Morning Routines: A Beginner's Guide

Lifestyle changes do not come overnight. In fact, habits can change steadily over years, even decades. If there's one thing I've learned to perfect though, it's the art of the morning routine.

Let's get one thing straight. I wasn't ever a morning person. Mornings can be a source of dread and stress for me. You wake up, and immediately you are reminded of the hundred things you have to finish that day. Not only do you have to head to class, or go to work, you also have dishes to do, laundry to wash, a bed to make, assignments to complete, you have to go to the grocery store and get gas and ohmygoshyouhavesomuchtodo.

OKAY. Tip NUMBER ONE.

Morning is a time to be slow.

It is the American condition to hurry to the next thing in life. So, if you are an anxious person like me, our first thoughts in the morning is panic about what we have to accomplish. Now, if you are like me, and most phone-slaves in this generation, you may choose to distract yourself from this onslaught of thoughts with some mind-numbing social media surfing. My old style was wake up, panic about the coming day, and then attempt to relax by grabbing my phone and surfing through web content like Instagram and Twitter which eventually, I realized, wasn't the same kind of stress, but a stressor as well.

So my first recommendation—wake up a little bit earlier than you have to. Go to bed a little bit earlier than you would too, to balance this out. If you have to do this incrementally, take your time, don't over think it. Start with five minutes earlier, ten, then 15. If you're like me, with a wild random work schedule where my start times could range from 8 AM to 3 PM, plan ahead the night before.

Taking time for yourself isn't selfish, but instead healthy. Here's how I transformed my rushed, anxious, unhealthy mornings into my favorite time of the day.

1. Wake up. Give thanks.

Remind yourself that you are alive. Take a big deep breath and express silent gratitude that you have been gifted another extraordinary day on this extraordinary planet. Gratitude is the key to positivity, and positivity is the key to having a happy, good day. So wake up, sit up, wiggle around a little bit. Don't TOUCH THAT PHONE YET (unless you need to power down that alarm...) Find one thing in your immediate eyesight you are grateful for. Is it your cozy comforter? Your favorite chair? A cute shirt? You slumbering pet or snoring partner? Take an internal moment to remember how lucky you are.

2. Stretch!

Alright, time to give those sleepy muscles a yummy wake up call. A few neck rolls, a spine twist, stretching your fingers to the sky, wiggling your toes. You don't even have to leave bed for this, just quietly and gently greet your precious body and warm yourself up. Take some deep, strong, life giving breaths.

3. Hydrate

No matter how long or how short you've been asleep, your body has been hard at work. Your body has been gurgling, digesting, breathing, and pumping all night! Your brain has been churning out dreams. Reward yourself and your soul with some good clean water. I keep a huge water bottle beside my bed, and try and down a good liter or two before I climb out of bed. I also sit up, get comfortable, and grab my journal while sipping at my water.

4. Journal.

Even if it's a sentence. Even if it's a word. Committing a thought, a word, a mood, a feeling onto paper can change your entire day. If you want to record any particular dream, do it now. If you are a list-writer, jot down a few intentions for the day, whether it's tasks or the entire vibe you'd like the day to hold.

5. Get up and out.

I take the first few standing moments out of bed to wiggle around some more. I touch my toes, stretch my sides, swivel my hips. Now is when I will switch my phone off airplane mode and let the outside world into my little room.

6. Just MAKE THE BED.

It takes 30 seconds, if you do it like me (which isn't very nice or properly), but if I have a slower morning I take my time, fluff my pillows up cute, make my room a happy little sanctuary. Having a made bed to come home to is so nice and such a relief sometimes it can perk my mood up after a long day at work.

7. Coffee? Tea?

Most people cannot get through the day without a good cup of hot something. Trust me, I'm an expert on this (I am a barista.) I head to my kitchen, put on a pot of coffee for my boyfriend, and boil water for my tea. While I'm waiting for these to finish, I do a few small little chores, whether it's filling up my cat's food bowl, cleaning the litter box, throwing some dishes in the dishwasher. I also hydrate more, drinking as much water as my body can stand (In the medical field it's called 'pushing fluids', and it's basically drinking water even if you're not that thirsty). You'll pee a lot, but you're going to have more energy, less body aches, less headaches. Just more toilet breaks. Please.....do it for your kidneys! Especially if you're a caffeine drinker!

8. Ritual

Here you get to be a little more personal. For me, I light a stick of incense, put on some Tibetan Singing Bowls music, and settle into my meditation corner with my tea. Sometimes, I find myself on the yoga mat. Either way, dedicate at least half an hour to yourself in the mornings without anything to do or accomplish than just sitting. If you're interested in learning meditation, I would recommend the Headspace App, but there's tons of amazing guided meditations on Youtube and Spotify. If meditation isn't your thing, maybe journal some more, write a blog entry, play with your fuzzy children. Try and do something you love that is non electronic based. Our bodies take time to wake up. Let them have peace.

9. Breakfast

One of the hardest habits to get into, and one of the easiest things to accomplish. Put something in your belly! If you're not that hungry, eat a small fruit; bananas, apples, pears, etc. are healthy and affordable. Oatmeal, toast, eggs. Have some prepared breakfast in the fridge, hassle free. Yogurt or cereal. If you're a coffee drinker, I really recommend starting with the food because of how acidic coffee is. Your stomach lining deserves better! I usually go with a slice of avocado toast and a hard boiled egg. If I have time, I use my juicer and get all those fabulous vitamins and minerals into my body.

10. Connect with Mother Earth.

If you can, if the weather isn't extreme, go outside. Take a breath of air. Even if you live in a city, align your body and mental state with the natural surrounding environment. Eat your breakfast outside or drink your tea. I don't have a porch, but I just stand outside my apartment door and lean on the railing and stare up at the trees. It's balancing, and reminds you how slow and peaceful the world is around you.

I cannot stress enough how positive and life-changing having a consistent morning routine has been for me. Even just implementing a few of these steps, you will start to see drastic results in your day.