Build the best morning routine to live your best life

Are you losing an hour each morning in the battle with the snooze button?  I was.  For a long time.

Then I realized the joys of early mornings.  For starters, it is peaceful.  Birds are starting to sing, the roads are quiet of traffic, and the general sounds of life have not quite been turned up to the deafening din of rush hour and beyond.

But there is more wonder than just the quiet to be found in the early morning!  Creativity sparks, as does motivation (once you make it a routine at least).  There are many books written and programs designed around early morning routines.  And there is good reason.  They really work to kick start your mindfulness and productivity.

Ayurveda advises that the natural rhythms of our bodies should start with rising just before sunrise.  That is a good place to start.  I find I am mentally sharpest when in sync with this natural rhythm.  I also find that the early morning allows for a routine that level-sets my day for positivism.  Just an extra hour or two in the morning can do wonders for your health, relationships, productivity, and outlook on life.

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.”
– Richard Whately

Want to know how my morning begins?

Alarm goes off and I hit snooze (yes, there’s a reason here for that extra ten minutes!).  On hearing the alarm, the dog repositions herself alongside me for a few belly rubs and kisses (this could also happen with your partner, just sayin’!).  I enjoy those few minutes of fluffy snuggles while I begin to stretch and shake out my body.  When the alarm goes off again ten minutes later, we’re up.

1. Hit the bathroom for a quick rinse of the face, brushing of the teeth, and a tongue scraping. Hello, fresh day!
2. Grab a cup of warm lemon water. Your liver will love this morning wake up, as will your metabolism.  Add some ginger to it if you’d really like a boost.  Or, there’s coffee or tea.  
3. Head out the door for a walk with the dogs. Take a walk for 15 minutes or more.  I let them sniff whatever they want to…I can always get a few more stretches in.  If you have no dog to walk, this is a great time for a few sun salutations or other yoga stretches to loosen the body and center the mind.  Nothing too intense until you’ve had breakfast, or at least some fruit.  Your body will function better during exercise if it is not in starvation mode.
4. Meditation: This has been a real eye-opener, pardon any pun, to centering my day.  Whether for five minutes of thirty (or more), you can bring your mind to state of rested wakefulness that will help you endure whatever the day throws at you.  Whether you are a beginner or someone who has been practicing meditation for decades, you will see the benefit in adding this to your daily routine.  Think you’re not ready for “formal” meditation?  A few minutes of prayer, or just silent contemplation of your day work too.  [Note: I’ll go into more details on meditation styles and practices in separate posts as there is so much great information to share on this topic]
5. Read/Write/Learn. This is one of those things that so often get cut when we find ourselves busy with life, yet it is an important component for overall wellness.  For me, some of these things are done daily, while others are on rotation.
   1. Read: Reading is an easy one to do every day. Whether it is a book, magazine, religious text or the newspaper, just find a comfortable place to be and read.  Note, this does not mean checking email or social media!  I prefer to read things that are uplifting.  My mom and dad like to mail me articles and comics from their local paper–usually accompanied by notations I can barely read in mom’s scribble.  I save these envelopes to open on days when I really need to smile and feel like I’m with them.
   2. Write: Journaling is a great way to get the clutter out of your mind and down on paper where it can live happily ever after without bothering you again. Try 5 to 15 minutes of freestyle writing each day and see how you feel after a week.  If you don’t think you have that much time, try writing down one to three things that you are grateful for each day.  Just a list.  Think of something new each day.  You’ll be amazed at how many things will come to mind, and on those days when you’re feeling down, you can pull out that list to raise your spirits.  I have a framed piece of paper on the wall of my bathroom with a pen over it.  Each morning, it is just part of the routine to add something to the page.  And when the page gets full, I add a new page on top until the pages no longer fit in the frame.
   3. Learn: Whether you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, explore a different cooking technique, play a musical instrument or just figure out what your kids are studying in geometry class, this is your time to learn. Take 10-15 minutes and study something new.  Learning something new each day, particularly languages and music, or things that challenge your dexterity, like knitting or woodworking, help stave off dementia in later years.  Every day is a chance to learn something new.
6. Move: A little cardio, a little weight training, pick your favorite activity to get your heart pumping and muscles engaged. Twenty minutes a day is a good place to start.
7. Breakfast: Make it big and healthy, and enjoy it at a leisurely pace, preferably outdoors if the weather is good.  Savor it and chew it well.  Your mindset and digestion will thank you.
8. Self care: Another one of those things that busy women often cut from their routine is a bit of self care that goes beyond the basics of washing/dressing. I’m not talking about expensive lotions and serums either.  You’ve got your extra time in the morning now, so use it wisely.  One Ayurvedic routine I love is a self-massage and scrub a few days a week.  I’ll go into detail on the entire practice in another post as it is a wonderful pre-shower way to soften the skin and improve circulation.  From there it’s into the shower and off to start the day…just as the rest of the house is waking up.

The important thing is to get into a routine–and modify it as you need to when you’re on the road to best suit your situation.  Your body appreciates a routine and it helps keep your mindset focused. 

Once you get this much accomplished early in the morning, your day is level-set for productivity and positivity.  Your mind and body are alert yet at ease.  Nothing can get in your way of optimal living.

For personal coaching on how to have a great sunrise start to your day, how to beat procrastination, how to increase productivity and to make distinctive changes to your life, please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you!