I know I’m not alone in finding myself, as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, phone in hand, and straight to doom-scrolling before I’ve even fully gained consciousness.
It’s a sad but all too common practice of starting off your day on the wrong foot. I’ve picked up some practices to become more consistent and intentionally present with my morning rituals beyond just brushing my teeth.
In order to ensure that I wake up and prepare to be my own version of That Girl, here are some habits that I include in my morning routine:
Hydration
Rehydrating your body after a night of deep sleep is a surefire way to help you feel more prepared for whatever the day may bring. There are so many options for this, like plain water, coconut water, you name it. My favorite drink to start the day is tea. To incorporate this habit more easily into my morning practice, I typically fall asleep with a bottle of water on my nightstand and finish it off as soon as I wake up.
Stretching
I have to admit, of all the habits listed, this one is most likely to give pause. There are so many reasons as to why people don’t take the time to loosen up and be present with their body as a part of their morning ritual. Whether it’s lack of time or feeling like this small practice isn’t worth the effort. Regardless of if your stretching practice is 5 or 20 minutes every day, I promise you that showing up for your body consistently will make a big difference in the long run.
Intention Setting
Whether it’s written down on a sticky note or in my notes app, I always make the time to set a clear intention for the things that I want to accomplish on any given day. It can be a small task you have in mind or setting the intention of a mindset you want to keep throughout the day. Even in little steps, committing to this proactive approach towards achieving your goals (big or small) is a great addition to your morning rituals. Remember, success starts in the mind.
Journaling
Just like intention setting, journaling makes it easy to have all the things that are swirling around in your mind instead be organized into a neat writing practice. What’s great about journaling is that it can be about anything you want. You can write about the day you had yesterday or the dream you just woke up from. It can even be a journaling gratitude practice. As long as you’re taking this time to be present with your thoughts and emotions, you’ll have countered the negative effects of waking up and immediately jumping on social media.
Getting Some Sun
I am a lover of natural sunlight. I don’t feel like my day has really begun until I’ve opened the blinds and let those beautiful rays penetrate my skin. It’s a simple practice that’s sure to revitalize and wake you up. Increasing your alertness early in the morning will put you on the right track to accomplish your goals and align your mindset with productivity.
I hope that in this list you’ve found some new practices and productivity tips to implement in your journey to becoming your best self. There is no one-size-fits-all for self-care habits, so take what works for you and leave the rest. Start small, stay consistent, and watch the results amplify.