We all have the power to embrace each day, living it mindfully from the moment we awake. Too often, stress bombards us before we even fully open our eyes because, let’s face it, life is busy, harried, and often anxiety-provoking. Challenges to our wellbeing abound, but we absolutely do not have to remain at the mercy of them. It is possible to take charge of our moments, responding to them and living fully rather than reacting and living on autopilot.
Because my mission is to help you create and live your version of a quality life, I was thrilled when Adidas reached out to me with this guide for creating mindful morning routines. It aligns perfectly with my own messages and how I live my own life, so I am very happy to share this with all of you. I’m grateful to Adidas for providing this resource.
4 Practices That Lead to More Mindful Mornings
Brought to you by Adidas
What happens in the mornings can affect our whole day–it sets the mood for what is to come. Most mornings, it’s hard to take tie between waking up and getting your day started to make time for yourself, but having a structured, mindful morning routine is the key to a better wellbeing.
Simple changes in your morning routine can lead you to have less anxiety, be more productive, and improve your physical and mental health. In fact, most of society’s highest achievers are “morning people,” completing essential mindfulness exercises when they first wake up.
Here are a few simple practices to incorporate into your routine that lead to more mindful mornings.
1. Resist Checking Your Phone
It has become a natural habit for us to check our phones first thing when we wake up in the mornings. This leads to anxiety before you even get out of bed. The last thing you need to see when you wake up is new emails from work, toxic social media drama, and negative news.
Since it has become so normal to check our phones when we wake up, you may have to change your surroundings the night before to prevent yourself from reaching for your phone first thing. If your phone doubles as an alarm clock, continue to sleep with it on the nightstand, but simply put it in airplane mode so you will have no new notifications when you wake up. If you are still tempted to turn the phone off airplane mode and check what you missed, try charging your phone in another room and using a classic alarm clock.
2. Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins, which trigger positive emotions. Taking a run or doing a YouTube workout routine before taking your morning shower is one of the best ways to start your day. This will leave you feeling refreshed and is a great way to focus on yourself before a day of work. Lace up your favorite women’s sneakers or get out your yoga mat and add exercise to your morning routine.
3. Practice Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are powerful statements that you speak out into the universe. The more you hear a statement, the more likely you are to believe it. Saying affirmations to yourself when you wake up in the morning is a great way to practice self-care and remember your own worth. This will lead to a more confident you, all day long.
Some common morning affirmations include:
- “I am enough.”
- “I will succeed today.”
- “My past doesn’t define my future.”
- “I deserve to feel joy.”
Affirmations aren’t only for the mornings–they’re great to say anytime. Download this phone wallpaper here for a positive message any time of day.
4. Journal
Journaling is a great way to get your feelings out on paper before beginning your day. Letting go of your worries by writing them down is a therapeutic way to improve your mood.
Wellness journals and journaling exercise prompts have become increasingly popular over the last several years. Often the journaling exercises encourage you to write about how you feel upon waking up, your intentions for the day, and how your surroundings are making you feel in order to declutter your mind. Your mind is proven to be more at peace after writing these thoughts out.
If you’re looking for a journal prompt to help you get started, download this mindful morning prompt here.
Incorporating all these small changes into your morning routine can create a sense of peace that will carry with you the rest of the day. Taking time to make these changes improves your mental and physical health long-term and leads to an overall better wellbeing.
I’ve written several journals to help you take charge of your wellbeing in a way that’s meaningful to you. Incorporating them into your morning routine can be a powerful way to own the moments of your day!
