HOW TO CREATE A MINDFUL MORNING
This past Labor Day weekend stands out as exceptionally great. I started off this week feeling unusually refreshed and peaceful. The weekend consisted of the perfect balance between play, productivity and rest. I danced, unleashed my inner artist, wrote and connected with friends. Nothing out of the ordinary, yet it was wonderful.I journal daily. It clears my mind and connects me to my wiser self. I decided to dive into what made this weekend different.
As I wrote, what I realized was not once over 4 days did I wake to an alarm clock. I eased into each day feeling rested and waking to the natural rhythm of my own body.
I woke when I was ready, connecting to my internal clock creating a deep sense of peace & rejuvenation which led into the next week.And then I got to thinking, how wonderful life would be if alarm clocks didn’t exist? Or how wonderful would it be if I could cultivate a mindful morning every morning.
What if you created a life in which you didn’t have to wake to an alarm clock?
Think about it.
How many mornings are you abruptly woken from a dream to the harsh reality of BEEP, BEEP, BEEP? Crawling out of bed. Half asleep. Stumbling to the shower. Frantically getting ready to rush out the door.Now, think about the opposite.Something starts to stir within. Your internal clock is easing you into the day. The sun glistens on your face. As you take a moment to stretch, your eyes slowly open. A smile crosses your face. You gently and slowly get out of bed, ready to start your day, feeling well rested and at peace.
What if this is how you started every day? Sounds pretty wonderful, eh?
Peace. Ease. Freedom. Joy. Rest. Leisure. Rejuvenation. Sunshine.
Count me in!
I realize it’s not probable to have a worldwide bonfire in which we burn every alarm clock (even though it sounds pretty fantastic). BUT there are ways you can begin cultivating a mindful & peaceful morning routine. After all, the way you start your morning will impact your entire day (and your life).
Here are few ideas on how to bring more peace into your mornings:
#1: Prepare & plan the night before.
Layout your clothes, make your lunch, create your to do list, have the coffee pot ready to go, etc. Taking 15 – 20 minutes the night before to prep will make a huge difference in the morning.
#2: Honor & connect to the natural rhythm of your body.
Are you a night owl, an early bird or somewhere in between? How many hours of sleep do you need? How can you honor your natural rhythm? Not sure? Take 30 minutes to journal on the subject and connect to your inner wisdom.
#3: Cultivate ease & peace as your first act of the day.
After your alarm clock goes off and before you get out of bed, with your eyes still closed, take a few minutes to inhale & exhale slowly while stretching. You can also take this time to practice gratitude.
#4. Have a solid morning routine in place and know how long it takes.
Our minds love routine and if you have a solid morning routine in place your mornings will run a bit more smoothly. If you're frantically rushing out the door every morning, your probably not giving yourself enough time.I suggest taking some time on a weekend morning to play around with your ideal morning routine. This will give you the freedom to try new things without the added stress of having to go to work. Also, try setting a timer to see how long your routine actually takes.
XO, Emily
P.S. What's your favorite way to start your day? Please share in the comments below.