My Morning Routine
The morning time is very important for me. I truly believe that the first few hours can really affect the way the rest of your day will unfold. So, for the last few years I have tried to incorporate some sort of routine, which would help me wake up and start my day in the best possible way. I want my body and my mind to be ready for all the things I’ve planned for that day.
The morning time is very important for me. I truly believe that the first few hours can really affect the way the rest of your day will unfold. So, for the last few years I have tried to incorporate some sort of routine, which would help me wake up and start my day in the best possible way. I want my body and my mind to be ready for all the things I’ve planned for that day.
'Using the first five minutes of your day to feel good is like programming a destination into your GPS, like fixing your eye on the spot where you want your golf ball to land.' (Pam Grout, 'E-Cubed')
I remember that mornings used to be very stressful for me - rushing to get ready, thinking of all the things I wanted to do, usually running late and so on. You get the picture. I knew then that something had to change and I remember that I found out about setting up a routine by reading Louise Hay’s and Pam Grout’s books. They helped me to add my happy dance and meditation time to my mornings, and that made a huge difference!
'By consciously starting your day focused on gratitude and joy, you'll find that your whole life will begin to sparkle.' (Pam Grout - ‘E-Cubed')
Since then my morning routine has evolved even more. After reading Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning book, I took the 30-day Life Transformation Challenge and really focused on that part of the day. And I have to say that, even though this really works, sometimes it was getting too much for me and I didn’t want that to have a negative effect to my mornings. But I still wanted to continue having a morning routine.
Recently, I came across Sadia’s YouTube channel Pick Up Limes for something completely different (vegan recipes), and I happened to watch one of her videos on healthy morning habits. I loved the idea! It is essentially something very similar to the miracle morning. However, I loved how relaxed this routine sounded and I started applying it to my mornings straight away.
I have taken parts of the habits she mentions in her video and created a new morning routine for myself. The steps / habits that I’ve added are the following:
1 | Take it easy
Start the day without rushing. Wake up early. Let in natural light.
'When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.' (Tecumseh, Native American Leader)
Even with my other morning routines, I was just rushing out of bed straight away. This step helps me to pay more attention to how I wake up, have a feel of my surroundings and give myself 2-5 minutes to get out of bed.
2 | Breathe & 5-4-3-2-1
Meditate.
Or take a deep breath and say aloud to yourself:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can feel
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Meditation has been a big part of my morning routine for a few years now. However, I had never heard about that breathing exercise she mentions, and I find it very-very helpful.
3 | Screens off
No TV in the morning. Replace it with soothing music.
Check the phone for messages only after breakfast.
I am very rarely watching TV. But I admit that I used to check my phone in the morning a lot. I was checking my messages and emails right before starting my morning routine! And I have come to realise that by doing that, it was affecting my thoughts and made me feel preoccupied, whilst going trough with my morning habits. Now I only allow myself to check my phone after my breakfast and I can actually feel and see the difference.
4 | Hydrate
Drink a big glass of water before breakfast. Add fresh fruit to add flavour.
Continue to hydrate throughout the morning with more water or tea.
This is a habit I’ve been trying to incorporate for some time now. I didn’t like it in the beginning. But I’m actually craving some fruit water in the mornings now!
5 | Have a wholesome breakfast
Have a wholesome, high-finer breakfast. Take you vitamins.
Share the meal with someone, if possible.
Be mindful as you eat: actually see, feel, hear, smell and taste your food in front of you.
Again, I used to check on my phone while I was having my breakfast. By paying attention to what you eat can actually help you appreciate all the good foods you’re adding to your body. It also makes the food taste better!!! The sharing part as well is very important. I try to do that in the weekends when we are all together at home :)
6 | Check-in with yourself
Fill in the following during or just after breakfast:
- I am thinking ________________
- I am feeling emotionally ________________
- I am feeling physically ________________
- My 2 intentions for the day are:
1) ________________
2) ________________
- 2 things I’m grateful for are:
1) ________________
2) ________________
- One thing that would add to my happiness today would be _______________
I love this part. It’s like the journaling part of Hal Elrod’s routine, but now you have more specific questions to answer and they really help! It’s good to see how I’m feeling both emotionally and physically in the morning, and also how to figure out ways to make my day even better!
