My family and I just returned from a whirlwind vacation in California. I loved stepping out of my daily routine and eating new foods, sleeping in new places and exploring new locales. But when I arrived back home this weekend, I felt a visceral pull to return to my favorite morning practices.
Why? Because as a self-care devotee for the last 17 years, I’ve learned that how I “enter” the day is how I “do” the day.
Do you flop, race or ease into your day? If we make wise choices, this morning time can set the course for how creative, positive, productive and happy we are in the hours to follow. How we begin our day is key to everything.
Here are five simple things I do each morning to support a great start (note: if your current a.m. routine includes a large dose of network news and a carafe of Starbucks –be gentle with yourself; start with baby steps):
1. Ditch screen time and become comfortable with silence (or classical music). Be judicious about your media diet and who you allow into your head–at least for the first hour of the morning. Often we get our best ideas shortly after waking; give yourself some time to ease into the day without added mental clutter. This can feel strange at first but over time you may crave stillness.