That ideal morning routine that just looms in your mind. You can taste the sweet nectar of getting into a rhythm, feeling totally balanced and regulated. Yet, you are not quite there yet.
Those mornings of waking up annoyed, "why haven't I figured this out yet?! I NEED to get into a flow." As we sulk to the bathroom, brush our teeth, and look at the clock. WE ARE LATE! How on earth does this happen?
On our ride to work we start to fantasize about those early morning coffees with the sunrise, the workouts before 8 AM, the pure euphoria of feeling completely satisfied by 9AM... Without the stress.
I was there, until I started this totally simple morning routine framework that is gentle, inviting, and feels just as good as it looks.
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The ideal morning routine will set such a solid foundation for the rest of your day. When I started being diligent about my morning routine I found more balance and regulation within myself.
You will learn the ideal morning routine to finally get into a rhythm that works for you and supports your nervous system from the moment you wake up. This is for women seeking more calm, supportive mornings (before the crazy day, of course).
This post is all about the ideal morning routine!
The Ideal Morning Routine
Get up at the same time everyday
I know it is HARD, but getting up at the same time everyday is essential. And here is the kicker, with zero snooze-buttons. When my alarm goes off at 5am, I am up within ten seconds (usually).
The author of the book, 5AM Club, says we have 60 seconds when our alarm goes off to either get up or allow our minds to convince us to stay in bed. I noticed that once I started just popping out of bed. I would walk out of my room like a bad of rocks, never feeling so heavy in my life, with my eyes still closed. Spoiler alert: I actually survived AND my body ended up getting used to it.
It gets so much easier after about 2 weeks. My body didn't want to crumble into the ground, and peace was the result.
Alternatively, waking up at the same time everyday sets your internal clock. Eventually our bodies learn and start to flow with this rhythm. Honestly, it is the greatest feeling in the world.
Here I made a perfect morning routine checklist that instantly aligns and grounds your morning for a soft morning that leads to an insanely productive day.
It is SO helpful, especially when you are waking up early. I use a version of this almost every day!!
Refrain from your phone for at least one hour
After my alarm goes off, I leave my phone alone. The early morning moments, especially the first 10 minutes of being awake are so important. Our brains are at a different frequency level right when we wake up. They say it is the perfect time to solidify information, learn, pray, etc.
Right when we wake up, we are in our Theta brain waves. Theta brain waves are slow and steady. It is said to be connected with intuition, creativity, and daydreaming. They aid in prayer, meditation, and spiritual awareness since theta is the frequency when we move from subconscious (sleeping) to fully awake.
So, why would we want to disrupt our precious moments in this frequency with social media, news, texting, etc? I have been doing this practice now for almost 1-2 years and it really does make a huge difference.
Have a ritualistic beverage & hydrate
My favorite time of the morning is enjoying my coffee. But, you can make matcha, cacao, or tea (obviously you live your life). There is something very serene about making a hot beverage and slowly waking up.
A good addition to this is to hydrate. I personally love having an ice water and my coffee. As we slowly nourish our mind and body with our drink we can slowly get into the day without the drastic rush.
Another reason I love waking up at 5AM is the beauty of a slow morning. Being in meditation or prayer, sipping my coffee, and allowing the space to fully wake up before jumping into the day. I don't know, there is something really beautiful about it.
Consume content that positively contributes
Very similar to not opening your phone for about an hour, it is also important to consume beneficial content. Instead of the news, try a book, instead of social media, try a podcast (on a topic you're interested in).
I find that even if I just read a section, page, or chapter of a book I am better for it. Plus, the time you are consuming positive content is taking away time that you might be consuming negative content (ie social media or the news).
I always think about the quote, "You are what you consume." Yes, that one is referring to the foods you eat, but it also relates to the content you consume. Right? I mean, it only makes sense. So, ask yourself, what kind of content do I want to become?
Write your to-dos for the day
If you don't already have a planner, I would get one. It is my life saver, and I love being able to cross things off throughout the day. I either write my to-dos in the morning or the night before. A great transition from an ideal morning routine into the rest of your day.
Instead of allowing your mind swirl with, "ok I have to do this, and that, and this is at 1pm..." Writing it all down gets it out of the mind and onto paper. A great way to see your day, actually physically see what it looks like!
A study shows that people who wrote a to-do list before bed fell asleep significantly faster than those who wrote a completed to-do list. I'm really not sure what goes on in the brain, but if it works it works.
So, writing your to-do list in the morning most likely will have an effect on the rest of your days productivity and your stress levels (given writing one at night helps with stress levels as well).
Have a morning refresh moment
In the most ideal situation, at this point in the morning routine you would get some exercise. Though, if you are anything like me, sometimes I need a bit less pressure. Sometimes I feel a solid workout and others I feel a gentle walk or a relaxing moment outside. As I say in my yoga classes, listen to your body... she knows best!
Either way, do something that tells your body it is time to start the day. Think about after you workout, what do you do? Shower, eat, and get dressed. Then, you are basically already ready for the day.
A gentle refresh moment, even as simple as sitting outside, is the transition into the rest of your day.
Get ready for the day
Alas, the ideal morning routine is ultimately to prepare ourselves for the day ahead. And after all this, you are ready. It is the best when you get ready and know that you have started strong.
At this point, anything that happens in your day doesn't matter. A mentor once told me, "get up and make deposits into your top 3 priorities in life, so by 10AM you have done what is most important to you. It won't matter how your day goes because you have tended to what is most important."
This ideal morning routine will make a deposit into your spiritual wellness, knowledge, your physical body, and stress management.
When I make deposits into my top priorities, my steps throughout the day feel like I am walking on a solid foundation. I find that smile on my face when I didn't even realize it, which ultimately guides me to walking in alignment with what is best.