Easy practices to transform your mornings

Set yourself up for the day with this simple morning routine.

For many of us, the morning is our prep time for the day ahead – we eat breakfast to fuel our bodies, we wash and dress to be presentable and (if we’re feeling particularly productive) we make a checklist of things we need to achieve for the day.

All of this is great, but for many of us this process is rushed, giving us little time to pause and mentally prepare for the day ahead. If you feel your mornings are getting away from you, try the following tips to help you pause and take stock before diving head-first into the day.

Choose your space

Before you do anything else, designate a quiet space in a corner of your home. In this space arrange a comfortable chair and light a candle.

Stretch your body

Giving your body a good stretch will wake up muscles and relieve any tension from an uncomfortable night’s sleep. If you practice yoga, go through a few postures. If not, simply reach your arms up and reach for the sky before twisting your waist carefully and slowly to each side.

Listen

Keeping your eyes slightly open (to prevent falling asleep) sit in your chair with your feet on the floor and your hands in your lap. Take a few deep breaths and allow images and thoughts to wash over you. After a minute or two you will notice a pause in these images/thoughts, it is at this point that you can take an opportunity to just breathe quietly and listen to whatever is happening around you. Don’t judge any thoughts that come through, simply accept them and return to your breath.

Give thanks

Before you get up to start your day, think about three things you are grateful for today. Taking a moment to count your blessings will fill your mind with positive thoughts that will overspill into the rest of your day.

This simple routine helps to loosen any physical or mental knots you may have, giving you the space you need to prepare for the day.

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