Does your current morning routine involve hitting the snooze button five times and then running out the door twenty minutes later with a cup of coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other?
Have you ever noticed that if you start your day stressed and hurried you tend to spend the rest of the day in the same frame of mind?
The fact is the way you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.
So if you focus instead on getting your morning off to a good start, it will help you stay present throughout the day and increase the odds of you remaining calm and focused all day long.
Try adding a few of these easy mindfulness activities to your morning routine this week:
1. Take a Few Deep Breaths of Fresh Air
As soon as you step out of bed, wrap yourself in your bathrobe and head for a window or door. Open either one and take five deep breaths of air (ideally breathe in through the nose to the count of four, hold to the count of seven and deeply exhale to the count of 8). Feel and smell the fresh air and notice how your breath feels warmer on your exhale than it did on your inhale.
2. Create a Sensory Shower Experience
Create a sensory shower experience by using essential oils in your body wash or salt scrubs. It’s easy to DIY or buy a prepared product but you can also simply add a drop or two of essential oil like lavender to your portioned shower product and enjoy the scent and relaxing effect. If you prefer something more stimulating, try lemon or peppermint.
3. Savor a Cup of Coffee or Tea
Prepare a pleasant morning tea blend or your favorite morning coffee or coffee alternative in a special cup or mug only for this purpose. As you slowly sip, notice how the cup or mug feels in your hands and how it tastes and makes you feel. Savor a few relaxing moments looking out a window or at a vase of flowers, a favorite photo of a special memory, or even your special fur baby.
4. Express Your Gratitude
Grab an attractive, small notebook and dedicate it to a Gratitude Journal. Take a moment to jot down three things you are grateful for. At first, you may say the obvious big things like my home, my family, or healthy food to eat… but as you work your way through the big things, you’ll start mindfully noticing how thankful you are for all the little things, perhaps such as the first blooming daffodil after a cold winter or a cool drink of water on a hot day. Gratitude journaling has been proven to improve your well-being in several ways. It can reduce the feeling of overwhelm and is an easy, mindful activity.
5. Set Your Intention For The Day
When we set an intention for the day, we are reminded that our lives go beyond our daily tasks and that every day is an opportunity to live in line with our values and fulfill our purpose. With our intention in mind, we make better choices throughout our day, leading to greater inner peace and happiness.
Do you have another easy way you practice a mindful morning routine? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
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