How to create a morning ritual
Many high achievers [hi Tim Ferriss] credit their daily routine as the secret to their success. So we are breaking these routines apart, beginning with the morning, in order to more effectively set our goals and crush them.
If you’re the type of person that gets anxious on a Sunday evening [um, every single person I know] and slowly starts to feel overwhelmed as the week goes on, you need to implement a morning ritual.
For us Type A do-it-alls [or even those just trying to get through the week], we all KNOW what we need to do in regard to personal health and wellness, but it’s challenging to fit it in among the craziness of the week – ie. your job, family obligations, A SOCIAL LIFE, god forbid. But if you can chip away at the routine you’re in and start to add/remove stale behaviors, you’ll start to gain space and breathing room in areas you didn’t know existed.
Here are a couple small ways to practice self-care a little bit each day, that we’ve picked up along the way, that will add up to big improvements:
Milk frother – for all the coffee drinkers out there, this is truly such an easy and wonderful way to add decadence to your morning coffee. It’s also an excellent method to keep your coffee HOT for a longer period of time, which is also an added benefit for those who work from home. Oh also, if you’re the type of person who loves regular milk, but strives to limit dairy, frothers do wonders for non-dairy milk.
Here’s what to do - SPLURG on one of these Nespresso frothers that sits on your countertop [none of that handheld mumbo jumbo] and hit the button twice for your preference of latte, cappuccino or just milk, and in less than a minute you are SET [cred to Jayne Charneski for this major rec]. Trusttttt us
5 Minute Journal – this incredible gratitude journal takes hardly any time and is a great way to bookend your day. You kickoff your morning with a list of what you’re grateful for, what would make the day awesome and a daily affirmation, and then your reflect at the end of the day on what you achieved and what you could have done better.
By doing this every day, you automatically FEEL more grateful for the good things in your life. You are able to better prioritize the things that truly matter to you each day and you get better at self-discipline. And for those of you who are in corporate jobs and aspire to be your own business owners, this is a great exercise to gently ease you into that mindset [as your own business owner, it’s really easy to let everything pile up because there is SO MUCH TO DO, so giving yourself tiny little wins each day makes it feel less overwhelming]. Also huge thanks to Emily Mara for this rec
Meditation – you hear about this all.the.time. but for whatever reason, you haven’t tried it. Let’s just start with the benefits - meditation can help reduce stress, control anxiety, improve self-awareness, help your attention span, among many other things. Hopefully this list will compel you try it out??
If so, make it beyond easy and download Headspace. It takes two minutes to set up and you get a bunch of guided meditations for free, and they are as short as five minutes. And if it’s not your jam, no worries, it’s not for everyone [although many people tend to be pleasantly surprised if they give it a whirl]
Hot water and lemon – or just any water really, but hot water and lemon not only does the job of hydration, it’s also an anti-inflammatory and provides electrolytes. Plus is just tastes and feels good
Move your body – this should be as simple and organic as can be. Maybe take a walk, maybe do a little stretch and some yoga moves? Or if you’re able to, maybe something more intense like a bike ride or run or even a full-on class?
It really depends on what you’re trying to achieve and what you have time for, but the benefits include more energy, better sleep, better mood, less stress, better overall health, and bonus that you get in and prioritize a workout every day
Diving in and trying to do all of these at once is a lot, so try one or two that speak to you. Changing your daily habits and weekly routines in a way that helps you work toward your larger life goals is challenging and takes time. Be kind to yourself and start with these self-care practices to get into the groove.
And let us know what resonates in the comments! We’re all learning and evolving together <3
Xo, Melissa