I am an ardent lover of self-help books and enjoy reading the wisdom and sometimes applying it to my own life. One thing common that I have seen across several self-help books meant to create powerful personalities is the call to have solid morning routines.
While I am an early morning bird did not really mean that I got off my bed. My mornings looked like me waking up and grabbing the phone next to my bedside table. Then for the next hour I would indulge in endless scrolling or what they refer to as ‘doom scrolling’ Finally, when I really had to get up, I dragged myself out of my bed.
Things changed when I became an entrepreneur – 24 hours were not enough. And as a novice entrepreneur I decided to get some wisdom from the several self-help books that I read. I now have a solid morning routine which has kept the scrolling at bay and helped me get on with my day.
Put your phone away
Stating the obvious, put the phone away. How many times have we heard this and yet how little we follow. Like many others I had several excuses to keep the phone right next to my bedside. None of these excuses really have any gravitas to it. Since I had promised myself to follow a solid routine for a month I decided to create that habit. Since my phone was put away there was no distraction or the need to continue lying in bed. As soon as I woke up a quick stretch and I was out of the bed. I started making my own bed which set me on to start the day. A small activity like putting the phone had a huge impact on how the first half of the morning went. I now can boast of a nice morning routine which starts me off.
Start your day with water
I am not sure where I read it but starting the day with a glass of water made me realize that I used to be parched in the mornings. My go to drink was a cup of Indian chai, however, drinking a glass of water has changed the way I start my day. First, it helps in hydrating me and I feel much fresher. Therefore, when I go for my morning walks, I no longer feel sluggish. Second, just that one glass of water also pushes my need to add tea or coffee to my system further away. I believe some people recommend having lemon water, but I am not comfortable with adding a chore to my list in the morning and therefore just a glass of water works fine.
Journaling and meditation
For me both journaling and meditation go hand in hand. I started meditation to have a calm mind, that was the most difficult to attempt. For as I sat for meditation a lot of thoughts, feelings, and past episodes started to come up. Therefore, I start my practice with intuitive journaling followed by meditation. Once I have poured everything into my journal and there is nothing more that wants to come out, I sit and meditate. This practice has taken a long time to build. I have been journaling for the past five years and meditating for a little over ten years. I am no expert but going about it in this order has helped me.
Making this change in my morning routine has helped me start my mornings better. What are some of your mornings routine practices that you follow. Drop us a video on Instagram and we will be sure to tag you there.
Photo Credits:
First image: freepik
Second image: freepik
Ruchi OM
About the author
As a founder I started the magazine to de-stigmatise mental health and normalise conversations around it. Creating a community that works together towards a goal is a great feeling. Through the founder’s blog, I will have an opportunity to share with our readers glimpses from my life and how I look after my mental health and wellbeing.
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