What’s the first thing you think about when you wake up?
Do you wake up with a sense of overwhelm and think, crap! I’m exhausted and have so much to do today? Do you immediately turn on your phone, check your email, or lay in bed for 30 minutes scrolling through Instagram? Do you stretch, meditate or go on a run? Do you wake up thankful for a good night’s rest and take a moment of gratitude?
It takes courage and insight to transform your morning routine.
Why? Because in order to create a morning routine that will alter your life you may need to be real with yourself and ask: Do I wake up dreading the day? Am I distracting myself from my thoughts by checking my phone? Do I engage in negative thoughts upon waking? And then ask yourself, Why?
How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
As someone who often wakes up in pain and stiffness with inflamed joints (from rheumatoid arthritis), it used to be challenging to feel grateful and positive. After years of working on listening with non judgement to my body’s messages, and changing my mindset, I’ve overcome the negativity and crafted healthy morning rituals to embrace the day and to take charge of my life. Here are a few I’d like to share.
3 Tips for a Life-Altering Morning:
1) Before you get up, think about or write down 10 things that you love about your life and take a moment to feel those feelings.
For me: I love putting my feet in the grass and feeling the warm sun on my body; I love my job; I love shopping at the farmer’s market for local fresh fruit and veggies; I love my kind, supportive, and generous friends; I love baking; I love reading before bed; I love my yoga practice; I love giving compliments to strangers.
2) Keep your phone OFF for the first 60 minutes of your day.
Be with yourself, be with your partner, your family, without any outside distractions. Be present in your body and mind. Keeping your phone off in the morning is transformational.
3) Say something nice to yourself in the mirror.
Before you brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror, smile, and say, “Good Morning, Alyssa. Today is going to be a great day.”
I invite you to take charge of how your morning feels and choose one thing you can do to make it better. Then, have the courage to follow-through.
Changing my morning thoughts and routine has transformed my entire life for the better and I want that for you too.
How you start your day is often how you live your life.
Love,
Alyssa
P.S. Since December, I’ve done my own monthly challenges that include yoga for at least 30 minutes plus another nutritional or lifestyle-related thing. This month, I’ve committed to keeping my phone off for the first hour of my day. I am 9 days in to my "July Phone-Free Morning & Yoga Challenge." Seriously friends, it’s time. Liberate yourself and join me!
July 9, 2019