how to start a morning routine?
We can reshape our future with our present actions. Well, that’s kind of obvious, isn’t it? It’s not really groundbreaking information. So why do many of us fall short of building a stronger, happier and more successful future?
Our reality is not set in stone. It’s forever evolving. However, it is easy to become stagnant or too comfortable with the status quo. In order to make shifts in our reality, we must first make shifts in our expectations, beliefs, thoughts and perceptions. Most of this is encoded into the habits we integrate into our day-to-day lives, and we have the power to consciously make this more positive. It won’t be easy and it will take work. But nothing good comes easy.
We can start by transforming how we kick charge our day with adapting a more positive morning ritual. Routines can be self-empowering and life-changing. It’s how we can reframe our reality.
Below are some of the morning rituals that one of our fierce leaders at Veré has integrated into her life for greater empowerment.
1. My Morning Actually Starts the Night Before
Mornings can be very chaotic in my house with the effervescent screams and giggles of a 4 year old. While he seems to have an infinite supply of energy, I am not as fortunate.
Before becoming a mommy, I used to manage my mornings with ease but in the recent years I realized that my morning routine was just another aspect of my life that also needed to change. That’s when I started to prepare for the next day, the night before as opposed to juggling everything in the morning. This includes small things like planning our clothes to packing our bags at night. If you are interested in learning more about my nighttime routine you can read my 8 habits in the crown.
These small things by themselves do not seem like much but they add up to big changes in my morning, from less stress to greater productivity and for the big win—getting the crew out the door on time with smiles.
2. Meditate & breathe
Now you are probably wondering, how can I meditate with a 4 year old rummaging in the background. It’s all about timing.
At first, I tried to meditate once I woke up but this was soon thwarted by that said 4 year old and his demands. My meditation practice would end abruptly, almost as soon as it began, so I could tend to the needs of my child. Then I started to shift the sequence of my morning routine.
When both my son and I are awake, I get his breakfast ready while he plays or watches a superhero show. Right now, it’s all about the Avengers. When it is time for him to eat his breakfast, I have learned to use those 10 minutes to mediate.
I began my meditation practice about 5 years ago, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t challenging in the beginning. It seemed virtually impossible for me to quiet my mind and a minute felt like an eternity. In the beginning months of meditating, I would only do so for a few minutes at best. Then, overtime, these minutes kept adding up. Meditation is now as essential to my day as waking up, and is an important habit in my morning routine.
3. Eat a Sustainable Breakfast
Through lots of trial and error over the years, I have found a regimen that not only compliments my schedule and lifestyle but also helps my body perform best. Since every body is different, it is important to tune into what your body needs to perform at peak level.
For me, it’s intermittent fasting. I eat my last meal around 7- 8 pm and my first meal around 11 am. Now mind you, by the time I eat my first meal, I have already been up for hours so while technically it isn’t starting my day with a meal, it is still building a positive morning ritual and infrastructure.
You may find that your body needs a meal at 7 am to perform best. But whatever that time is, it’s important to ensure a routine is in place. What we put into our bodies helps it stay healthy, balanced and energized. And newsflash, we only have one body.
So, while we may eat breakfast at different times, let’s take an inventory of what my breakfast typically consists of—a smoothie, nuts, oatmeal, fruit, eggs, breakfast bar, greek yogurt or something of equal convenience and health.
4. Be Active
Running a marathon is not in my cards, at least not in the foreseeable future. However, you don’t have to be training to create a more active lifestyle. I carve out at least 30 minutes each morning for yoga or running.
Being active in the morning helps to not only energize my body but also my brain. It really sets the tone for the day.
With the rush of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, I’m instantly in a better mood, which has a positive ripple effect in all my interactions throughout the day. Exercising also helps to relieve tension in my body. As someone who holds a lot of stress in my muscles, it’s so important that I start the day with relaxation both in my mind and body. It’s like starting off the day with a clean slate.
5. Take CBD Oil
When I became a mom 4 years ago, my world changed, as it does for so many parents. However, one thing that I was not prepared for was the anxiety. In the more recent years, my anxiety was exacerbated when I drove on highways. It got to a point where I would have panic attacks and would need to pull over. It was debilitating so I would find ways to avoid highways, which only made my anxiety worse when driving on the highways couldn’t be avoided.
This is when I started hearing about CBD Oil so I began trying out different brands and different CBD Oil dosages, along with other natural remedies. However, I was so disappointed by the lack of results, and the more research I did into CBD Oil, the more I learned about some flagitious practices some CBD brands were operating under. This included mislabeling their products and selling tainted CBD Oil with pesticides, additives and fillers.
So, we took things into our hands and created Veré—a brand built on quality and transparency.
Not only have I been able to manage my driving anxiety but I’ve benefited from our CBD Oil in more ways. It has greatly improved my post workout recovery time by easing the tension and strain in my muscles and I’m more focused than ever.
I feel the best I have ever felt, which has been so pivotal in all aspects of my life. Bottomline, CBD has benefited my mental health and clarity.
Positive Ways to Start the Day
Imagine what your future can hold if you made small shifts in your present state by adopting positive ways to start the day. Best of luck as you find the best routine for your lifestyle and goals. There is no better time to start than now.