Create a Mindful Morning Routine
How we spend our morning can greatly impact how the rest of our day will go. That’s why it’s important to start off our mornings on the right foot. We can do this by creating a mindful morning routine. Instead of waking up and immediately reaching for our devices, it helps to slow down and ease into the day peacefully.
There are many ways that you can reclaim the first part of your day. Here are just a few of our suggestions for morning mindfulness:
Journaling
Journaling is a great way for us to check in with how we’re feeling at the start of the day. You might use your morning journaling to reflect on your current emotions, write out your intentions or goals for the day, or list three things you’re grateful for. This practice can have a huge impact on our mood, motivation and mindset for the rest of the day.
Meditate
Meditation may seem intimidating at first, but it is a wonderful way to slow down, focus on our breathing and find peace in the present moment. Even starting off with short 5-10 minute meditations in the morning can give you a good reset and sense of calm before entering the busy part of your day.
Exercise
We can practice mindfulness through movement too. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy, whether that’s running, yoga, cycling, walking, or any other type of movement. Try to fit exercise in during the morning hours, before you fully start your day. This may require waking up quite a bit earlier, but it can have great physical and mental benefits.
Read or Listen to Something You Enjoy
While you may not have a ton of time in the morning to do activities you love, even just 20 minutes of uninterrupted reading, listening to audiobook or podcast, or putting on your favorite music could get you in a good mood. All of these activities are mindful because they require us to be present to fully absorb them. So sit back, sip your morning coffee or tea, and indulge in an activity you enjoy for a short bit.
Start Stretching
Stretching is another great activity to add to our mindful morning routine. It will help wake up your muscles and get you in tune with how your body is feeling. Try out this Mindful movement exercise to wake up your body and incorporate stretching into your daily routine.
Prepare a Healthy Breakfast
Make yourself a delicious, healthy breakfast that you enjoy. Practice mindful eating in the morning by savoring each bite and noticing the different flavors. Even the practice of preparing our first meal of the day can become a mindful activity that’s enjoyable.
Make Mundane Tasks More Mindful
We all have standard morning tasks that we run through, like brushing our teeth, making the bed, showering, and getting ready. Even these more mundane activities can become mindful too. As you go about these morning tasks, challenge yourself to stay in the present moment and observe your thoughts and feelings about the upcoming day.
Giving ourselves more time in the morning to be fully present before jumping into work, school or our screens can be incredibly beneficial for our mental health. Find a morning mindfulness routine that works for you, and see how it impacts the rest of your days.
