5 Morning Rituals to Nourish You, Your Creativity and Your Business

I’ve talked about the importance of a positive morning routine before, but today I want to dive into the subject in a little more detail. Developing your own personal morning rhythm or routine is a powerful step towards living a more intentional life. It creates boundaries, establishes discipline, and sets you up for success.

Routine also helps us stay focused, clear and on the right path. There will be times when things go wrong, and your routine falls apart, but that’s OK. Having a solid foundation in place can make it easier to adapt and pivot when we need to.

Positive Morning Rituals

If your mornings could use a makeover, here are some positive rituals you can incorporate into your new routine:

• Peace & Quiet

If you’re able to rise before everyone else, try spending 5-10 minutes soaking up the sound of silence. Sip your favourite hot drink or a refreshing glass of water while you enjoy the early morning peace and quiet. This is my absolute favourite part of the day!

Captured by Megan Wilson

• Journaling

I find journaling a great way to focus and process my thoughts. Try writing about positive things that have happened to you, what you’re feeling grateful for, things you’ve found challenging and your goals for the day ahead.

Captured by Megan Wilson

Alternatively, you could explore the idea of Morning Pages, three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning.

• Meditation

Meditation is known to reduce stress, improve concentration and increase feelings of happiness and wellbeing. It gives the mind a break, offering an opportunity to detach from the chaos of our lives. Free apps like Calm and Headspace make it easy to add meditation to your morning routine.

• Exercise

Moving your body first thing in the morning is a great way to start your day.  Even a few simple stretches can have a positive impact. You can read more about the benefits of gentle exercise for your business here.

If yoga appeals, try this morning sequence by Monique Fryer Yoga.

• Breakfast

Apart from providing us with energy, breakfast foods are excellent sources of things like calcium, iron and B vitamins as well as protein and fibre. The body needs these essential nutrients and research shows that if they’re missed at breakfast, they’re less likely to be compensated for later in the day.

Better still, taking time to mindfully prepare a delicious, nutritious breakfast for yourself is a wonderfully simple act of self-care. BBC Good Food has plenty of healthy breakfast recipes to get you started.  

If You Do One Thing This Week….

Write down ten things you would love to include in your morning routine. Your list might feature some of the actions mentioned above as well as things like reading, repeating affirmations or spending time in nature.

Next, circle the top five things you feel passionate about. From this list, select the three actions that inspire you most. These are the non-negotiables for your morning routine. The other two are bonuses, meaning if you have time and you get them done, that’s great, but if not, no problem.

Decide how long you would like to spend on your morning routine each day. Maybe it’s 30 minutes, maybe it’s 5, it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re prioritising your needs and making time for self-care every single day. Ask yourself what time you need to rise to make this happen. Write down your non-negotiables in the order you would like to perform them and allot each one a designated time in your routine.

Now set your alarm and give it a go! Notice how you feel afterwards. In what way does a positive morning routine impact the rest of your day?   

Further Reading/Watching/Listening

• Why Rhythm Trumps Routine
• Why Creating a Meaningful Morning Routine Will Make You More Successful
• 5 Morning Rituals to Boost Your Productivity
• Destination Simple by Brooke McAlary
• Five Minutes in the Morning: A Focus Journal
• 11 Inspiring Ideas for Your Morning Ritual
• How to Start New Habits that Actually Stick

Until next time

Val

Find out what these successful entrepreneurs include in their morning routine