Hi Beauty
Having a morning routine for me is what can either make or break the rest of my day.
I find that by dedicating time every morning for myself—even if it’s just 10 minutes—allows me to centre myself and connect deeper within.
When I take time to do this I can immediately see the difference throughout my day—I’m more focused, patient, kinder and can handle overwhelm and waves of anxiety better.
You’ve probably heard that this daily ritual is one thing that the majority of highly successful people have in common.
And that people who consistently practice their morning routine have experienced greater levels of happiness and productivity.
The best part is that this life changing practice doesn’t have to be anything complicated—you will see a difference even from the shortest routine—consistency is the key here!
So without further ado, let’s dive into what morning routines are, why they work and how you can create your own so that you can start to feel amazing!
What Is A Morning Routine?
In case you missed it, a morning routine is when you wake up earlier than you need to (or want to), on a daily basis, and take the time to do various activities which make you focused, healthy and happy.
Activities that you might otherwise put aside as the day goes by and you feel like you don’t have enough time.
For example, how often do you hear people say they want to exercise or read more but they never have the time?
Essentially, a morning routine is making the time to do things for yourself before the day starts and you need to put your time and energy into work, family, household chores and whatever other commitments you have.
Practicing a morning routine is getting a personal headstart to the day, every day.
And what it consists of is entirely up to you.
While there’s a lot of information out there about what the perfect morning ritual looks like, I believe that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
As long as the things you do make you feel good and set you up for success (however that may look for you), then a morning routine will help you thrive.
What Are The Benefits?
Let’s be honest, it can be tough to get out of bed early in the morning, especially on an icy Winter’s day.
I know that the struggle can be real and that the snooze button is a very tempting option, but once you feel the benefits of having a daily morning ritual you won’t go back!
As soon as you’ve found the right routine for you, you’ll feel so energized and ready for the day that you won’t even need that dose of coffee anymore.
So what are the benefits, specifically?
1. You Take Control Of The Day And Start On Your Own Terms
When you wake up just in time to get ready to go to work, or wherever your first destihttp://localhost/nat2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1img_0594_original-e1652283127352-1.jpgion is, it often feels like you start the day in a rush.
And when you’re rushing around you can easily feel stressed and anxious, which is most likely going to carry through the rest of your day.
In that rush, you forget things at home or spill your coffee on your white shirt, or you skip breakfast because there’s not enough time to eat – it’s likely that you’re going to feel annoyed for most of the day.
We tend to accept that we’re just having a bad day, or “one of those days”, without realising that can be prevented.
Having a morning routine means that you have more control over the day because you have more control over how you feel.
2. Stress Reduction
Practicing your rituals which make you feel good, as well as taking time to get a headstart to the day rather than rushing, will make you happier and calmer.
Early mornings are so peaceful and vitalizing that you can’t help but feel relaxed.
3. When You Start To Put Yourself First, Your Confidence Naturally Increases
Starting the day by prioritizing yourself and doing the things that make you feel good will undoubtedly boost your self-worth and confidence.
4. Productivity Levels Increase
And with control of your day, less stress and more confidence, you will find that your productivity levels will hit the roof—which is, of course, vital in becoming more successful and achieving your goals.
Want to hear more about my story and how I became my own boss? Read here.
How To Create Your Own Morning Routine
Now that you’re feeling inspired, let’s discuss how to design a daily ritual that will transform your life.
Like I said before, there’s no one routine that will meet everyone’s needs, so you’ll need to find out what works best for you.
However, it’s important to follow the guideline of choosing activities that will use and improve your mind, body and soul.
This way you will create a holistic daily ritual where you’ll feel benefits in your whole being.
It’s also crucial to choose things which really appeal to you rather than doing what you think you should do (based on the morning rituals of successful people or celebrities).
If it doesn’t excite you, chances are that you won’t feel motivated to do it.
Mind
- Meditation. I’m sure you’ve heard of the power of meditation and how life-changing it is, but maybe find it to be a bit daunting. Here are some great resources for a guided meditation to get you started.
- Read. You’ll be amazed at how much reading you can do in a month by simply allocating 10 minutes every morning.
- Write down your goals. Whether they are long term, short term, easy or difficult, listing your goals will refresh your focus and keep you motivated.
- Listen to a podcast. Find an interesting topic and have a listen while doing something like going for a walk or watering your plants.
- Breathwork. A fantastic way to clear your mind is to practice different breathing techniques. Here are some exercises that you can try.
Enjoy guided meditations? Download my ‘Future Vision Meditation’ here.
Body
- Exercise. Get those endorphins pumping first thing in the morning and feel good for the whole day! Making sure you get regular exercise is one of the best ways to prioritise your mental and physical health.
- Drink some tea. Or have a nice big glass of water. Your body will be so grateful for the hydration first thing. While having a cup of coffee may be a habit, it’s actually dehydrating and won’t do you as good as a comforting cup of tea.
- Take a cold shower. Ice water baths and cold showers are all the rave and for good reason. Not only will you be wide awake, but you’ll also be boosting your immune system at the same time.
- Use a foam roller. Or do a bit of yoga. Anything to stretch out your body and remove tension in your muscles to make you more comfortable throughout the day.
