Morning Habits To Sprinkle Your Day with Joy and Rhythm
I won’t tell you to wake up at a specific time or promise you perfect results.
We’re all different and my morning habits won’t necessarily work for you. But I can share a flow that might drizzle your days with delight.
Gulp down a glass of water
People tend to live in a mildly dehydrated state and never realize it.
The cure is simple.
Drink water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.
Not only does water in the morning flush out unwelcome toxins, but it also encourages the production of new blood and muscle cells.
Curious as it may seem, science proves that morning water slurps have the following amazing benefits:
- Improves metabolism
- Eases indigestion and heartburn
- Encourages healthy skin and hair
- Boosts your immune system
- Prevents bladder infection and kidney stones
What I do:
As soon as I wake up, I knock back a large glass of water and pair the ritual with my chosen supplements. I rotate between ReThink CBD Daily Oil and Echinaforce to crank my well-being up a notch.
Relish in quality coffee
Coffee is among the most studied dietary components out there. And thankfully the news is mostly good.
You already know it sprinkles your life with focus and energy, but did you know it boasts a number of impressive health benefits?
A daily cup of roast can enhance your physical performance and lower your risk for conditions, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes, to mention only a few.
WARNING: You might already know this but here’s a quick reminder. Caffeine can take you on a gnarly wired trip and interfere with your precious sleep. Moderate your intake or choose an alternative caffeine-free morning booster if you are sensitive to caffeine.
What I do:
I smack my lips over a quality medium-strength filtered cuppa joe while I drag my cold reptilian body outside to bask in the morning sun. I limit my intake to two cups per day before noon.
Find your daily bliss
Your social media timeline is filled with people in a lotus position atop a mountain staring into a flame-orange sunset and sharing the benefits of an empty mind.
Nothing short of unrealistic.
Interestingly enough, developing your own practice can help you focus your attention, thrive and reach peak performance.
Thankfully, it doesn’t require you to have no thoughts.
You don’t have to sit in a lotus position either.
And you also don’t have to be high above sea level to harness the power of thought.
You can be on top of the world in any posture and location.
In fact, you can discover it lying down in bed, walking in the garden, swimming in icy ocean waters, and even while doing mundane chores around the house.
Many people vouch that meditation is the secret formula for a purposeful day.
While I agree, I believe Simplicity is the vehicle that gets you there.
Create a manageable ritual tailored to your own needs and schedule. And choose a meditation app that works best for you. You can also reach stillness without the guidance of an app.
Do what makes you feel happy and calm.
Most importantly, be open to exploring different methods to connect to your genuine truth.
What I do:
Before or often while I wait for the buzz of my morning brew to kick in, I use Insight Timer (the #1 free meditation app) to guide me to a state of euphoria. Or I exist in complete silence for a few minutes and do my breathwork to relax my body and mind. I don’t always reach the desired calmness and that’s okay.
Sometimes misery is overwhelming and it might be a call to journal your feelings or reach out to a loved one for support. Or it could mean you need rest.
Simply, tune into your body.
Count your blessings
Ok, I know you might be thinking “Meh, not another ‘be grateful’ preach.” I used to give reign to pesky negative musings too.
But science confirms the many benefits of gratitude, and science is cool.
The good news is that a habitual gratitude practice counterbalances those gloomy thought patterns. Your relationships start to improve. That includes the most important relationship in your life — your connection with yourself.
In the long run, you develop a positive mindset that welcomes abundance.
In a balanced way, you know? Not in an unrealistic ‘good vibes only’ way.
What I do:
During the first hour after waking up, I jot down my blessings in a dedicated gratitude journal. And try to think of something new to be thankful for every day.
This simple morning habit instantly lifts my spirit and helps me navigate through daily challenges that arise.
Savour your breakfast
Breakfast is known as one of the most wholesome morning habits. It sure can be, if you’re hungry.
I suggest eating the food that sparks delight and wellness for you in the morning.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
But most of all, don’t force yourself to eat when you don’t feel hungry. That defeats the concept of creating an intentional day.
Plainly, go with your gut.
What I do:
A breakie is like a hug for my tummy. But I like to keep it simple and I don’t pressure myself to eat when I’m not hungry. My go-to food choices range from a slightly warm banana or carrot muffin, avo on rye, fruit smoothie with flaxseed powder, rolled oats, plain yoghurt on muesli, and leftovers to whatever I can find in my fridge.
Check out these 60 Healthy Breakfast Ideas if you need inspiration.
WORD OF CAUTION: I’m not a nutritionist, so please take my food tips with a grain of Himalayan Salt. I recommend reaching out to an expert if you feel you need specific dietary support.
Create accomplished order
Purpose creates direction. Check in with your goals for the day to clarify what you need to achieve.
This enables you to mark off completed tasks, big or small, which welcomes a sense of satisfaction by the end of the day.
But keep your list short to avoid unnecessary stress.
And keep in mind that creating realistic goals will more likely move the needle.
What I do:
I turn to my accountability buddy. The one and only, Asana. Next, I add actionable goals right in there with a due date to make it official. This simple habit helps me tackle individual tasks one at a time and it even transforms my browser.
Gone are the days of 52 tabs ruining my life. Noice.
Last Word
Creating intention starts with developing mostly consistent healthy morning habits. You might agree it helps you get sh!t done. And it gives shape to your inner life. But the key is to be patient with yourself as you learn, grow and adapt to your own pace.
Rather than limiting the flow of life, Mary Oliver suggests, habit supplies a natural rhythm and liberates liveliness:
“The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us. Our battles with our habits speak of dreams yet to become real.”
