What's Your Morning Ritual?
staying dedicated to a routine to jump start your day
Having a morning ritual is a fairly new concept to me, and now that I’ve had a few variations of them, I can say they’ve made me happier to start each day. What are the small habits you do each morning to prep your clean-slate self, and get into the zone to maintain the best version of yourself throughout the day?
Since last winter my daily ritual has been morning meditation, reciting affirmations, and drinking a tea (hot or cold brewed) while reading something interesting, not anxiety inducing (if it’s a physical book, newspaper, or magazine, even better!).
I aim to perform these rituals immediately after brushing my teeth. It’s best if I haven’t looked at anything on the internet or checked any messages yet. I need to zero in on my inner self first. All three of these help me feel centered, clear, and ready for the rest of the day.
Since I started a new job last month, I’ve had a few mornings where I got pulled into checking emails, Slack, or opening the NYTimes app. Sure, I may benefit from meditation regardless of the time of day, but I feel off when I disregard my morning ritual. It feels like all the noise has already crowded my space, and I didn’t truly give myself the full attention needed to connect within.
I was never like this during my hard-drinking lifestyle days. Hangovers and mornings are enemies. As a dedicated drinker, my morning ritual was walking to get a greasy breakfast sandwich and a coffee, to find enough energy to push through my day. Instead of feeling clear and in control, I was only lethargically stimulated. When you do something bad for yourself for so long you forget it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t even consider it could be any other way. This backdrop of circumstance makes me severely dedicated to completing my rituals every day.
I get that my specific rituals may all sound “new age-y.” Previous versions of myself wouldn’t have fully understood that the positivity derived from these habits is very real, and now, just another new part of me.
Meditation
I do guided meditation (Insight Timer) and have learned there are an endless amount of variations on specific types of practices. Some days I’ll do a morning one and a sleep one. Other times, I’ll need a morning meditation, then a chanting meditation. Chants are done to musical backdrops. Right now, I mainly have one go-to Buddhist chant and that’s the well-known “Om mani padme hum” (literally: “the jewel is in the lotus”). Using my voice to powerfully chant along leaves me feeling SO energized, grounded and present. Meditating has helped me reflect on what my values are, and who I am at my core, along with heightening my intuition and reminding me I believe in myself.
Affirmations
I had never done affirmations before. I can’t stand the social media influencers who are all about the affirmations (a lot of it seems performative). I’ve never revealed I do affirmations this publicly before; it seems very personal! But I want to mention it because, like meditation, everything they tell you about how you’ll benefit from it is true. Reciting positive phrases aloud daily (mine are all formed as “I” statements) has been helping me shape how I think of myself, and how I want to be perceived. I like that there’s room for affirmations to change over time, as you learn to fine tune and hone in on what you need.
Tea
Tea, hot or cold brewed, is my preferred drink which can enhance both of the above. I like coffee, but it’s not exactly conducive in quieting the mind. Hot tea helps you feel present and in your body. Cold tea is revitalizing. I got so into it I bought a special carafe for cold brewing amazing loose leaf tea and sticky chai. Both are excellent accompaniments to leisure reading (aka anything but the news). The way these two quiet habits go together helps enhance the other.
As I continue to practice all three areas of my morning routine, I’m expecting another small routine will get added in soon (a fresh air walk, writing for 20 minutes, stretching). I like the idea of adding a seasonal specific routine into the mix every three months. I welcome your ideas so, if you have any, leave a comment.
What’s your morning routine? Do you have one? Why or why not? What is your favorite part of it? What aren’t you incorporating that you could?
Just getting up at the time I want to would be nice. I fear the pandemic has ruined my morning routine for good, and I now have a hard to time getting into the office by 9.