7 | Visualise
Draw up your action plan the night before. Spend a couple of minutes in the morning visualising yourself doing these things.
I’ve tried visualisation before. But I think I was doing it in a different way. I used to focus on the things that I wanted to do and achieve, my goals and dreams. And even though this is fine as well, I love Sadia’s way of visualising my day ahead. This exercise has helped me to see that some of the days I have added too many things in my to-do list! And I had to reconsider my tasks for the day.
8 | Fresh air & body love
Exercise if possible. Otherwise, try to get some fresh air, go for a walk, bicycle, or do some light stretching at home.
I want to do that more. I want to try and get out of the house more and feel the fresh air. My house is 10 minutes away from the sea and it’s crazy that a week can go by and I might not have gone to the beach… This is one of the things I need to change. And of course, to show some body love with exercise as well.
To see all the steps / habits she mentions, Sadia has a blog post about it, as well as a free printable checklist.
I've been following this routine for more than a week now and I love it! It makes me feel relaxed but also grounded and focused for the rest of the day. You should definitely give it a try. Also don't forget to give Sadia some love, and make sure to check out her recipes cause they are really yummy!
What is your morning routine? Let me know of your morning habits in the comments below.
Have an amazing day!
The Miracle Morning - 30 Day Life Transformation Challenge
After reading Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning book, I am ready for the 30-day Life Transformation Challenge that he sets in it. Once you read the book, you basically go through certain steps where you answer some clarity questions, you assess your life with the 'Level 10 Life' wheel and then you go on and set your Level 10 Goals.
I created a two page layout in my bullet journal, as I've seen it in Kara's website, but I also have 3-4 pages of more detailed Level 10 Goals in it as well.
The book shows a simple approach to achieve what you've ever wanted, by having a specific morning routine that includes Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation, Exercise, Reading and Scribing.
I already have a similar morning routine, where I dance and meditate and lately I tried to incorporate some visualisation too, but this is more focused and intense since there are specific steps and it's done every single day. I am up for giving myself some challenges and therefore I decided to do it starting from tomorrow, Monday the 13th of July 2016 (why wait until next month?)
So, for the past two days I've been trying to set myself ready. I always believed that the more prepared you are for something, the less likely it is that you'll mess up and fail. I took each step separately and made sure I have everything I'll need for it.
SILENCE
For this part of my morning routine I'll be meditating for 10 minutes. I've been using Headspace for quite some time now, but I wanted to add something else as well and I found a new application called Calm where I'll try their 7 Days of Calm program before deciding if I'll pay for it monthly.
AFFIRMATIONS
I wanted to create a page with affirmations that was as personal to me as possible, instead of finding various affirmations online each day. My goal was to have a set of affirmations that I can read all together as one paragraph, or that I can choose one, if I want, each day to repeat as a mantra. So, I came up with the following being inspired by Louise Hay, Hal Elrod, Pam Grout and many online resourses:
- Something amazingly awesome is going to happen to me today.
- This is going to be a great day.
- I make today the best day of my life, because there is simply no good reason not to.
- Today I will take one step towards my dreams.
- I create beautiful experiences.
- I am in charge of how I feel and today I choose happiness.
- I am committed to live in constant joy. Joy is my natural state.
- There is nothing to fear.
- Life emanates from me. I create the world with my thoughts, my beliefs, and my energetic frequency.
- I already have everything I could ever want or need.
- The universe has my back and is constantly sending me blessings, gifts, signs and guidance.
- Making money is easy.
- I can afford anything I want. In fact, I am so prosperous, I never need to worry again.
- Things always work out for me.
- I am successful in everything I do.
- What I think, I create.
- Amazing opportunities exist for me in every aspect of my life.
- I deserve the best and I accept it right now. All my needs and desires are met before I even ask.
- I am just as deserving of extraordinary happiness, health, wealth and success as any other person on this planet!
- I am loved.
- I am the best mother I can be.
