Intention: Health in the body. Peace in the spirit. Love in the heart.
The intention of this is to share my daily routine and possibly inspire you to build a simple routine that will help you wake up with purpose to start each day.
Many of us wake up and find ourselves immediately on our phones, immediately scrolling through social media, immediately checking email, immediately thinking about work, immediately thrusting ourselves into thoughts of stress or anxiety.
I know because I do this way too often…
But we can break this routine and this habit. We can prioritize a clear and healthy mental headspace. We can prioritize overall personal health and wellbeing.
THE EARLY BIRD
Before my first kid was born, I challenged a close friend to see who could get up the earliest each day. I was hell-bent on tricking my body and my system to become accustomed to early wake-up times for new baby duty. (Which actually seemed very ineffective for the first 3-4 months of new baby, doh!)
Our challenge was: Whoever woke up first texted the worm emoji to the other person… i.e. the early bird gets the worm. The winner was up by 4:30 am every day, and honestly, 80% of the time, that was me.
Out of that challenge, I was able to build some healthy habits that I continue to lean on and revert back to when waking up in the early morning. I thought this might help some of our readers to share my personal routine. I encourage you to steal anything that feels right, and craft a very simple routine that you can lean on each day.
WAKING UP ROUTINE
This is the routine that kick-starts my day. I hope it inspires you to find your perfect morning.
Choose to get out of bed
This sounds simple, but this is always the first step. And it’s always a choice. Every day when you wake up, when the alarm goes off, when you think about hitting the snooze button… You are always faced with that choice of dozing back to sleep or getting out of bed.
Make that choice to get out of bed. As you’re starting to move your body and find your legs and feet under you, remember and choose to smile. You have been gifted with another day. You are incredibly blessed.
Just get your body moving and walking around your room, your house, your container.
Drink a glass of water
Personally, my headspace is a little foggy when I’m just waking up. I need a few things that I naturally flow into that I don’t have to think too hard about.
For me, walking into the kitchen and drinking a cold glass of water is the first thing on that list.
Stretch your body
My body can be a little stiff or sore after the night’s sleep. A little stretching after that cold glass of agua vida gets the blood flowing.
I use a foam roller to stretch and roll out my back and my calves.
I do various leg stretches to wake up the legs.
I also do various arm stretches, including arms-up power poses, to wake up the shoulders and the mind.
Use the bathroom
Another simple one, but add it to the list. Just one more thing that is easy to accomplish and build into a routine.
Brush your teeth
I know, I know… simple stuff. But for me, this is part of prioritizing health and hygiene, and being intentional about this each day. You might have other things to layer into this part of the routine.
Look at yourself in the mirror
Be intentional here. Take a moment to study your face. Remember, you don’t get to see your face or your head throughout the day. Take a moment to look at yourself.
Then, have a couple of mantras that you can tell yourself.
These are mine:
“Thank you. I love you. You are doing a good job.”
Practice gratitude
Simply think of and list 5-8 things you are grateful for. Even better if you say these out loud, declare them, and add this to part of your mirror routine.
Say “I love you”
If you live with others, tell them, “I love you.” Your spouse, your kid, etc. Trust me, there are never enough opportunities to express this.
Morning meditation
I TRY to layer in a 10-minute guided meditation into my routine.
My personal favorite is the Waking Up app with Sam Harris. Here is a free 30-day trial link if you want to tune in there. (Note, I/we get no commissions here, just think this is the best meditation app out there).
Morning music
Instead of turning on the TV, instead of going straight to screen time, open your mind, heart, and soul with music and sound vibrations.
This is my personal go-to playlist at the moment. Buenos Dias Playlist.
HARSH ACCOUNTABILITY
These are rules that I try to keep for myself during this routine. Please note, pobody is nerfect. And every day is a new opportunity to practice this routine.
These are just rules to help preserve the intentions behind health in the body, peace in the spirit, and love in the heart.
1) NO PHONE
2) NO SCREENS
3) If you need to wake up 30 minutes earlier to accomplish this routine, do it. Take control of the flow of your day.
Mornings can be tough for some people, but having a little discipline when you first wake up can improve your physical and mental wellbeing tenfold. Find what works for you, stay committed, and watch your energy shift.