and blast Pandora while I suds up. It’s such a simple thing, but it helps me start my day with a little extra joy. Plus, listening to happy music has been shown to have some surprising health benefits.
What would make your mornings more joyful? How would you switch up your routine so that you can feel your best?
Remember: Your morning sets the tone for your day. Make yours more awesome by mindfully choosing new daily rituals that will help you start your day off in a better place.
