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Why all the talk about morning routines lately? Because they are important. I know you’ve heard this enough already but trust me, having a morning routine sets a tone for your day and feeds your soul and body before the world comes calling.
I have tried most morning routine ideas because it is my job. If I kept all of these ideas in my routine, it would last 4 hours and then it would be time for a nap. I recommend this approach to a morning routine: implement one new idea for one week and notice if it is making a difference for you. If not, toss it for now but come back to it if you want to try again.
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This one is non-negotiable for me and is not really part of a routine, but a rule. When we start our day looking at texts or emails, our brains become infiltrated by the thoughts, complaints, and ideas of others and we lose the chance to sort out our own.
Drink 8 ounces of cold water with the juice of half a lemon. Adding 1/4 teaspoon of Celtic Sea Saltto the water can turbo charge you by replacing electrolytes. My mother taught me this trick many years ago, but just like the stubborn daughter I used to be, it took me years to try it. Still, Mom isn’t the only person to recommend it. It aids digestion, gives you a dose of Vitamin C, may boost metabolism, and of course, hydrates.
A morning without the aroma of coffee wafting through my home does not a morning make. Still, follow your gut and if coffee hypes you up too much or upsets your stomach, then ditch it. Caveat: If I drink too much I get fairly snarky so I try to keep it to 1.5-ish cups.
This is my favorite morning practice, hands down. I drink my coffee and journal for 20 minutes, preferably before sunrise.
The morning journaling approach that I recommend aligns with Morning Pages as described by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. It entails writing three pages longhand without stopping. Don’t edit, don’t judge, don’t rewrite, and don’t even reread. It helps to work out our thoughts and often leads to creative ideas or solutions.
Finish your morning journaling with a sentence about something you are grateful for. Gratitude heals.
Morning light is critical for our circadian rhythm so I recommend getting light within the first hour of the day. It raises hormones like cortisol (which is a good thing in the morning) and raises body temperature to get us moving.
I often use the Human Charger while I journal. The device projects light into the ears through light-emitting ear buds. Yes, sounds weird, but studies are showing that the human brain contains light receptors and these light-emitting ear-buds relieve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and anxiety.
You can also do it the old-fashioned way and go on a walk or sit outside while you drink your coffee, tea, or water.
Moving our bodies when we wake helps get the blood flowing and increases heart rate.
A 20-minute walk is great for this and you can double up and use this time to get your morning light.
Other options are pushups, lunges, core work, or a rebounder if you want to get bouncy and wake up the lymphatic system. I use this rebounder.
Movement can be done before or after coffee. Because I journal first thing in the morning, I have my coffee first but do whatever works best for you.
I know, I know. This doesn’t sound fabulous but here are the benefits:
• Improves mood and relieves mild depression
• Reduces inflammation and alleviates pain
• Improves focus and attention
• Improves immunity
• Prevents muscle atrophy
• Promotes fat loss by activating brown fat which is the type of fat that generates heat
• Helps repair damaged brain synapses
• Improves skin and hair
I recommend taking a warm shower while you conduct your normal shower business and then end the shower with 2-3 minutes of cold water. You can work up to this by starting slow at 5 seconds of cold water and increasing by 5 seconds each day.
When my 12-hour fast is over, I either make a shake or scramble a few choline rich eggs, or do both.
My shake recipe is simple:
• 12 ounces unsweetened vanilla coconut milk
• Keto Feast Vanilla powder by Ancient Nutrition (PS – this has a small dose of caffeine)
• Om Cordyceps Mushroom Powder and/or Om Lion’s Mane powder
• Collagen
• Half an avocado
• Handful of blueberries
• Handful of spinach
I am always working on being a better human which means I practice disciplining my thoughts and actions as often as possible.
When I voice my intention out loud in the morning, it helps to remind me throughout the day to stay on course with it.
An example is something I am working on now which is to take nothing personally. I remind myself of this intention before I walk out the door, which helps me stay with that intention throughout the day.
As my mother says, Go, Do, Be. The world needs you.