Most mornings I don’t have as much time as I would like to have for a calm wake up including journaling, stretching, shower and doing things that we all dream about doing someday. You might suggest that I wake up earlier, but that does not bring me joy, if you know what I mean. I wake up around 6:30 and if you wake me much before that, I am a bit of a tired mess all day. So I stick to 6:30. As soon as I get out of bed, I have a puppy waiting for me to take him on a walk, kids waiting for a big breakfast because they seem to grow all night long, chores to be done, homeschool to get started, work to be addressed and more. Much like the rest of you, we don’t have time to let the grass grow in the morning. So I make sure that I take 2-5 minutes when I wake up to get myself in a good place before I even get out of bed. As soon as my feet hit the floor it is as if I am available for everyone other than me, so this is what I do for me before I even stand up:
- Wake up
- Think grateful thoughts for about a minute. Sometimes my first thoughts go to my to do list and my worries, but I redirect those thoughts and start with gratitude. This might be big things like family members, love, nature… but sometimes it is as small as saying that I am grateful for my pillow and my blanket. Let’s be honest, some days are not as easy as others, but I find that there is always something to be grateful for, even if it is my favorite pair of socks. 🙂
- Stretch for 1-4 minutes. This normally involves moving my pillow out of the way and stretching lengthwise, then doing some spinal twists both directions, then candlestick yoga pose (put your feet in the air as if they are flat footed on the ceiling) and rolling my ankles around a bit. While stretching I try to remember to take long, deep breaths through my nose.
After these 3 steps, it is time to get going. I find that I am so much more able to get going in a positive, productive direction if I take these 2-5 minutes to for myself. Although this time is for me, it seems to be for everyone else as well. So if you are stressed for time and can’t think of how you can fit anything in, this might be just the thing for you, since it is a relatively short amount of time in a space you probably already have and requires no additional equipment or investment other than you mind-space. Happy wakings and well wishes!
Meatloaf Recipe
