The Magic Of Mornings

"Start everyday with an attitude of gratitude"

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Before you start reading, I suggest you hit play on this song, it helps to create the right mood :-)

I am sure many of you have heard about morning routines and rituals, some of you may even have created their own just like I did. I can tell you that, at least for me, it makes a HUGE difference! I was just telling my sister today that I cannot imagine start may days without my special morning routine.

It all started in Summer of 2019 when I suddenly realized, that the first thing I do every morning, is grab my phone, check messages, google this and that, start thinking about the to do's, meetings I have etc. and noticed that I always start my day in a hectic and even slightly stressed way with my mind already super active, 10 steps ahead of me without allowing myself enough time to properly wake up and ease into the day. I wanted to change that! So I designed my own and very special morning routine which I will share with you here to inspire you and give you an idea of what it could look like. I encourage you to design it in a way that works best for you, including things that you love doing but be cautious, don't overengineer it, it takes time and effort to start a new routine so my advice is to start with something simple and then build on that and be creative, listen to your intuition and adjust as needed.

You are probably shocked when I tell you that I need 2 hours in the morning, from the time my alarm rings until I am ready to work :-) But here is why:

WAKING UP

Something important to say is that I put my phone on airplane modus during the night and only switch it back on once I am ready to start working.

My alarm normally goes off at the same time every morning, except weekends, I properly stretch out in bed, roll out of bed, open the blinds and let the fresh morning air in, depending on the season even a bit of sunshine.

MEDITATION

I then light a candle, sit down on my little comfy rug next to my bed, place the candle in front of me and take a few very deep breaths to really ground myself and arrive in the here and now. I then do a little morning meditation, starting with chanting 3x OM and 3x OM Shanti, do a small prayer of gratitude and then review the previous day, saying out loud what I am thankful for, who I am thankful for and a short look into the coming day and highlight anything that I am looking forward to or need some help with. These can be very small things but also bigger ones and also things that did not go well but am still thankful for the learning. I normally do all of this in a "self talk kind of way" with the universe while enjoying the beautiful morning air and sky, be it rainy, sunny, cloudy, snowy,...every morning has its own magic.

CLEANING

Once I have finished my morning meditation, I move over to the bathroom and light some candles to continue the theme of magical mornings. Something that became very important and which I cannot live without anymore is brushing my teeth and cleaning my tongue with a tongue scraper before I drink or eat anything at all. In Ayurveda we learn that when you sleep, your body tries to get rid of all the chemicals and toxins floating around in your system. A lot of the white film that covers your tongue is the toxins that your body is trying to get rid of, so swallowing that gunk in the morning will just send all of those toxins right back into your body. But scraping your tongue in the morning doesn't only remove all the toxins, it also improves dental health, prevents you from having a bad breath, heightens your sense of taste and stimulates your organs.

WORK OUT

Once I am dressed and ready and before doing a quick work out session, I prepare my fresh and hot lemon and ginger water so that it has time to brew and cool down a bit. Then I either do a 10-minute deep stretching exercise or a 10 to 15-minute work out session including plank, squats, push ups etc. If you prefer, you can also go for a quick walk outside, dance or whatever makes you feel good and boosts your circulation a bit.

BREAKFAST

I then sit down, if possible on my balcony, drink my hot lemon and ginger water and read for a few minutes in a book. Then I go back to the kitchen and cook my breakfast. Yes, you read right, I cook my breakfast, I try to always have a hot breakfast as it is good for the digestion and especially during the cold season, it is nice to start with something warm in your belly. I love to eat my breakfast on my balcony if possible, watching the birds, the sunrise, or just the morning sky, every morning is different. There have been days in during the winter when you would see me with a hoodie and cardigan having my breakfast on the balcony because it was such a beautiful morning :-) I like to take my time with eating and when I am ready, go back inside and get ready for work.

So voilà, that's it.

Some additional things you can add if it speaks to you:

-journaling

-taking a cold shower

-go for a run

-walk your dog

-dance

-sing

-say out loud and affirmation for the day (I do that too sometimes)

-give yourself a nice massage

-make your bed (I always do that too), this can also be a ritual, by shaking your bed cover, you shake away everything from the previous day and allow for a fresh start.

You may wonder, but why shall I do all of this? I am not a morning person...So here are a few benefits of having your own morning routine/ritual:

1. Sets the tone for the rest of your day

Starting off your day with intention and purpose sets the tone for how your day will unfold. Hitting the snooze button several times before getting out of bed, running around the house to get dressed, and eating before rushing out the door because you’re late for work will leave you feeling like you’re constantly racing after time and stressed for the rest of the day. You can either start your day with intention or start your day with distractions. The way you start your morning can mean the difference between feeling stressed, anxious, and frazzled right off the bat and feeling calm, in control and productive.

2. Reduces stress and increases wellbeing

Taking time first thing in the morning to take care of you is a wonderful way to reduce your stress levels. Spending time feeling grateful, thinking positive thoughts, and focusing your energy on what you want to do increases your happiness and overall wellbeing.

3. Increases productivity

It is proven that people who wake up early are more productive. Implementing a morning routine makes it easy to know what you need to do during the day and you’re less likely to get distracted. Think about it, you’re adding extra time in your day to get things done! It’s no surprise that successful people have already accomplished many things before most people’s alarm goes off. It’s also a great way to practice discipline!

4. Develops healthy habits that will carry over in your day

Implementing one good habit is a gateway for more good habits. Each task you tackle in the morning brings a sense of accomplishment you carry with you all day. Over time, you’ll find yourself adding more good habits to the rest of your day.

5. Increases mental clarity

Being mindful of how you spend the first few hours of your day brings a sense of focus and mental clarity. Working on your goals, spending time on your needs, and wants is essential to start off the day in a positive and productive way.

6. Helps avoid mental fatigue

Having to make tons of small decisions first thing in the morning leads to mental fatigue. We all have a limited amount of energy to spend during the day and each decision we make drains it. Don’t waste time or brainpower making low-level decisions. Instead, take the guesswork out of the equation and plan ahead of time.

7. Boosts your energy

Starting the day with exercise and intention instantly boosts your energy levels. This cleanses your cortisol levels, increases your dopamine and serotonin levels, and elevates your metabolism. The perfect combination to get your body in the right zone!

A daily ritual for me is telling myself that I am voting for myself, taking care of myself so I hope you will start yours soon too! Sending you lots of magical morning light!