Creating a morning routine that resonates with your lifestyle, goals, and values can be a game-changer in setting a positive tone for your entire day. It’s not just about waking up early or checking off tasks from a list; it’s about crafting a ritual that nourishes your mind and body. You all know how much I value a mindful morning routine, so much so that I created an entire planner around it. So today, my goal is to guide you through creating your very own dream morning that meets you where you are and fits your specific needs and goals.
Why a Mindful Morning Routine Matters
Before diving into specifics, let’s discuss the why behind creating a mindful morning routine.
Mindfulness is defined as a “state of being achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment and acknowledging one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations with compassion and acceptance.” When you apply this to your morning routine, it means tuning into yourself and nurturing not just your physical health, but also your mental and emotional wellbeing.
A mindful routine helps you start the morning with intention, align your actions with your aspirations, and carry that energy throughout the day.
I love to think about my morning routine in terms of three simple steps: Move. Nourish. Self Care. You may be familiar with this if you have my Mindful Morning Planner or if you’ve watched any of my morning routine reels on Instagram.
Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour in the morning, you can create a routine that incorporates these three pillars and leaves you feeling grounded and ready to start your day. In this post, you’ll find 10 simple habits inspired by these three core concepts to add into your dream morning routine. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Define Your Morning Goals
Before you begin, it’s essential to identify what you are hoping to achieve with your morning routine. Do you want to prioritize movement at the beginning of the day? Create more time for a hobby that brings you joy? Get a few to-dos out of the way? A question I’ve found really helpful to ask myself is: How do I want my mornings to feel? Pinpointing a guiding feeling can help you make better decisions about what you want to include in your routine. If you’re a bit stuck, here are a few words that might resonate:
I want my mornings to feel:
- calm
- grounding
- energizing
- nourishing
- joyful
- restorative
- uplifting
- productive
Try This: Take a few minutes to jot down the feeling you want to create with your morning routine and your top three morning goals on to a post-it. Keep them somewhere visible as you design your routine so that they’re top of mind as you choose elements for your routine.
Step 2: Energize Your Body With Movement
Movement is my first pillar because it gives me a mood boost every single time, no matter how I’m feeling when I wake up. Some days call for more gentle movement while others call for a full-on sweat sesh. Whatever your preferred movement practice, incorporating some form of exercise into your morning routine can significantly impact your physical and mental well-being. Whether it’s yoga, jogging, or a quick HIIT workout, movement releases endorphins, boosts energy levels, and improves focus.
Try This: Start with a 10-minute morning walk to awaken your body gently. If walking isn’t on the menu, you can always opt for a short yoga flow or a 15-30 min workout that gets your heart pumping.
Step 3: Hydrate Your Body
Starting your day with a glass of water is a simple yet effective way to wake up your body and jumpstart your metabolism. After a night of rest, your body needs hydration to function optimally.
Try This: Add a squeeze of lemon to your morning water for an extra detoxifying boost. Not only does it enhance the taste, but it also provides vitamin C and aids digestion.
Step 4: Nourish Your Skin
One of my favorite parts of my dream morning routine is taking the time to nourish and protect my skin. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but I recommend turning it into a little daily ritual with products that you love. At the very least, make sure you’re putting on sunscreen each day!
Try This: Incorporate a gentle face massage to boost circulation and give your skin a healthy glow.
Step 5: Cultivate Mental Clarity
Taking a few moments for mindfulness can help you start the day with clarity and intention. Whether it’s meditation, journaling, or deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices can reduce stress and improve your emotional well-being.
Try This: Spend five minutes meditating on your breath or respond to one of these 20 journal prompts for self love. These practices can help you practice awareness and check in with yourself, setting the tone for a more calm and grounded day.
Step 6: Feed Your Mind
Incorporate activities that contribute to your personal growth, such as reading, learning a new skill, or setting goals for the day. Feeding your mind with new knowledge or inspiration can motivate you and set the tone for a productive day.
Try This: Listen to a podcast or read a chapter of a book that inspires you. If you prefer visual learning, watch a short video or TED Talk on a topic that piques your interest. Even reading a fiction novel can help spark inspiration and feed your imagination.
Step 7: Fuel for the Day
A balanced breakfast is vital to kickstart your metabolism and keep you energized throughout the morning. Focus on meals that are rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to sustain energy levels.
Recipe Idea: Try an avocado toast topped with poached eggs and a sprinkle of chia seeds. It’s a delicious and nutritious option that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime. You can find five more of my go-to healthy breakfasts here and download my free smoothie e-book, which includes 26 of my favorite recipes!
Step 8: Plan Your Day
Take a few minutes to plan your day and organize your tasks. Prioritizing your to-do list can help you stay focused and reduce stress.
Try This:Use a planner or digital tool, like Notion, to outline your daily tasks and set realistic goals. Consider using the “three tasks” method, where you identify the top three priorities for the day.
Step 9: Shift Your Mindset
Cultivating gratitude can significantly impact your overall happiness and wellbeing. Taking a moment to appreciate what you have can shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance.
Try This: Each morning, write down three things you are grateful for. Over time, this practice can help you develop a more positive and resilient mindset.
Step 10: Start with Presence
This is one of the hardest steps but also one that I think can have the most positive impact on your mental health. Resist the urge to check social media or email first thing in the morning… because no dream morning routine begins by devouring the ins and outs of the lives of strangers. I encourage you to allow yourself to wake up and focus on some of the other listed steps before diving into the digital world. Your inbox and Instagram will be there waiting for you after you tend to your other needs, I promise.
Try This: Set a rule for no screens during the first 30 minutes of your morning or however long your morning routine takes. Use this time for mindfulness, exercise, or any activity that nurtures your well-being.
Remember, designing your dream morning is about creating a routine that aligns with your unique lifestyle, goals, and values. By incorporating elements like hydration, exercise, skincare, mindfulness, and personal growth, you can set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so take the time to find what works best for you. Whether your routine includes all ten of these steps or just the ones that resonate most with you, I guarantee that you’ll feel better going into the rest of your day.
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