Tiny Self-Care Morning Habits

I am NOT a morning person.

For the first hour that I’m awake, I’m less of a momma-bear and more of a bear-coming-out-of-hibernation – according to my children.

There have been days now + then that I have no other choice but wake up before anyone else in my house, and I’ve discovered something quite magical. There is a stillness in the air first thing in the morning.

When I make the time to sit in it, this starts a process of self-connection that comes organically, as a result of the quiet. Tuning into the self is not a luxury – it is a NECESSITY in this world of constant stimulation.

Depending on our own personal needs, there are many things we can add to (or take away from) our morning to take advantage of this beautiful time of day before work + life carry us away.

Don’t pick your phone up right away. Give your conscious self a rest from the stimulation, distraction + blue light from your device. The moment we pick up our phone, we have disconnected from ourselves. It takes much more energy to get back to the quiet of the morning and connect to the self.

Make something warm to drink. There is something comforting in a warm drink first thing in the morning. I enjoy coffee, but some mornings my body tells me it needs something less acidic. Those are mornings I reach for hot water + lemon, peppermint tea, or a ginger + turmeric combination.

Hot water + lemon first thing in the morning floods the body with vitamin C + minerals. It also strengthens the liver, prepping it for optimal detoxification throughout the day. Peppermint + ginger both aid in digestion as well, and peppermint does a great job with headache relief, improved energy and fighting infections. Turmeric helps with blood circulation and has anti-inflammatory effects.

Journal. Take a few minutes to write. I often wake with leftover thoughts from dreams or musings before I went to sleep. The physical action of pen to paper is extremely cathartic. Don’t journal with an agenda. Just write. Write whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I’m surprised at what comes out, and it stimulates my mind before anything else has touched it for the day.

Drink a glass of water. It’s been hours since we’ve had water, so we wake up dehydrated. Giving ourselves a good drink before starting the rest of our day provides our body + brain the jumpstart it needs to work properly.

Read. Feed your mind with something energizing. Our choice in literature can set the tone for the rest of the day.

Meditate or stretch. Deep breathing or light stretching can help get blood flowing throughout our body. Close your eyes and listen to your body. Is there any spot that hurts? Slowly stretch it, incorporating slow, deep breaths. Imagine filling that area with oxygen. Focus on 360-breathing, which is expanding the core all the way around, not just moving your belly with breath.

If your thoughts wander to your to-do list, acknowledge it, and bring your mind back to the present stillness – focusing on your 5 senses.

Exercise. Some people enjoy exercising as soon as they get up. That immediate movement wakes everything up pretty quickly. For some of us, this is exactly what is needed to stimulate our brain + body.

Breathe. If nothing else, sit up. Take 5-10 slow, deep breaths. Giving yourself just a minute to sit in the stillness is enough to reduce anxiety, strengthen your respiratory system, release stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation. There are just a few ideas. Remember, everyone is different. It may take some trial + error to figure out what your personalized morning self-care routine looks like. Learning more about yourself through different means, such as the enneagram, may help you discover just what it is that your body + mind need as you begin your day.

Sending love + healing energy

xx

Becky