How often do we wake up in the morning and simply roll out of bed, brush our teeth, eat or skip breakfast, get dressed and run out the door? Where's the fun in that routine? Of course there are days when we have an early meeting or are rushing to take our kids to daycare or school after a long sleepless night, but when possible a special morning ritual, whether just fifteen minutes or an hour and fifteen minutes can truly set the tone for our day mentally, physically and spiritually.
When our days are consumed with deadlines, obligations and being tethered to all forms of communication technology we forget to allow ourselves to stop and smell the roses for a brief moment and give ourselves a little love. I'm talking about real love in the form of a few moments of pleasure whatever that may mean for us. The morning is the perfect time to embrace this because it's when our minds are most clear after a deep sleep. Garnering just enough willpower to wake up a tiny bit earlier can give you something to look forward to at the start of the day. The peaceful tranquility of a meditation, the warming citrusy water stimulating your digestive juices, or the invigorating run or yoga practice with which you gift yourself can make all the difference for the rest of your day. And who knows, perhaps you'll kick more ass in that business meeting or let the stress of one roll of your shoulders a little more effortlessly!
Drinking warm water with lemon and a yoga practice (and lately physical therapy exercises due to a hamstring injury I'm still nursing) has become part of my morning routine and I honestly believe that my days are so much more fulfilling and productive now than they were when my mornings were more mundane and less thought-out. Why warm water with lemon? The warm water helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and lemon helps flush out toxins. (For more info on the benefits of drinking warm water with lemon, check out this MindBodyGreen article). Then, the physical yoga practice/ workout gets the blood flowing and wakes me up. I used to dread waking up earlier than I had to, but exercising a little willpower and sticking to the routine has made it easier especially because I look forward to it. I feel immense gratitude the entire day when I perform this ritual because I know it makes me healthy from a variety of different reasons.
So I encourage you to think about how you can envelope yourself in a little self-love and stimulate your mind, body, and spirit for the next month or longer. The ritual should bring a smile to your face and have positive effects that make you look forward to it every morning.
For a little inspiration, here are some fun ideas:
- a glass of warm water with lemon,
- a 10 minute meditation after a 20 minute yoga practice
- rolling over next to your partner and giving him a warm loving embrace
- breakfast in your living room or outside on the porch or balcony to experience the sun rise
- reading a news story in the morning paper while drinking a cozy and stimulating cup of coffee or tea
Feel free to share yours!
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