The value of establishing a constructive morning ritual is immeasurable. When we first wake up, we are very impressionable. Our conscious mind has been in a passive state, or in a “reset” mode. In these early moments, we actually have a golden opportunity in two profound respects: First, we get to shape the overall vibration and outcome of our day. Secondly, at this crucial time, we have a direct line to our unconscious mind, so we have greater influence over its underlying programs.
Your morning routine should be tailored specifically to your personal mental, physical and spiritual needs. Whether you prefer to use this time for physical activity like yoga and stretching, spiritual practices like prayer or chanting, or manifestation tools such as spoken affirmations, visualization, journaling or meditation, all of these activities are highly amplified in benefit during this time. This practice will be a gift to your soul – and a sign to the universe that you love and value yourself enough to make time for your own joy and fulfillment!
The brain (and body) does not like things that are new, or involve effort, so it will do whatever it can to talk you into hitting the snooze bar or making excuses. Yes, you are tired. You would still be tired after you hit the snooze bar a couple times, too! The beauty of willfully pushing through this resistance is that you will be energized and HAPPY because you did! A couple tricks that have worked great for me to push through that alarm daze:
1. Mel Robbins shared a technique where you count 5-4-3-2-1 and then jump up at 1. She spoke of how our mind will talk us out of something uncomfortable, unless we move ourselves to action within 15 seconds. This practice jumbles the mind and breaks you out of “sabotage mode.” 2. I am big into “I am” affirmations. It is a spiritual law that you become that which you utter following the words “I am.” When the alarm goes off, I open my eyes and say out loud “I am AWAKE!,” and jump up. As simplistic as this sounds, it is strikingly effective to jolt the body into a fully awake state. You can also follow up with statements like “I feel great!,” “I feel energized!” and “I am well-rested.”
I am empathetically aware of outside duties and time constraints most of us face. However making a concerted effort to wake up 30-40 minutes early every day to do this will have life-altering results – and it’s worth the initial discomfort during the habit-forming period. Once these habits are cemented, your body will rise to the occasion and welcome this time.
It is best to avoid the internet, email, social media or reading texts until you have completed your morning routine. This time is for you. To share your experiences or ask questions, feel free to reach out to me at karen@vegantransitioncoach.com