The Power of a Morning Routine

If you aim at NOTHING, you will hit it every time.” Zig Ziglar

If I can be honest, I just started getting into morning and evening routines. The pandemic changed me in so many ways. It opened my eyes to my bad habits, and it forced me to look within. As much as I love talking about goals and dreaming big, there is the other part of me that understands rest must be a part of the conversation. In the words of Meredith Andrews, “Revelation comes from rest.” And that is the truth. From the rest comes new ideas. From stillness and quiet comes confirmation.

“Creating a morning routine is not focused on who can accomplish the most or check off more boxes than everyone else. Instead, it is about allowing yourself to begin your day with confidence, peace, and a positive attitude.” -Very Well

A good morning routine is one that suits you and helps you show up for your day. It doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s for it to be impactful. DO YOU. The power of a morning routine also helps to reduce stress. And I will talk more about how stress impacts the body because the stats on it are mind-blowing.

“When we are constantly in a rush and trying to make the next appointment, always running behind, or feeling lost in a sea of tasks, we can easily become overwhelmed, stressed, sad, and frustrated.” -VeryWell

For anyone who can relate, my default is to rush out of bed and live hurriedly. It’s taken me years (and even a man I dated in the past who told me about myself) to learn to live unhurried. I don’t believe in perfection, but doing what works best for me. Because some mornings won’t always be perfect. Here are some tips below to help jump-start your morning routine so you can show UP well. This is in no specific order.

1. Movement – What you do first will set the tone

   • I will be honest and say I’ve slacked in this area. But for several years working out in the morning was helpful for me to get started on my day. According to Harvard Medicine, Regular aerobic activity can reduce anxiety by making your brain’s flight or fight system less reactive.

2. Make Your Bed

   • When I tell you guys that I was the queen of disorganization and being cluttered, I WAS THE QUEEN. I am slowly getting better and it is still within me guys. LOL. But over the last 16 months, I can honestly say this is now a habit, although I don’t do this every day. The little things can be helpful and making your bed may be a great START for your day.

3. Meditate

   • My thoughts on meditation are to pause and pray. Read scripture or simply allow me to be still before I get started on my day. I also started doing breathing exercises with my Apple Watch. I would always avoid those notifications until I did it for one minute and noticed how calm it made me.

     1. “Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.” -U of M Health

        1. Video: Breathing Exercise

4. Water before Coffee

   • Getting my water intake in is definitely a goal of mine. And after doing a bit of research, it’s best to drink room temperature water in the morning before any other liquids. Like your favorite cup of coffee. Coffee is now my THANG and I am going to switch up my routine to ensure I am treating my body better.

     • Here is a article that explains the benefits a bit deeper: But First – WATER

5. Plan your day

   • In the words of Zig Ziglar, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” I think the planning part should be the last step of a routine, after getting more of the mindful activities done first. And you have a clear mind on what is the mosrt important.

I hope these tips are a good starter to cultivate mindfulness as we grow into this new year. Because a good home-base (literally and figuratively) is imperative as we live out our goals.

For the ambitious woman, here you can rest.

Much Love,

Des

For the ambitious woman looking to get more tips on all things home, rest and well-being follow along here: Capturing x Home