The Importance of a Morning Routine

Several years ago I participated in a year-long spiritual academy and one of the first directives was for us to develop an intentional morning routine.

I did it and it was life-altering.

I cannot stress enough to you, how much of a difference, having an intentional morning routine that is focused and catered to me, has changed my life. I continue to do one to this very day and guard it like a hawk because it is an integral part of my mental health.

So what did I do?

First I cleared out the immense clutter next to my side of the bed. Then I replaced that clutter with a beautiful space filled with sarongs and pillows, a plant, and a few of my favorite things. It is now a peaceful, calm, and uncluttered space and honestly as you read this I’m seriously considering removing all things from the side of my bed entirely and just having open space with maybe one plant. Although optional, I highly recommend you take the step to make your space peaceful and appealing to you so that when you wake up each morning the first thing you see make you calm.

So what was my routine?

I meditated.
The first thing I did each morning was to pick up my phone and meditate. I set the alarm on my phone to meditation or spa music so all I have to do was grab my headphones and sit up to start. I had never meditated before so I started out doing three minutes with music but now I can do up to 20 or even more on some days. Meditation for me changes the rhythm of the mornings. Instead of jumping out of the bed and being frantic, I intentionally stop, take a minute, calm down, and start my day with intention. You will notice that INTENTION keeps coming up, because that is what a morning routine gives you, intentionality and some say in how your day will go. The biggest advice I can give about learning to meditate is that meditation is “practiced peace” meaning what you do while you meditate will benefit you in the moment as well as later in the day when you need to access that skill. Sort of like going to the gym but for your mind. So literally practice noticing your thoughts and gently brushing them away, but don’t try to stop them because you won’t be able to. Over time you will build the muscle that allows you to notice them, observe them, and even direct them, but that comes with time. Also, there are guided meditation apps if silence or music is not for you so search and download some on your phone if necessary.

I journaled.
The second thing that I did every morning was picked my journal and I write. I wrote and wrote, and I wrote. Some mornings I felt like I didn’t have anything to write but I often still wrote something just to get things out of my head. I still notice a difference on days where I skip journaling. Today alone I journaled twice because apparently, I had a lot on my mind lol. Over time I found that my journaling turned from a lot of angry and anxious thoughts to the inspiration that I have during my dreams and sleep. Most recently I’ve added a lot of affirmations and future-self journaling which I’m finding very powerful for setting the day on an intentional path with an intentional energy. (There’s that intention again girl)

I did something physical.
If you are dealing with mental health, depression, and anxiety, it will be very helpful if you wake up and exercise because exercise raises your endorphins and affects how you feel. Lately, I’ve begun going for a walk a couple of times a week but even if that does not happen I at minimum jumped out of the bed and I did a few stretches, next to my bed. Anything to get the body moving. The more, the better, but any and everything helps.

I set a calm atmosphere.
Once I moved my body I would take my phone, which was still playing the spa music, into the bathroom with me and play that music while I got ready. I sometimes even light a candle! This sort of intentionality proved so important to me in shifting how my morning, and therefore my day, went (and I still am this intentional years later).

There are other things that you can do every morning (and I have added some things, shifted somethings, and improved somethings over the years).

If you’re a person that does your morning like I used to do it, hit the snooze button until Jesus comes back, and then frantically run into the bathroom, trying to get ready for work — that’s how your the rest of your day is going to be. That’s the energy that you have started your day with, you probably spiked your cortisol levels through the roof and it’s an uphill battle from there and you probably are going to lose. A morning routine, as part of your self-care, and as part of your overall mental health is so important!

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If you want help creating a morning routine come join us in Shine Group Coaching! We’ll be covering morning routines and if you join after we have you will have access to the recorded calls so come join us!