- Have a solo dance party. There’s nothing like your favourite song (or 5) and busting some moves to start your day. The more upbeat the better!
Soul
- Mirror Work. This was a method originally developed by inspirational spiritual teacher Louise Hay as a way of getting in touch with the inner self. The primary purpose of mirror work is to develop self-love, self-care, and a more meaningful relationship with others. By looking at your reflection for a short amount of time each day and kindly talking to yourself, you can foster a more accepting and forgiving connection with yourself.
- Gratitude Journal. Taking a little bit of time to reflect on what you are thankful for is a beautiful way to reflect on what brings you joy and make you appreciate the seemingly small things in life.
- Prayer. If you are more spiritual, starting your day with prayer is a wonderful way to connect and align with your spirituality.
- Be in http://localhost/nat2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1img_0594_original-e1652283127352-1.jpgure. If you have a garden you can enjoy or a scenic place where you can go for a walk, spending time outdoors with motherhttp://localhost/nat2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1img_0594_original-e1652283127352-1.jpgure is truly medicine for the soul.
- Dream journal. Writing down your dreams first thing after waking up is a fantastic way to tap into the unconscious, pick up dream patterns and boost your creativity.
Looking for some visual inspiration? Download my pack of ‘Empowering Screensavers’ here.
My Morning Routine
I’m a firm believer in practicing what you preach and I can hand-over-heart tell you that my morning routine is an untouchable priority for me.
As an experiment, I went without it for a week to see how I would feel.
There’s no question about it; my daily ritual makes the world of difference for me!
Having said that, exactly what I do and how long I do it for can change depending on the day – it’s all about using my intuition to feel into what’s best for me that day.
If something doesn’t feel inflow for you then don’t force it. It’s not about doing something for the sake of doing it, rather it’s about giving yourself that undivided attention doing something that’s going to nourish your entire being.
But no matter what, my routine always incorporates the mind, body and soul and turns every morning into magic.
My daily ritual consists of:
- Breathwork. The first thing on my list is about 10 minutes of breathwork. This is an effective technique for waking up and clearing the mind.
- Meditation. Once I am awake and my mind is clear, I meditate for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Journaling. For 10 minutes, I journal on anything that came up during meditation, on things that I am grateful for and whatever it is that I am thinking and feeling at that time.
- Conscious Dance with Prayer. This is my time to connect with God and express gratitude through my entire being. I do this for 5 – 15 minutes depending on the day.
- HIIT Workout or Yoga. To end off, and to get fired up for the day ahead, I do some exercise. Again, what I do exactly will depend on how I feel that day, but it’s usually between yoga or HIIT.
Top Tips To Get You Started
1. Get Enough Sleep
It’s important to make sure you get your 7 – 9 hours of sleep every night.
So if you’re waking up earlier now, be sure to go to sleep earlier too.
This is probably the most crucial step because, realistically, no one is going to feel inspired to wake up earlier than usual after 5 hours of sleep.
Set yourself up for your success and get that beauty sleep!
2. Be Generous With The Amount Of Time You Set Aside
Make sure you give yourself enough time to wake up, get dressed and complete your routine without feeling rushed.
3. Don’t Hit Snooze
I know it’s so tempting – just five more minutes.
But what happens is that after you hit snooze, you begin another sleep cycle, which means that those 5 minutes will make you feel really groggy and more likely to keep hitting snooze until the time you have to get up.
4. Avoid Your Phone First Thing
If you have an alarm clock, use it instead.
When you turn off the alarm on your phone and see unread messages waiting for you, or you can’t resist the temptation to check your social media, you lose the control of starting the day on your own terms.
It doesn’t take much time for a message or an Instagram post to determine your mood.
The best practice is to completely ignore your phone first thing in the morning for at least 30 minutes.
5. Start Small And Work Your Way Up
It’s easy to get excited and come up with an extensive routine, but rather start with just a few things and once you’ve mastered those, add some more.
This way you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stressing about something that’s meant to bring you peace.
I recommend picking one activity from each of the categories mentioned above.
This way you will get the full benefit of a routine which is both manageable and exciting.
6. Be Flexible
It’s really important to find something that works for YOU.
If you’re not loving a certain part of the ritual, then try replacing it with something else.
You don’t have to stick to a specific routine – you have the freedom to change it and try new things until you find what lights you up.
7. Repetition Is Key
It takes 21 days to create a habit, which is the amount of time that you need to be fully committed to your routine.
That includes weekends.
This may seem rough, but once you feel the benefits of a consistent daily practice then you won’t want to skip a day.
8. Track Your Success Using Apps
Creating new habits can be difficult in the beginning.
A fantastic way to hold yourself accountable and to see how you are achieving your goals is to use a tracking app.
Here are a few of the most recommended ones.
Ready To Make Your Mornings Magical?
Morning routines are like medicine for your mind, body and soul.
You’ll be amazed at the difference this simple change in routine will make to your life.
Remember to create a ritual that works for you and aligns with your specific goals and where you are at right now.
I hope that you have found this article interesting, informative and inspiring and that it’s served you in some small way.
Here’s to your infinite medicine within, ready to change your life if you let it.
With deep love and gratitude,
Nat
XOXO
