Mornings can be stressful. In the past, my mornings have been alarm, dress, eat, and out the door. Right now, my mornings are sleep until I hear a baby crying and then jump into full mom mode. I don’t know about you but neither of these sound peaceful or positive to me. I’m currently in the mode of changing how my mornings look and two of the words I want to be able to use when I’m describing my mornings are positive and relaxed. I recently talked about getting a positive start with daily mantras, so today, we’re going to be talking about how to make your morning more relaxed.
As I was thinking about ways to make my mornings more relaxed, many things came to mind! There’s no way that I can do all of the ideas that I’m about to share with you, but I thought it best to share them all because everyone has different styles. This list is by no means complete and there are probably a dozen more ideas that could be added! I’ll be elaborating on some of these in future posts as I continue to share how I’m reshaping my mornings to create a positive and relaxed start to my day.
Stretching
Stretching is a great way to get the blood flowing in your body without rushing around trying to get out the door. I love that stretching is slow and can be used to wake up the body without shocking the body. You spend all night laying in a horizontal position – why not start your day by waking up your muscles and getting out some of the kinks that can develop at night?
Meditation
I personally haven’t included meditation in my day in the past, so I can’t speak much about the power of meditation. What I can say on this topic is that it comes highly recommended! You can even download apps that will walk you through guided meditation if you’re not sure where to start with it.
Music
I find that there’s a lot of power in music. For me, it can lift my mood or help me reflect on how things are going. It can also set the mood for the rest of the day. I think it’d be great to create a playlist of your favorite songs and use it to add a little pep to your step while you’re getting ready for the day.
Read
I personally like to read at night before going to bed. (Right now, it’s more like 2am when I’m up for a middle of the night nursing session.) However, some people find that this doesn’t work for them. Mornings are a great time to take ten to fifteen minutes to sit down with a newspaper, magazine, or favorite book and catch up on some reading.
Journal
Writing is a great way to focus yourself and get your thoughts out of your head. This can help you have a better day because you’re no longer dwelling on some of your worries. There are lots of things that you can write in your journal, including affirmations, to do lists, goals, and more.
Shower
A shower is a great way to wake your body up while also getting ready for the day. Some people like to take their showers at night, but others thrive on taking them in the morning. If you’ve always been a night shower person, it might be a nice change of pace to try out a morning shower. (I personally know that I prefer night showers, but I have tried out both at different times in my life.)
Draw
Maybe writing isn’t your thing but you’d still like a creative start to your day. Drawing is a perfect way to have a creative start. You might even keep a journal like I mentioned above but fill it with drawings instead. No one says you have to be the world’s greatest artist either. Scribbles and stick figures are totally allowed – after all it’s your start to the day!
Exercise
What better way to get your blood flowing that with some exercise? Even ten minutes of exercise can wake your body up. Exercise comes in many forms and doesn’t have to leave you drenched in sweat. Yoga and walking are two examples of how you can start your day with slower paced exercise.
Nature
If you’re a fan of the outdoors, then it might be nice to include it in your morning routine. You could watch the sunrise while you eat your breakfast. You could also step outside and enjoy your breakfast on the porch or take a short stroll down the street.
Drink
No – we’re not starting our day with a glass of wine. However, a nice cup of tea or coffee could be just the start that you need to the day. Or maybe hot chocolate or lemon water is your preference. Figure out what makes your top list for a morning drink and try to incorporate it into your routine.
Unplug
Probably one of the biggest and easiest ways to relax is to remain unplugged for a while when you first get up. We’re way too quick to jump into the world of social media and the internet. Why not take a little time to connect with yourself before you connect with others?
Do you have a favorite way to relax in the mornings? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
