Look up the daily rituals of the successful, and you will find that most (if not all) of them have a morning ritual. Now look up the practices of the content and happy and you will find that they have a morning ritual or practice too! Including some type of morning ritual into your daily routine can help you feel grounding, calm and content as well as make you more focused and productive. Here are some of my favourite ways to start your day well.
Breakfast Builds a Strong Foundation
I am a biiiig fan of breakfast and never leave the house without something nice and nourishing in my belly. I know that intermittent fasting has some merits, but as a busy mum (sometimes running on less than ideal sleep), having a great grounding and nourishing breakfast to fuel my morning helps keep me feeling energised and motivated throughout the day. I see it as building a strong foundation that the rest of my day leans on for support. I find that many of my naturopathic clients start their mornings with coffee on an empty stomach. This can put you in a hyper-stimulated and less than grounded state (not how you want to start your morning). This is especially true for those that are stressed, exhausted or caffeine sensitive. Looking for an alternative to coffee? I find making a delicious and nourishing warm drink to have alongside my breakfast (or in the car on the way to work) is such a great addition to my morning. A delicious chai or one of my very own Grounding Ritual Raw Cacao Blends is a delicious and nurturing part of my morning ritual.
Start Your Day with a Grateful Heart
There is something to be said for starting the day with a grateful and mindful heart. The more fast-paced our world becomes (and it continues to move forward at a fearsome rate), the more important it is to find some quiet and stillness in your day. Finding this time before you even leave the house helps set a calm and clear foundation for your day which can do wonders for your mood and productivity. Even taking a few moments before even leaving your bed in the morning (if you have that luxury!) to think about what you are grateful for or looking forward to that day can make a big difference to your energy and motivation levels for the rest of the day.
Make Movement A Priority
Many people benefit from early morning exercise routines. It gets the blood pumping, boosts energy and endorphins and helps to get your day off to a great start. If the idea of getting up super early doesn’t appeal to you, and you feel like you are having an hour-long battle with that snooze button, don’t worry! Even spending five minutes stretching in the morning will have benefits for your day ahead.
Have Crystal Clear Goals
One way to start your morning well is to have a clear idea of where you want your day to go. Writing a list of what needs to be done (and what you want to get done) means you will be prepared for the day ahead. I usually write a set of goals and stick it up on my fridge the day before, so I can start to get my head around it as I begin my day and spend time making my morning Ritual Raw Cacao Blend. You see, it’s much easier to set clear goals when they are front of mind the night before, rather than when you are feeling sleepy and fuzzy-headed the following morning. The bonus? Spending time writing these goals in the evening can also help clear your head at night, making it easier for you to wind down and get a good night’s sleep.
Start your morning the way you want the rest of your day to go and you will find yourself calmer, focused and content. Incorporate some of these daily rituals into your day and watch your life change!
Do you have any rituals that make up an integral part of your day? I’d love to hear from you. Say hello here