Power Moves: Cultivating A Morning Routine That Elevates Your Day.
Cultivating good habits starts with planning and continues through action.
HHave you ever woke up in the morning, in a complete rush to do the one hundred things you planned the day before? Or, on the other hand, woke up feeling empty, overwhelmed, or purposeless?
I’ve experienced some of those scenarios and it’s needless to say that neither felt well. On a journey of self-awareness and internal wholeness I soon came to realize the power of a morning routine.
I created a morning routine that fitted seamlessly with where I am in life, but also can be adjusted as things change.
This simple consistency has had a profound impact on how I respond to my experiences throughout my day. And like a rolling stone, I’m becoming more aware of my different states; my consciousness, my energy, my interaction with myself, and my internal wholeness.
As we learn who we are, why we are here, and the true purpose of our lives, the little details such as one’s morning routine, become significant.
It’s so easy to sit and long for things of the future and nothing is wrong with planning for a better future.
But, it is also important to balance and remember that the future is not real, it’s an idea. What is real, is the present moment. Likewise, those vacations are a small percentage of our lives, so don’t overthink them.
Real-life is ordinary.
Use these points as a guide in creating a morning routine for where you are in the present. As life continues to teach us lessons, we trade in our old hats for new ones, at that point, we can realign the previous morning routine with a renewed one.
- Wake up early:
Choose a time, and stick to it.
Take your time.
Don’t be in a hurry.
Keep your eyes closed.
Breathe, try not to think.
Personal notes: When I choose a time to wake up I considered what I needed from my mornings.
I needed time to myself, yes, but why?
My main purpose for desiring time alone was rooted in my psyche. Extroverts are empowered, or gain energy, through their interactions. On the other hand, introverts are empowered through spending time alone.
In my new roles, I’m not getting much time alone. As a result, my internal being has been craving some space to recharge. I’ve been giving and giving with no space to recharge.
What I craved was space to be; do not serve, to not give from physical or internal beings, but to pour into my Being.
Space.
To be with me as I am, with no other energies, with no judgments, and in stillness.
Time to breathe.
Time to reflect.
Time to replenish my wholeness.
In choosing your time to arise, consider your reasons and take a deeper dive into why you desire the time. Perhaps you're like me and need to wake up before everyone.
Or, perhaps not. Maybe you need to wake up and connect to others immediately, empower your being, and recharge your soul.
Only you can know. Once you do, only then can you choose the timing to elevate your day.
2. Clean Your Space:
Ahhhh, the feeling of opening a door and observing a clean space.
Clean spaces are visually pleasing. They also reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and depression.
Therefore, it’s a good habit to develop by making your bed and cleaning your space in the morning. It trains your mind to have a follow-up routine, you’ll feel good about doing it, and offers you a win in the morning.
Personal note: I’m someone who has been making my bed since I was in my parents' house. At the time, I didn’t realize what a clean bed offers my mental space subconsciously. I did, however, know that it felt good to enter the room and see space and cleanliness.
A clean space feels like taking a deep breath, and inhaling fresh air. The opposite holds when I see a room without distress — it’s not about judging the room — it’s about how the visual makes me feel.
So, these simple steps satisfy both mental and physical.
3. Mediate
Mediation has completely changed the way I see, show up and view myself. As such, I’d love to share this with others, to show you a way to manage your thoughts and create safe spaces for yourself. Still, I know that not everyone is interested in mediation.
For those who are interested in meditation — meditate — and never allow any force to prevent that practice from occurring every single day.
To diversify this tip, since everyone doesn’t chant, practice yoga, or meditate, is to instead create a moment of silence for yourself.
The purpose of this practice is to slow your mind down, become still to become aware, and be grounded.
Grounding the mind is a practice for your internal being that preps your mind for the day.
4. Give
Give to others, don’t just take, give.
Being generous is good for the ego and character. Think of ways that you can give to others — it doesn’t have to be financial, be creative, and give something every day, it will change you.
Personal reflection: When I was teaching in higher education I had a peer who had trouble forming relationships with her colleagues. I was new to the position but seemed to be making friendships quickly.
She had been there two years. Although she desired to build relationships and thought she was trying, she didn’t know how to start. Eventually, she felt safe to open up and ask how she could achieve this.
Of course, there are multiple factors that contribute to building lasting relationships, but being generous opens up different avenues.
Unknowingly, she was a taker on multiple fronts. She took, and took, and never offered anything back to others. Although she would say thank you, a lot, and say she was happy to be in places, when invited, you couldn’t believe her actions.
By giving her thoughts in conversations, giving in thought — by bringing in coffee or making homemade treats — people being to see her as she wanted to be seen, as she was.
5. Don't have a heavy dinner:
In order to prepare for the morning, one should begin the day before, no?
This tip may be harder on those whose culture or environment supports the idea that dinner should be the heaviest meal of the day. But think about it, if you eat heavily, instead of resting, your body is digesting your meal.
If your body gets the proper rest that it seeks, waking up early can become less of a struggle, so eat well.
Thanks for being here, and for taking the time to read my article.
I’m a researcher, former assistant professor, and self-help writer. My goal is to write articles that help my readers think, connect and grow. If you’d like more content, I host a wellness podcast that you can follow on any Apple product here or Spotify here. The podcast features voiceovers of all of my articles and wellness content.
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