- I am blessed with an amazing, loving and supportive family and loyal, kind and understanding friends.
- I am creative, smart and talented. I love to inspire people.
- I am strong and confident.
- My body is filled with energy.
- I love my body and I take care of it every day filling it with nutritious food and by exercising.
- I listen to my body and give it what it needs on every level.
- My body is peaceful, healthy and happy, and so am I.
- My mind and body are in perfect balance. I am a harmonious being.
- I relax and enjoy life. I know that whatever I need to know is revealed to me in the perfect time and space sequence.
- I am grateful for all that I am, all that I have and all that I experience.
- I am grateful for my beautiful life.
- I am whole and complete.
- All is well in my world.
I wrote them in my bullet journal and I've also printed them and I have a copy in my office and by my bedside table. I've created a FREE printable for you too!
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VISUALISATION
I wanted to create a two page layout in my bullet journal, but I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time and create something special. But in the meantime, I've created a Visualisation Board on Pinterest that works just fine for now.
EXERCISE
As far as my exercise is concerned, I was already working out on average 3-4 times a week. So, the plan for the next 30 days is to run 3-4 times a week following the 5K Runner App. that I had stopped using and then started all over again two weeks ago. The rest of the time, I am going to walk for 30 minutes and then do some weight lifting exercises and some squats. Once I finish with the app, I'm going to be going swimming everyday for an hour - which I love and I can't wait!
READING
For the reading part of this morning routine I decided to finally read the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, that I've been meaning to do for some time now. I am going to be reading 1-2 chapters per day. After that, I'll continue with the Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
SCRIBING
I am excited about this part of the morning routine, but I am also worried about it. I like to journal and write, but I am not consistant and in the past whenever I tried to write every day, I gave up. So, this time I am determined to make it work. I already have my notebook dedicated for my writing ready - it's a pale yellow Moleskine Journal cahier squared. I decided that for this part, I can do one of the following so that I always have a choice:
- Write about whatever I want that day.
- Write my affirmations or the affirmation that I've chosen for that particular day lots of times.
- Choose one of the prompts from this journaling prompt list I found online, that looks really interesting.
My schedule for my morning routine will be:
WAKE UP AT 5am
SILENCE: 10 mins
AFFIRMATIONS: 10 mins
VISUALISATION: 10 mins
EXERCISE: 40-60 mins
READING: 15 mins
SCRIBING: 15-20 mins
And I am ready! You can get your copy of Hal Elrod's 'Miracle Morning' book here. If you'd like to join me in this miracle morning life transformation challenge, please leave a comment below so that we can support and inspire each other. :)
What is your current morning routine?
Morning Dance - Start your day by choosing to be Happy
Today I come to you with some amazing dance moves and a lot of swing! For the past 6 months I've implemented something into my morning routine that has affected my day in a very positive way and I'd like to share it with you.
And that is dancing!
Right after I wake up in the morning, I put on my headphones (I don't think my family would appreciate a full blast of Bruno Mars at 6 o'clock in the morning!) and I turn my bathroom into the dance floor. For approximately 5 mins I dance like no one's watching and I create my own choreography right in front of my bathroom mirror.
'By consciously starting your day focused on gratitude and joy, you'll find that your whole life will begin to sparkle.' (Pam Grout - 'E-Cubed')
I know what you're thinking: at 6 in the morning I can't keep my eyes open, let alone start dancing like crazy in the bathroom. That's how I was feeling when I first read about it in Pam Grout's book 'E-Cubed'. But I promise you, if you try it for 2-3 days, you'll be hooked!
That's because those 5 minutes will affect the rest of your day in such a powerful and positive way, that you'll look forward to your next morning dance.
'Using the first five minutes of your day to feel good is like programming a destination into your GPS, like fixing your eye on the spot where you want your golf ball to land.' (Pam Grout, 'E-Cubed')
The theory behind this according to Mrs. Grout's book is that the more fun you have, the better life works.
So, my morning routine right now looks something like this:
Meditate for 10 mins.
Stretch and give thanks to the Universe for another beautiful day.
'When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.' (Tecumseh, Native American Leader)
