A Slow Morning Routine
Today's the day - let's create YOUR perfect slow morning routine!
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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Welcome back to another Slow Sunday Letter! I hope you have had a slow and gentle week.
I love the mornings. The mornings feel magical to me, that gentle morning light, the quietness around the house, in the streets outside. I love the feeling of rising early before the world fully wakes up.
What I have realised is that I can lean into this even more, by using my mornings to start my day more thoughtfully. I have played around creating morning routines in the past, but I don’t think I have ever had the stars align and found the right fit for me. So this week’s Slow Sunday Letter is all about creating a slow morning routine!
Whatever that may mean to you - we are going to explore all the possibilities and see what fits. So grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s create our own slow morning routines …
Morning Magic
Everyone talks about how important a good morning routine is, for good reason: a morning routine that aligns with you, can have a wonderful impact on your health, mood, perspective, and productivity.
I’ve been really focused on creating a morning routine that really suits me, and starts my day in the best possible way. I haven’t found it particularly easy, but I have persevered, driven by my desire to be more mindful in the mornings.
What truly opened my mind to the possibilities of a morning routine, was when I moved away from the idea that it needed to a structured routine, that was exactly the same each morning. I have centred mine more on tuning into the season, and what my mind, body and soul is need of each day.
A good morning routine gives you energy and a sense of direction when you might otherwise feel tired and groggy. It affects how you show up for yourself, and others in your life. I love that your morning routine is as unique as you, you can create something that suits you, your family, your personality and needs.
So - ready to get started? Let’s discover the building blocks of your morning routine..
Building Your Morning Routine
Sleep
A good, long night’s sleep will not only help but is the very foundation to ALL of our fundamental needs. It is our super power. To give yourself the best possible chance at a successful and nourishing morning routine, you must begin with the quality of sleep you gain during the night.
Sleep is essential for many functions of the brain and body, including but not inclusive to; a healthy body, effective memory, problem solving skills, acute attention and a strong immune system. Lack of sleep has proven links to dementia, raised blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer and accidents/injuries.
“I was once fond of saying, ‘Sleep is the third pillar of good health, alongside diet and exercise.’ I have changed my tune. Sleep is more than a pillar; it is the foundation on which the other two health bastions sit. Take away the bedrock of sleep, or weaken it just a little, and careful eating or physical exercise become less than effective.” Tim Walker. Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams.
A good night’s sleep will help you wake up earlier, give you far more energy for the day, and allow to you make more mindful choices for yourself.
All great morning routines start with a good night’s rest - at least 6-8 hours of it, ideally.
If you struggle with getting enough sleep, start with a simple goal to go to bed earlier. Then, encourage that goal with the positive habits: eat dinner earlier, take a warm shower or bath to relax, put away devices, and read before bed to help you fall asleep faster.
Getting Up A Little Earlier
There is something so magical about those first few hours of the morning. The world is a little bit darker, quieter, many are still sleeping. It’s the only time of day that we can truly move at our own pace, without disruptions.
I started to see mornings as this little extra time just for me. Before the day starts, before anyone asks anything of you. It is a simple formula, the earlier you can wake up in the morning, the more time you have for yourself.
You don’t have to get up before the suns rises, just start slow. Set your alarm thirty minutes earlier than usual, and see what those extra thirty minutes offer you. Try it for a week and see how you feel?
Limit Technology
The majority of people reach for their phones less than a minute after opening their eyes in the morning, and I have to say I am still one of them a lot of the time. It is a hard habit to break! But I am getting better.
Avoiding your device in the morning isn’t just about getting more time back for yourself, it allows you to stay in your morning bubble without the distractions from the outside world. It helps you stay in your headspace, and whatever environment you have designed.
Take Care Of You
Mornings are a wonderful opportunity to take care of you. The better care you take of yourself, the better you can be for everyone and every thing else. Starting your day with things you love, things that make you feel safe, peaceful and joyful will set you up to have a more positive day.
Finding a way to clear your head, and find your balance each day is powerful. There are several exercises you can explore to reduce anxiety and brain fog and increase mindfulness in the morning. Getting outdoors, meditation, journaling and breathing exercises are all great places to start.
Clear Your Mind
Julia Cameron’s wonderful The Artist Way introduced me to the concept of morning pages - three pages of stream of conscious writing that are written first thing in the morning.
Julia explains so many benefits of this, but at it’s core it is a brain dumping exercise. It gives you the opportunity to get everything on the page and out of your head so you can start your day with a clear mind.
When I can, I really enjoy writing in the morning, before my brain has fully woken up. You don’t have to write three pages of course, or even at all, but finding a way to offload some thoughts and clear your mind can be really helpful. It could be meditation, doing your make up can even be a mindful activity. It could be getting outside or having a quick morning walk. Anything that helps you empty your mind and sift through some of those thoughts or worries that are lingering in your head. Experiment and figure out what type of activity will do this for you, and then make a habit of doing it.
Be Ready to Pivot
As I said earlier, the big turning point for me was when I realised a routine doesn’t necessarily mean you do the same thing every single day. Some days you may wake up later than you’d like, have a change in schedule, or not be in the mood to do the things that you normally enjoy.
The key to create a positive and impactful morning routine, relies on you tuning into your mind, body and spirit. You must practice listening to yourself, and recognising what you are in need of, and sometimes you may just need to roll over and go straight back to sleep!
Morning Routine Menu
A great morning routine is one that you look forward to and one that makes you feel good. Creating this routine is 100% down to you, but I hope you fill it with things that make you feel good, make you feel calm and grounded, and give you energy.
This week, pick 3 items- one each from mind, body and spirit, and when you complete the activity no matter how small or ‘routine’, practice being fully present in the moment. Take your time to think about how your choice and action is impacting your wellbeing- how you can super charge it with some more of ‘you’ and what makes you happy, and then how this intentional action could change the course of your day.
What would you add to your menu?
I really hope this week’s Slow Sunday Letter helps you create a wonderful morning routine that sets you up for a beautiful day.
The less you think of your morning routine as a structured routine, that must be repeated perfectly every day the more you will free yourself. It is a tiny part of your day that you can reclaim just for you.
Mornings are magic, and you can use that magic any way you wish.
I would really love to know your thoughts and if any of this resonated with you - if you feel able, please do share in the comments.
Thank you for being here,
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Some great tips here that I am going to work into my own morning routine! I thought of you yesterday while I was having afternoon tea at the Assembly House - thank you again for the recommendation. X
Love your morning menu creation Emily. Interesting that no it doesn't need to be the same each day. I find my dog generally dictates my morning, he will happily lay still on my bed on first waking for a short while, while I sip tea. However, when it is his shake down, he will leap up and off the bed signalling it's outside time. In amongst his walk though I'll try and observe what nature is doing, and appreciate and be grateful for that.