Three Ways to Construct a Morning Routine that Invigorates You
So many articles say we should have a morning routine, here’s three ways to actually plan it out
For being a writer who focuses on emotional wellness, my morning routines have been inconsistent for the last year.
Sure, I’ve done more than just get out of bed, but my first actions of the day have not been purposeful.
Usually, it’s get up, write, meet my boyfriend before work and actually go into the office.
Maybe like me, you’ve fallen into a rut and want to restructure your morning routine or maybe you don’t have an idea where to start planning one.
When I planned out my Happiness Project in November, I knew routines would have to make the list. First stop: morning routine.
As I was contemplating how to plan it, I came across three methods that would be beneficial: depending on a few factors- time, energy level and goals.
Each have their merits. Each have the potential to change mornings from blah to purpose driven.
The Mind, Body and Heart Connection
This one could take as little as 5–10 minutes and is meant to include all three aspects. It’s a small, easy investment.
However, it’s great for beginners and still covers the essentials.
The idea is to do something that feeds your mind, soul and body.
For example, eating a healthy breakfast while reading something inspirational and journaling.
The time investment here is small, although it could be stretched out to suit your needs.
The Anchors Approach
What feeds you?
When you envision setting up an energizing routine, do you imagine meditation, movement, gratitude practices, journaling or another positive and uplifting activity?
The idea here is to choose two activities that will feed you and anchor you for the day. Start with five minutes each. Change as needed, but allow yourself at least one week to see how your current anchors work for you.
I got this idea from Nataly Kogan’s book Happier Now. I love the concept that this is a relatively easy and pain free way to create a morning routine in 10 minutes or less.
The time commitment is still minimal but has the potential to be very effective. The time can also be expanded as you find the practices that work for you.
The Morning Miracle Routine
When it comes to detailed and time dedicated routines, this is the one that I think of.
The Morning Miracle is a one hour routine which covers 6 different areas of activities: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading (learning material) and scribing.
Each of these six would help us to get into the right mindset. They help us to be relaxed, set our intentions and get both physical and mental exercise.
The ideal time for this routine is one full hour- ten minutes for each activity.
This routine would work best if you had an hour, or ever just an amount of time close to one hour to devote to taking care of yourself first thing in the morning. It is also likely the routine that would allow for the most growth.
In Case You Were Wondering
I’m adapting the morning miracle for my needs. I’ve decided to practice the 1 hour one or to do something similar that might take slightly less time but has the same components. I like the thoroughness of the program.
Which one seems the best fit for you to begin practicing?
