5 MORNING RITUALS YOU SHOULD START TODAY
Ehhh, cold December mornings. The sky is dark and the air is dry. The need for a more consistent morning routine can really set the energetic tone for the rest of your day…and life. Some days I feel like I indulge in my morning rituals and live carefree: spending an hour on my yoga mat, taking my time with my hair and skin routine, downloading divine guidance through meditation and so on.
Other days…my neurodivergent brain gets the best of me or WORSE…the masterful black box (my iphone) gets into my hands before I get out of bed. I’m human and perfection is the killer of joy!
While a great morning routine can help you feel like a “girl boss”, there is more to life than being classified as a highly efficient worker bee. A peaceful morning routine can lead to the recovery of your physical body, the development of positive self esteem, and the ability to connect directly with spirit.
There are tons of blogs, videos, and guides online about how to have a productive morning, but is productivity the goal? Or should detoxification and balance be at the front of our minds when starting our day?
Chances are you are responsible for more than just you. Our families and communities depend heavily on our ability to stay healthy, whole, and energetic. In 2022, I am totally committed to my physical health and that includes committing to a strong start to every day.
After spending the last two years researching wise women and stalking google for as many wellness tips as I could find, I’ve learned a few important elements every babe should include as a part of their day.
Morning Rituals to Explore in 2022
1. Waking up before the sun
This is a easy life hack that can instantly boost your mood during the colder months. Wake up sometime around 5am - 6am, preferably without an alarm. The key to this is implementing a solid night routine so that your body can naturally connect with the world around you.
2. Meditate with Intention
Healed babe essential tip: 10 deep breaths first thing upon waking activates your life force energy. Before getting out of bed take some deep belly breaths and feel your body moving. Check out of my favorite chakra cleansing breathing video here.
Take a moment to express gratitude, do a body scan and allow a deeper conscious connection to happen before interacting with the outside world.
DO NOT GRAB THE PHONE SIS. I REPEAT DO NOT GRAB YOUR PHONE. This is an instance mood destabilizer and will only enhance feelings of anxiousness and worry.
Set some affirmations and visualize yourself in high vibrational states of awareness throughout the day. This can take a few minutes or last hours. How much time do you have? Feel free to use youtube university for tips on ways to meditate and breathe first thing in the am.
3. Cleanse your body
Time to move to the bathroom. If there is one piece of advice I could give to my younger self it would be to invest in making my bathroom feel like a spa. Especially for all my ladies, this is our rejuvenation tank. Invest in some nice towels, a bubble bath station, and some essential oils.
Take your time to fully eliminate waste (meaning make sure you urinate and complete a full bowel movement). Make sure to look back at it (with Trina’s voice in mind) and inspect your goods to see if anything needs attending too. Check out Poop 101: A beginner's guide to reading your own poop for more details on how to inspect your lil nuggets.
I’m sure you know but wash your hands and use this time to wash away any anxious thoughts or low vibrational feelings that may be float through your mind by this point. Baths and showers are great energy boosters that can help wash away physical and energetic debris from the day before.
If you’re into self massaging, dry brush before you shower to improve your digestion and detox your skin. Conduct all skin rituals and routines after you have cleansed your body and washed your hands. Light a Aroma Vibes Co candle while your at it ;)
Use a tongue scrapper and inspect your mouth for any colored coating that may be present. Rinse your mouth, do a mouth swish with the oil of your choice (mine go to is coconut oil) for a few minutes, and brush your teeth.*
*A word on hydration - Upon waking, grab a lukewarm glass of water and add a lemon. Avoid any hot beverages before cleansing yourself. Your body worked all night to eliminate toxic waste so the first hour of the day should be dedicated to cleaning our vessel from head to toe.
Basically the first few hours of the day scream DETOX, PURIFY, RECOVER, REPEAT!
4. Move your body (and rock yo hips)
Since I am a professional dancer my bias toward early morning dance parties is pretty intense. According to ancient Ayurveda practices, the best time to get the body flowing is between 6 am - 10 am so get moving to the sound of nature or turn on some uplifting music and freestyle in your bedroom.
The goal is to get warm and work up a sweat. The more fun involved the better! Yoga and pilates are my go to rituals for developing balance, strength, and mobility but get creative with your fitness routines and find the workouts that make you feel your best. Avoid intense cardio during this time, especially if your on your period!
5. Give back to the world around you
In many indigenous cultures, one way to give gratitude to the world around us is through acts of service. Find a way to give back to the world beneath you and the people around you.
Whether you water your plants, go on a walk and support a local coffee shop, or make your partner a cup of tea, make an effort to do something out of the kindness of your heart. This is a wonderful way to get in touch with our heart center first thing in the morning.
When we give back to the world around us we are able to cultivate patience, humility, and selflessness. If you live alone, practice these principles on yourself and notice how your mood improves over time. Focus on filling your cup before interacting with the outside world so that you are capable of shining your light onto others.
