I hear a lot about morning routines being important for starting the day on a trajectory of success.
I think two main reasons are responsible:
- Sense of control right from the start of the day. You know what you’re doing right when you wake, and you do it. It’s empowering.
- Reduced “decision-making” fatigue. By having the first moments of your day decided you can work on auto-pilot, making fewer decisions, and saving energy. It’s a real thing. It’s one reason I reduced my closet to very few items, heck my home in general, as the fewer items I have leads to fewer decisions… giving me noticeably more energy.
Here’s my morning routine…
Wake up and go outside to get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight on my body and face (no sunglasses during this brief time, as Dave Asprey illuminates the reasons why in his book, Headstrong.)
While I’m outside, I do a Power Pose. I do this with gusto, verve, intense attitude.
I first learned the importance of a power pose from Dan Harris’ 10% Happier podcast (I think), and it was brought to my attention again, in the great book, The Gutsy Girl. I read this book to Kamea to encourage more gutsi-ness (in both of us), a bad-ass skill.
While I’m still outside, I do 25 full-body squats to “wake up my mitochondria” which are “calling the shots” per Dave Asprey. (If my legs are too sore from the squats the day before, I do push-ups and some jumping jacks). Again, the book, Headstrong, had some groovy information about this. I love learning.
Box Breathing is next. Inhale for a count of five seconds, hold for five seconds, exhale for five seconds, hold for five seconds. Repeat four more times. Bonus points if done with Ujjayi breathing. This centers me big time. It feels so good. I also do this in bed before falling asleep to relax my whole body.
Then, I go inside. Coffee time!
I get my coffee, which during the summer is already made and chilling in the fridge. (The night prior I make my french press full of coffee and stick it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, I pour it over ice.)
Meditation time. I meditate for 10 to 20 minutes. My life changed when I started meditating a few years ago. I could write a book on how much better I feel now that I meditate. It’s one practice I’ll never stop doing. Never ever never.
I’m ready for my day. Bring it.