sacred AM routine
How my morning rituals transformed my life
I always considered myself a “morning” person yet I was still always in a hurry. Didn't make sense? I would wake up early and reach for my phone under my pillow. I would begin to mindlessly scroll through social media, respond to texts, flag my emails, feed Dolce, etc - All of a sudden it was time to run out the door. I would whip through DC traffic as I was racing against the clock and manage to put on my makeup (not safe I know). By the time it was 8:00 AM my anxiety was triggered. I would scarf down my yogurt at my desk and start responding to emails and before I knew it - my day at the office was over.
A few months back I decided to create a morning ritual and it truly has transformed my life in every sense - mental health, physical health, clean eating habits, my relationship, etc. So what do I do? I added meaning and structure to my mornings that carries with me throughout my day.
For starters I make an effort to go to bed with a clean face, phone away. lights off and eyes closed by 10:00 PM. My alarm wakes me up at 5:45 AM - I am in the process of still training my body clock to naturally wake up but until then Apple does. I usually lay there for a few minutes in silence - eyes open but mind still. I think about what area of my body I want to focus on for my workout and think about what I should wear to the office. I go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. By now its 6:00 AM and I make my way down to my little home fitness corner that is dimly lit as I am still waking up. I pick two of Melissa Wood Health’s videos and sometimes add in a Chloe Ting or Pamela Reif video to finish off real strong. During this time I clear my mind to only focus on the intent of every movement in my body. When I finish my work out I have a glass of lemon water and take out my breakfast and lunch ingredients. Every morning I have a smoothie and for lunch I have a salad or soup. During this time I also feed my sweet cat, Dolce. After I pack up my lunch, I blend my smoothie and then place it next to my lunch bag to ensure I don’t forget it. Next is beauty time! I complete my morning skincare routine, change into my office outfit and I apply minimal makeup. Depending on how I feel I may rock my natural waves, straighten my hair or tie it back in a sleek bun. I then spritz one of my perfumes and make my way to my car. During my drive, I sip on my smoothie and talk with my partner. It is our time to deeply connect on any thoughts, ideas, and sometimes even work through conflict. We also discuss our schedules so we are mindful of each other's days. We end our call wishing each other a positive day and an “ I love you so much”. By the time I make my way to my desk, I feel nourished, loved, at peace and ready to take on my day with grace.
