05/08/24
6 Step Great Morning Routine
I have spent the past twenty years chasing health. Health comes in many forms; mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and your health is tested at every different stage of life. There was a period when I had to lean heavily into physical healing after my broken back and that in turn led to a spiritual healing path. After a relationship break up, even though it was hard, I knew I had to focus on my emotional healing in order to move on. Worrying set backs in work have encouraged me to focus on my mental resilience and post giving birth has been an explosive dive into healing all of the above.
I know that life is not easy. Life is forever throwing curveballs and sending challenges that are sent to try us. That in itself makes me wonder whether optimum health can ever be reached, who knows.
One thing I do know that helps me to cope with the trials of life is my morning routine and wherever I am in the world I make one. My mornings are varied because I lead two lives; children with me and children not with me. So children with me mornings as you can imagine are busy, loud, often rushed and chaotic and on the flip side child free mornings are quiet, time rich, easy and bliss filled. Throughout the summer I stay in different homes or retreat venues and I can find this very unsettling too. Regardless of where I am or whom I’m with, I believe that how I start my day sets the president for the rest of the day.
On that note, what ever troubles you are going through, setting a morning routine can be key to your health and I believe it will help frame your day in a healthy, more positive way. Here are my top 7 steps to a Great Morning Routine (and they don’t involve an Instagramable green matcha latte!)
1. Set a daily alarm
We all know about cycadian rhythms, I don’t need to go on about them here but us humans we thrive off routine. Pick a time that works for you and rise, consistently at that time. In the week I have an alarm that is the same every day and it’s 6am. Weekends are more relaxed but the children are my alarm then. If you have children I advise you to make sure your rising time is half an hour before any of your children generally wake. I feel for you if you have early risers!
2. Enjoy a hot drink
Those of you who enjoy hot drinks, make time each morning to enjoy a soothing, hot drink and take the time to make it well. I start with hot water and ginger and then a proper coffee. It’s never straight to coffee but that ginger water can get chugged pretty quickly if it’s been a rough night with children and the coffee is calling. I like to peel the ginger, cut it in slices then place in a lovely mug before pouring over the boiled water. Invest in a coupe of beautiful mugs that make you smile, as a gorgeous mug is key to this part of the morning. When ever I visit places I always hunt out ceramics shops and buy handmade mugs, I now have quite a collection!
3. Ring fence some time for peace.
So after having made my warming drink, I sit and enjoy it in peace, doing absolutely nothing. No phone, no computer, no noise, it’s just me and my drink and I try to make this as mindful as possible. I generally sit on my mat in the hope that I might get time to do some yoga but even if I don’t get to move and stretch I still feel as if I have opened up my spiritual home and my mind feels calmer for doing so. Some days this time is the only connection I have with the mat. I have learnt that this is ok and that tomorrow may gift more time to the self practise of yoga.
4. Find something to admire in nature
I live in an urban setting but looking out of my kitchen window I can see beyond the rooftops to a small mountain. Every morning I sit and stare at that said mountain. This is part of my silent, mindful practise. I take this moment to appreciate nature. If I had a lawn I’d probably go walking barefoot in the grass but I don’t, so I make do. When I am at Mathews he too lives in an urban setting but he has a beautiful Eucalyptus tree outside his front door, so that is my focus of attention. I sit on his front door step and stare. I watch its movement, admire the leaves soft hues and listen to their almost silent rustling.
5. Make a to do list with one thing
I don’t know about you but I have always got a master list going on, categorsised – work, kids, home, fun, shop, trips, order, call, fix etc etc you know how it is. This list never gets any smaller! I have accepted this too. In the hope that I don’t feel too overwhelmed I write down one thing to do/achieve each day. I write this on a post it note and stick it on top of the master list. I developed this thought process after I had Freddie my eldest. I just couldn’t believe how little time I had to accomplish anything. It was quite soul destroying to feel like nothing was being done. Yes I was feeding and looking after a baby which is a miracle in itself but that didn’t give the same kick as actually achieving something in the day. I started with just aiming for one thing; making that one call, or writing that one email, or sewing that one button back on… and it helped. Stuff now gets done, it may not be much but it gets done. My theory is slow and steady wins the race.
6. Exercise
Days when I have the children are more time precious and waiting till they get to school before I exercise can be an ask, but then I have the days when I wake up child free I can be out the house at the crack of dawn. Either way, every morning I move my body. I love to get my heart rate up with a run or a swim, but if the energy levels aren’t there it’s a walk and some yoga. It’s never too late to begin an exercise routine and for it to become a habit. Try to find out what brings you the most joy and do more of that.
I hope these tips help you to have a great morning, I really do. You might already have your own glorious morning ritual, or have begun to dabble in a few of the above, either way the start of your day acts like your beginning book end so make it as nourishing as you can. It’s a gift to wake up to a new day, don’t waste it scrolling through Instagram. And if incorporating habits like this seem hard I invite you to join us on a retreat where these steps are laid out for you and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
