That’s it. That’s the post.
Jk.. jk.. that’s never it with me.
I won’t belabor you with the obvious on why a morning routine is important for a low stress, high impact day. But I will tell you the recipe I use for what any morning routine should include.
Ready? Here you go:
Inner routine + Outer routine + a Treat
Here’s what I mean.
My inner routine:
Mindfulness
My inner routine consists of at least 15-30 minutes of mindfulness. You’ll often hear me say, “mindfulness is the cheat code.”
Fifteen minutes of complete silence, where I eliminate all external distractions and go within. This is an opportunity to:
- organize my thoughts and to-do’s,
- align with my authentic self,
- clear the way for the day by addressing and releasing any negative emotions or barriers that come up,
- charge up from my Source;
- and tap into any cues He may be sending me for the day.
I’ll often take another 10-15 minutes to journal. Journaling for me takes place in the form of diary style letters and a series of lists. I created this prayer worksheet in 2017 that mimics this process.
My outer routine:
Whole body routine
I realized growing up in a household with 6 kids, morning routines were chaotic. Memories of being rushed, barked at, and having the vaseline slabbed on aggressively, leaving me a shiny spectacle for ridicule when I arrived at school, made morning self care routines something I avoided rather than enjoyed.
Since realizing this pattern, I’ve placed a great deal of intention into cultivating a full body routine that shows my vessel love. This includes:
- Gently lathering myself from head to toe with moisturizer,
- an entire skin care routine that includes applying my ‘Self Made – Secure Attachment Comfort Serum,’
- styling my hair in a way that looks and feels cute,
- apply a slight face beat, which for me is just brows and lip gloss most days,
- and applying some smell good (which is how I refer to perfume hehe), so that I’m getting whiffs of goodness throughout the day.
Treating my body in this way allows me to take notice of any areas where I may be ailing so that I can address them accordingly whether through exercise, hydrating, having a balanced meal, stretching, or seeking natural and/or medical attention. And it’s just a great way to look and feel good going into every day.
My treat:
You guessed it! Coffee.
Having something you look forward to, like I do coffee, is a great way to give yourself something to look forward to when you start your day no matter the road ahead. I literally go to bed most nights excited about that first sip in the morning.
What’s that delightful treat you look forward to in the morning? Maybe it’s snuggles with your pet, kisses from your significant other or a guilty pleasure song that makes you dance and giggle. Add a treat to the morning to start your day with a smile.
Morning routines aren’t always perfect, but they are necessary. If you want a sustainable life and to keep the momentum through out the day, make it meaningful, and add a treat to give it that zest that keeps you coming back for more each new day!
