You wake up to your morning alarm. It’s still dark in your room. What’s the first thought that runs through your mind?
Five more minutes…
Noooo I’m not ready to get up…
Louise Hay, author and founder of Hay House suggests that “how you start your day is often how you live your life.”
Each day is an opportunity to start fresh. That means leaving the past behind and beginning with an open mind.
Review Your Morning Routine
Did you know that the first hour of the morning is crucial? How you spend it will determine your experience for the rest of your day.
How did you start your day today? When you woke up, what were the first words you spoke? Did you complain? Did you think about what wasn’t working in your life?
What do you say to yourself when you first see yourself in the mirror? When you first look in What thoughts go through your head when taking a shower? When you get dressed?
What do you do when you get into the car? Are you in a hurry? Do you slam the door and feel frustrated about traffic before you even get on the road?
If you’ve been starting your days by thinking “Oh, shit! It’s another day and I’ve got to get up, damn it!” It’s time to rethink your regular routine.
The thoughts you think and how you set up your day determines the outcomes you see in all aspects of your life. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some tips to start your days for success…
How to Create a Morning Routine
Your morning routine begins the moment you open your eyes. If you’re not consciously creating a positive thought you’re likely to fall into old thought patterns from the day before. Here’s what to do to start your morning off on a positive note.
- Think uplifting thoughts. When you open your eyes, condition yourself to think “This is a good day. This is going to be a really good day.”
- Take a few minutes to stretch your body and thank it for working well. Getting in the habit of stretching your body daily will help keep you flexible and reduce pain in your muscles and joints. You can do this in bed, once you stand up, or while you’re waiting for the kettle to heat up or your breakfast to cook.
- Stretch your mind. When you first wake up, your mind is most impressionable. Make it a part of your morning routine to read or listen to a book or podcast that will stretch your mind in a positive way. Just think, you could upgrade the way you think and feel each day starting with 10 minutes in the morning.
- Express gratitude. This could be out loud, in your mind, or (most powerfully) written down in a journal. When you start your day feeling grateful for what you already have, life has a way of bringing you more of what you notice and appreciate.
Try this out starting tomorrow morning. You’ll soon see that your morning routine will become one of the most sacred parts of your day.
If you are a busy mom or dad who needs to get the children ready for school, or if you have to get to work early, make time for yourself in the morning. It’s important to give yourself some time to start your day off in the right way. Even if you give yourself only 10 or 15 minutes, this is absolutely essential. It’s your time for self-care.
When you get up in the morning, it’s important to have a routine that feels good to you and to say something to yourself that makes you feel good. Remember, how you start your day is how you love your life!
Like with any new habit, you don’t have to make these changes in your life all at once. Just pick one ritual for the morning and start there.
Then once you have the ritual down, pick another one and keep practicing. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Remember: the idea is to feel good.
Let’s affirm: Today I create a wonderful new day and a wonderful new future.