Spring Clean your Morning Routine

As you’re scrubbing down your home top to bottom this Spring (hopefully with nontoxic cleaning supplies – that’s a whole other post!), consider cleaning up your morning routine! 

Spring Clean Your Morning Routine

Are you popping out of bed and starting your day by grabbing your phone right away, doing all the things for your kids first, and mindlessly rushing through your morning? Your morning routine may need an overhaul! 

How we start our day sets the stage for how the rest of our day may go. If we start our mornings by hitting snooze until the last moment, skimming through emails and mentally noting all the stuff that needs to get done today, scrolling Instagram and comparing your life to others, gulping down coffee on an empty stomach desperate to get an energy boost, listening to all of the negativity in the news, grabbing a donut to eat in the car, yelling at the kids to get out the door cuz “we’re gonna be late”…the rest of the day may also feel rushed, chaotic, and stressful. 

It may seem like you’re too busy and have way too much to do to set aside time in the morning to devote to your wellness. But, adding in small practices to nourish your mind, body, and spirit can really pave the way for setting up your day on a positive note. 

Less Stress, More Calm

Here are a few ideas to start your day INTENTIONALLY, with less stress & more calm. 

Mind:

• Read an uplifting or inspiring book.
• Journal – Define and reflect on your values and goals. Identify and/or process your feelings. Journal about your passions and dreams. Set an intention for the day.
  RELATED TOPIC: 25 Journal Prompts for Mothers
• Practice gratitude – Write down 3 things you are grateful for, what you appreciate and/or what brings you joy.

Body:

• Hydrate – warm water with fresh lemon and sea salt and/or hot herbal tea.
• Stretch your body. Do a couple of yoga poses to wake up your spine, joints, muscles  and energize you – Child’s Pose, Cat-Cow,  Downward Dog, & Happy Baby.
• Take a walk outside.
• Deep breathing – Box breathing: alternate breathing and holding your breath for 4 seconds each. Abdominal breathing – Deep belly breathing from your diaphragm (muscle just beneath your lungs). 4-7-8 Breathing – a yoga technique called pranayama, developed by Dr. Andrew Weil – inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8. Equal breathing – inhaling the same amount of time as you’re exhaling.
  RELATED TOPIC: The Healing Power of Breath
• Get morning sunshine on bare skin.
• Eat a nourishing breakfast slowly and mindfully (without any distractions – phone, TV, computer, etc.).

Spirit:

• Connect with nature – Mindfully enjoy the sights, sounds, scents, and feels of mother nature. Practice grounding/earthing -put your bare feet on the ground and connect with the energy from the earth. Breathe fresh air.
• Meditate – Focus on practicing stillness. Listen to your body and settle your mind. Connect with your purpose. Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Let go of unwanted thoughts. Create space for clarity and connection to your intuition. Free apps – Insight Timer, UCLA Mindful. Podcasts – “Natural Meditation,” and “Meditation Minis”
• Practice mindfulness – Practice being fully present, aware, and appreciate the current moment. Focus on one task at a time and enjoy the experience. Utilize all of your senses.
• Read and/or recite positive affirmations.
• Cuddle, hug, and/or kiss your loved-ones.

Whether you have only 5 minutes or are willing to devote an hour each morning to yourself, either way it will be beneficial. 

A Smooth Morning

Tips to help your morning routine go smoothly:

1. Prepare the night before. Set out your journal, yoga mat, mug, book, etc. Decide on breakfast ahead of time, and prep ingredients. Write out tomorrow’s morning routine before bed. Set out clothes the night before.
2. Get on a regular sleep/wake routine to ensure you’re rested.
3. Set an alarm to allow plenty of time to devote to your morning routine. Try to get up before your kids when it’s quiet if possible.
4. Tidy up the night before so you’re waking up to a decluttered, welcoming space to relax into your routine. 
5. Avoid the snooze button.
6. Keep your phone in another room and/or turn it on “do not disturb”.
7. Open blinds, curtains, (and windows if the weather is nice) to let the light and fresh air in.

Incorporating these practices daily will help you feel more CALM & RELAXED, more FOCUSED & PRODUCTIVE, more BALANCED, and more IN CONTROL of your day. 

One Practice at a Time

Ideally, choose at least 1 practice to try from each mind, body, spirit category. For example, if you only have 5 minutes to devote to your morning routine, you could write down 3 things you are grateful for in 1-2 minutes. Do 3 yoga poses for 30 seconds each. And step outside in the morning sun for a couple minutes while sipping your morning beverage. 1 minute is better than nothing. 

The important thing is to develop a consistent practice. Try something new. Tweak it if you don’t love it or try something else altogether. Choose practices that make you feel relaxed, positive, and happy.

 A nourishing morning routine can be the difference between a good day and an AMAZING day!  Take the opportunity to slow down, and ease gently and mindfully into your day. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.