How to Create a Mindful Morning Routine: 8 Ideas to Start Your Day Mindfully
There is no worse feeling than waking up already tired. And it is even more tiring if you have a rushed morning ahead. It can make you feel already stressed even before the day has started. To start your day feeling more energized and centered, and to be more focused throughout the day, try to have a slow and mindful morning. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some ideas to help you create a mindful morning routine that works perfectly for you.
I know you might think that you don’t have enough time in the morning to do anything else besides a quick bite but trust me, it is so worth it to wake up even half an hour earlier to dedicate some time just for yourself. These mindful ideas will help you start your day with intention and you will feel more fulfilled, I promise. So, let’s dive in!
8 Ideas for a Mindful Morning Routine
Try to incorporate these mindful morning routine ideas into your daily schedule, and you will see that you are getting more productive, calm, and focused. Of course, you can practice them any time of the day, but mornings are definitely the best time as you set the tone for the day.
1. Get Hydrated
The first thing you MUST do in the morning is drink water. After the night’s sleep, your body is very dehydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty at all (I don’t know how is that possible, because I feel very thirsty all the time :D). Dehydration is the reason why you can feel fatigued, have headaches, and also it can be difficult to focus. Drinking water will help you jumpstart your metabolism, flush out toxins, and improve your digestion. Personally, first thing in the morning, I enjoy warm water with a few lemon slices. Warm water is better for your gut and lemon is a great antioxidant.
2. Avoid Scrolling Your Phone
So many people have this bad habit of scrolling their phones first thing after waking up. Morning sets the tone for the whole day, and starting your day in bed, watching TikToks or Reels sets a very lazy and unproductive tone. After that, it can be much more difficult to stick to your plans or goals. Another thing is that when you have just woken up, your brain is still in different waves – your brain switches from delta waves (deep sleep state) to theta (daydreamy state), then alpha (awake but not processing much information), and then beta (wide awake and alert). Grabbing your phone first thing makes your brain skip these important states and go fully alert. Reading negative information can trigger your stress response and you can feel more stressed throughout the day not even knowing why.
3. Morning Meditation
Meditation is a great way to start your day. It reduces stress, increases focus, and improves your overall well-being. It also helps you to quiet your mind, and more clearly hear what your inner voice is telling you. That way you can get more clarity, as well as get new ideas and insights. You don’t have to meditate for a long time, as you might think. You can start with a short 5-minute meditation. Find a quiet place, listen to some meditation music, and focus on your breath, not allowing your mind to wander somewhere else.
If you are completely new to meditation, I would suggest starting with a guided meditation (there are a ton of options on YouTube). And don’t give up after the first try, I know that at the beginning it is hard not to think about anything, but it will get better. Your mind is like a muscle and you can train it. After one week of daily morning meditation (even 5 minutes), you will feel the difference.
4. Journaling
Journaling can be as simple as writing down your thoughts and feelings. Putting them down on paper can help you understand your emotions better. You can literally write about anything that comes to mind. It can be very useful to journal after meditation, in that way, you can write down all the insights you got while you were meditating (and yes it is completely okay if you didn’t get any!).
To make the process easier or if you want to dig deeper and start a journey to self-discovery, journal prompts are the perfect tool for that. They are guided questions focused on introspection and reflection. Journaling is a great way to keep track of your thoughts and emotions, as you can look back and read old journal entries. Morning journaling can help you clear your mind, better understand yourself, and set the intentions for the day. So this is definitely a very powerful tool for self-growth.
If you are new to journaling read this guide: HOW TO START JOURNALING: TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNERS
Start journaling with these: 5 MINUTE JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR DAILY JOURNALING
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5. Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are another powerful tool for self-improvement. They are positive statements in the present tense to change your beliefs. Positive affirmations can help you improve your self-esteem, boost your confidence and self-love, and become more compassionate towards yourself. They also can help you accept yourself and others.
One way to use affirmations is to write them down a few times in the morning while visualizing that these statements are already true. For example, if your affirmation is “I am worthy of love and respect”, you should visualize how it would be to feel loved and respected, what would change in your personality? Would you feel more confident?
Affirmations can reprogram your subconscious mind. Sooner or later your mind starts to believe what you are saying to it. If you say positive things about yourself every morning, your perception of yourself will change in a very positive way.
To cultivate more self-kindness, try these: 60 SELF-COMPASSION AFFIRMATIONS TO BE KIND TO YOURSELF
To practice more mindfulness, try these: 100 MINDFULNESS AFFIRMATIONS TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
6. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude helps you appreciate what you have, and focus on the positive aspects of your life, rather than to think of what you don’t have. In core, it’s a very simple task and it literally takes just a few minutes to practice gratitude daily. Simply think of things, people, experiences (or anything else) that you are grateful for. Of course, you can say them out loud, but it’s better to write them down as writing stimulates the brain.
Try these gratitude affirmations: 100 AFFIRMATIONS FOR GRATITUDE: BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING
Try these gratitude journal prompts: 100 GRATITUDE JOURNAL PROMPTS TO INSPIRE YOUR DAILY PRACTICE
7. Light Yoga
If you are not used to moving your body in the morning, a light yoga session or simple stretching would be a great way to start. First of all, it is a great way to improve your flexibility and feel more energized. Moving your body in the morning can boost your metabolism, which is another great plus for a healthy body. Moreover, yoga has mental health benefits – it helps reduce stress, calm your mind, and focus on the present moment.
8. Healthy and Mindful Breakfast
It is important to eat a healthy breakfast in order to feel energized. Try to include protein, whole grains, fruits, or vegetables in your breakfast. Try eating mindfully, it means, paying attention to your food and savor each bite instead of scrolling your phone or watching TV. It’s not just a mindfulness practice, it also helps your digestion, and feel full sooner by eating less food, as you are focused on the process and chew slower.
Pin these Mindful Morning Routine ideas for later!
Make Every Morning Mindful
I would suggest practicing these mindful morning activities in the same order as given, but of course, it is important to find what works best for you.
Morning can set the tone for the whole day and by incorporating a mindful morning routine you choose to have a productive and positive day. From meditation to a mindful breakfast, there are many activities that can help you start your day with intention and focus. The key is to find what works best for you and make it a daily habit.
Take the time to create your perfect mindful morning routine and watch as it becomes your everyday life. ❤️
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