10 Sep 3 Morning Rituals for Healthier Body & Mind
Hit snooze 5 times.
Check your phone.
Think about the 52 things that need to be done today.
Grab a coffee and rush out the door.
Sound familiar?
In our fast-paced, technologically driven world, this morning routine is pretty common. But what we choose to do first thing in the morning can set the tone for the whole day. So here are three healthy habits that won’t add any more time to your morning routine, but will get your day started off like this guy:
1. Practice Gratitude
I used to wake up every morning and think “What do I have to worry about today?” Seriously. It was terrible.
You might not be thinking that exactly, but maybe you run through your to-do list or start worrying about the future.
Instead, as soon as you wake up, take 2 minutes to just enjoy the present moment. Sit in the morning silence, appreciate where you are, and think of at least 3 things you are grateful for. Then, really feel that gratitude throughout your body. What we focus on, expands, so spend a few minutes to start off your day appreciating all you have, and watch how those things start to flourish. If we start the day being grateful for what we have, we will feel fulfilled; if we wake up and focus on what we lack, life will never be enough…so choose wisely.
2. Flush Out Toxins
When we sleep, something magical happens. Our bodies go into a restorative and fasting state and start doing all sorts of incredible healing and detoxing. In the morning, we literally need to break our fast (hence, “break-fast”), so shoving a burrito or acidic coffee into it first thing is not a very nice thing to do.
No matter what your breakfast routine is, say thank you to your body for all it does while you sleep by drinking a large cup of lukewarm (or at least room temp) water with the juice of a half or full organic lemon squeezed into it. This will hydrate you, flush toxins from your body and provide immediate nutrients.
3. Connect with Real Life Before Connecting Online
Email. Instagram. Facebook. Snapchat. Are these part of your morning bed routine?
I have another idea. Use that time in the morning to connect to your loved one, roommate, pet, nature, or simply quiet time to yourself (reading, drinking your lemon water on the patio, or maybe even going for a short walk). Social media and email will be there all day, but you might not get that peaceful time again later on.
It’s hard to do (I know, I was guilty of it), but when you start off your morning without technology, it allows you to create your own mood and intentions for the day and helps keep you a bit more grounded. When you start the day and you know where your head is, you have a much better foundation to handle whatever is thrown your way.
I have to say that once I started doing those three simple things above, my life has changed dramatically for the better. I also almost always start with juice, nettle tea, or a smoothie to give my body what it really needs in the morning. If you are looking to cut back on coffee, here are some coffee alternatives that might work for you.
Now it’s your turn. Do you have any morning rituals that help you start the day off like a rockstar? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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