Last week we talked about how a stressful lifestyle affects our health and wellbeing in the long run. So how do you keep the stress levels in check? How do you deal with stress in more effective way? How about starting with your morning routine! Do you have one? How does your mornings before you leave for work look like? Have you noticed the impact that your morning routine has on your day?

We are all different  – there is the morning type of person, and there is the evening/night type of person. Some of us have a morning routine that we stick to, and some of us like to jump out of bed and be out the door within 10 minutes. But have you ever asked yourself how your morning routine affects the rest of your day? How it affects your mindset for the rest of the day? We all have these mornings where we have to rush out of the door, and by the time we arrive at work we are completely stressed out and on edge…..for me personally these are never good days because my mindset is simply not in the right place!

I personally think that a morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day. Even before we had kids, I had my routine…..but now I have taken it a step further, and have made it a priority. And I have realized that whenever I can’t go through my routine (for whatever reason), my day is simply not the same and I am much more tense, and I have less patience then otherwise. So I stick to the following routine I would say 95% of the mornings. I get up at 6am every morning (yes, also on the weekend), and I prepare my lemon water drink. Then I go in my room and meditate (Transcendental Meditation) for 20min. After that I will turn on my mobile and check social media (mostly IG for the pretty photos) for about 10min, followed by my e-mails……usually about 7am one of the kids is up, and then it is cuddle time:)

I find this 45min to an hour before the rest of the family is up something that I need, and that’s why I make it a priority. I meditate twice a day – first thing in the morning, and then afternoon / evening. I personally find it more difficult to meditate in the morning, but at the same time I feel like it calms me down and in a way helps me control my emotions or stress level better. I also make a point out of keeping my mobile off, and not look at it first thing in the morning! In the summer time, I will usually go once or twice a week for a run at 6am……this for me is also like meditation:) Luckily, I am a morning person, so I have no problem getting up so early……and I have simply realized that the way I start my morning sets the tone for my mood and mindset the rest of the day.

Everyone is different, and everyone needs to figure out for themselves what works best for them! Some take a few minutes for journaling first thing in the morning, others like to stay a little longer in bed, and some like to get a workout before they had out the door! Whatever it might, it is important to take a few minutes for yourself each morning. This allows you to start your day in a calm and relaxing way, it allows you to listen to your body, and start the day in a positive way and mind set. You will be running around all day long, so give yourself a few minutes in the morning to start the day right…….do it for yourself and for your wellbeing!

Stay healthy

Anna