I’ve written before on how starting your day on your own terms can boost your confidence throughout the day. But so far, what I haven’t talked about is the mindfulness aspect of a morning routine.
Creating good habits for yourself in the morning can do just as much for your confidence as starting the day on your own terms. Starting your day with a mindfulness practice can help to keep you positive, create a routine that you look forward to, and can help to improve both your physical and mental health.
Here are 5 mindfulness habits that you can use to start your day off right.
Habit #1
Start your morning with a cup of tea
Drinking something warm in the morning not only helps to wake up your body, it’s also a wonderfully peaceful way to start your day.
Whether you like an apple cider vinegar tea to help improve digestion, or a lemon ginger tea to help with detoxing, or even just a cup of plain green tea, having a morning tonic is a great ritual to have.
You can experiment with different types of tea in order to get what you need that day. Right now my favorite is lemon ginger, but I sometimes alternate that with a dandelion milk thistle mix for detoxing.
Habit #2
Leave your phone turned off
When we first wake up in the morning, we enjoy a clarity that we won't see again for the rest of the day. There’s a peacefulness in the silence of early morning that lends itself to meditation and reflection.
Don't spoil the moment by making the outside world more important than your own well-being. Avoid the temptation to start your day by checking text messages, status updates, emails, and alerts.
Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the morning. The rest of the world will clamor for your attention soon enough.
Recommended Resource
Five Good Minutes: 100 Morning Practices to Help You Stay Calm and Focused All Day Long
Habit #3
Get a little exercise
Getting up and getting active helps wake you up more fully than a cup of coffee, and it can help you stay awake longer. Starting your day off with a little moving around also helps you get some exercise before your brain can object.
Whether you go for a walk or a swim, or just do a few stretches or a bit of yoga, starting your day off with a little movement is a good habit to get into.
Habit #4
Eat a healthy breakfast
Having a full, healthy, well-rounded breakfast is shown to help improve healthy food choices through the rest of the day. A good breakfast should include a source of carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein. Including some veggies here and there during breakfasts is great, whether you prefer them to the side or in a green smoothie!
Habit #5
Plan Out Your Day
Planning out your day and setting your priorities is another great morning habit to get into. Choose 1 - 3 big or important things that you need to get done that day. Try to get them done at the beginning of your day so that you can spend time doing the things you enjoy when you’re finished. And, of course, make time for yourself!
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to create a mindful morning routine that works for you. These habits are just a few of the ways you can add a little mindfulness and self-care time into the start of your day.
Take some time to figure out what works for you, and design a day that suits your needs and gets you off to the best possible start.
Do you have a morning routine? What does it look like?
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Such simple acts which make the entire day easier. Thank you,
You’re most welcome Cathy. I truly believe that life is best lived through the simple things. :)
When I first wake up, I think about 5 things that I am grateful for!
After rising and getting out of bed, I immediately make it.
When the weather is nice out, I make a cup of coffee and enjoy it out on the porch.
Awesome morning routine, Paul! My goal in life is to have a porch that I can drink my coffee on. Preferably overlooking a lake. :)
I keep thinking that I need to develop a better morning routine. So far I haven’t done that yet. I never really knew where to start, except for having breakfast. I’m getting there, though. And your tips are helpful.
Hi Jen, I’m glad you’re finding the tips helpful. The trick, I think, is to pick one thing to start with and just add that to your day. When that becomes routine, add one more and keep building up that way until you have a morning routine that works for you.
Ah, a cup of tea in morning, that’s how I start my day unless I have milk and chocolate cake! I pray, exercise and plan my day…. but I can’t keep my phone off. That’s the first thing I do when I wake up.
Yum! Chocolate cake in the morning! Is there a better way to start the day?
I loved your post. I follow most of it.
Cool! Glad you liked it. :)
Hi Ruth
Such gentle mindful morning routines. Thinking of following most of them as lm starting to feel better and interested in getting back to working again.
How great to be featuredoned on the new PAC magazine. It looks great.
Hi Kathryn! Lesly did a great job on the magazine, didn’t she? Great to see you here, and so glad you’re starting to feel better. I’ve missed you!