What Does Your Morning Routine Look Like?

Full disclosure: I used to be one of those people who rolled out of bed at 8am and made my way to my laptop to start working. As I have 'matured' and my life circumstances have changed, I have found great value in developing a morning routine that works for me. These days, I set my alarm for 6am, and sometimes, I genuinely feel like I've lived a whole day before touching my computer.

I'll preface this share by stating I don't have kids, and my life revolves around me. Regardless, hopefully, you can take something away from my words or at the very least, I can make you laugh (an underrated skill in my books). I will say that sticking with a solid morning routine has had several benefits. There is something special about blocking out time in your day and treating it as a 'non-negotiable' (within reason, of course). This is the morning routine that is working for me at the time of writing. I'd love to hear what works for you in the comments.? ??

Movement

I discovered strength training at least five years ago. However, up until this point in my life, I've never had access to a decent gym set-up where training daily is relatively easy. Now, I live in an apartment building with a gym (progress). Strength training is about so much more than moving the body - it's about strengthening the mind and instilling discipline. At first, everyone feels a bit sheepish in the gym. Soon, you discover you can push yourself far more than you ever imagined.

Strength training isn't for everyone, but I have always felt better after moving my body - whether it's lifting weights, walking or something else. Another pleasant unintended consequence of training is that you catch on real quick that if you don't adequately fuel your body, you start to break down.

Recovery and mindfulness

I've batched these next two together because they go hand-in-hand for me. I like to spend 15 minutes in the sauna each morning (again, I am very fortunate to be in an apartment building with access to these amenities) while meditating. The sauna also makes ending my morning shower with cold water for two minutes (or as long as I can stand) bearable. I do not recommend cold showers for everyone, but a mentor told me to do them because everything else will probably be easier once you've done that daily. That's a fair call.

Meditation is one of those things that can take a while to get used to. If you've tried meditating and concluded that it's not 'your thing,' try different forms. Personally, I don't enjoy guided meditation - I prefer sounds like drumming or nature (rain, wildlife, etc.). I have found meditation to be a practice... I couldn't even meditate for two minutes in the beginning without becoming bored and distracted. Increase the time slowly, and you'll be a pro in no time.

Meditation has had a profound impact on my overthinking and awareness levels regarding the root of such anxious feelings. Once upon a time, I blamed my mind for everything. These days, I realise that discomfort in my physical body (a dodgy tummy, racing heartbeat, etc.) feeds my thoughts. Everything is connected.

Gratitude journaling

The final piece of my morning puzzle is gratitude journaling. Wanting and reaching for more is part of human nature. I am often most grateful for the simple things that seem insignificant but are the most important things in my life. We assume everything around us is forever, but in reality, the only thing we have is the present moment. As Peter Crone says, the past and future are illusory - all we really ever have is right now.??

My journaling practice is simple: three things daily, and I make the time to feel into each of these things daily.

And then finally... I am ready to start work!

If you made it this far, you can check out more of my work on my website . You'll find my blog, podcast (don't ask - I'm not a fan of speaking) and more. In the comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts and more about your morning routine!