Simplify Your Mornings
Hello dear friends!
How many times have you hit snooze on your alarm, and then had to rush around to get everything done before you had to leave for the day?
Too often, we start each day in a flurry of activity and stress, running around in a race against the clock to tick off the boxes for our morning routines. We drag ourselves out of bed and off we go! Taking a shower, making breakfast, checking emails, letting the dog out…the list is never ending, and we strain ourselves to make it out the door on time.
Mornings have become synonymous with chaos and frenzy, but what if you could choose a better way?
What did mornings look like before the dawning of our work-obsessed, technologically-overloaded age?
Before the era of über-productivity and stress, mornings used to be a time of calm and reflection. People would take a few extra moments to savor the warmth of their beds, before easing into their routines, taking the time to cook a nourishing breakfast, instead of grabbing something packaged that they could eat while driving! Those first precious hours of sunlight were sacred time for greeting the day and allowing our bodies and brains the space to fully wake up before launching into the day’s work.
And while many of us cannot fully embrace this leisurely kind of morning all the time, there are things we can do to make ours a lot less frazzled.
In order to make a lasting change, especially to something that has become a long-ingrained habit, we have to set a clear and passionate intention.
You have to ask yourself if you really, truly want your mornings to be different, or if you could honestly be fine continuing on as you always have. Breaking habits and installing new ones can be challenging, so it’s important to clarify why you want a more peaceful and simple morning routine. Beyond that, it’s all just details! Remember that simplicity is all about embracing the essentials and nothing more.
The list of things you need to do before you go to work, start school, or launch into your errands perhaps, doesn’t have to be so long?
Making your mornings peaceful and smooth has a lot to do with preparation.
You’ve probably read plenty of self-help articles about how to plan ahead, but maybe never got in the habit of doing it? No? Just me?
Well, when it comes to mornings, especially if you have a busy household, preparation is key! Because when you are well-prepared, you can create space for yourself to breathe and check in with your body and spirit, which is an essential part of a mindful life. Too many of us rush through our days without taking the time to stop, listen, and set an intention for how we want to move forward. And mornings can serve as this sacred space to do just that!
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
-Marcus Aurelius
Having a more simple morning is easier than you may think.
Start planning ahead for things like meals and outfits, and don’t be afraid to recruit help for things like making coffee or walking the pooch.
Leave your phone off while you get ready, and savor your breakfast in the quiet. Train yourself to get up just a little bit earlier, so you don’t have to rush. Clear your closet and bathroom of all non-essential clutter.
And greet the day with gratitude and a positive intention.
Your mindful invitation:
Find at least 1-2 areas of your morning routine that could be planned ahead of time. Enlist your partner or roommate in this process if possible. Consider using a checklist, chore wheel, or habit tracker if that would be helpful.
Also, carve out at least 5-10 minutes for quiet time in the morning. It doesn't sound like much, but it can dramatically shift your mood.
Use this time to meditate, do a few yoga stretches, or simply sit on your porch and sip your coffee. Don’t shortchange yourself by staying in bed later and skipping your sacred time, but notice how much nicer your days feel when you have simple and soul-centered mornings!
Wishing you all the beautiful, quiet, morning joy, and as always...
~ Hoping you feel as well as possible ~
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