By Celeste Smucker
Wouldn’t it be great to have a daily morning routine that helps you stay focused on what you value most? Better yet, what if it also supports your spiritual journey?
As a spiritual practice, a morning routine is a daily reminder that life is about more than checking items off your to do list.
Instead, it reminds you to see each day as a chance to expand your self-awareness so everything you do comes from a place of greater authenticity.
With consistent commitment to a morning routine you may also notice you have more energy, make better choices, sleep better and are more productive.
Let’s look at why.
What is a Spiritual Journey?
The focus of a spiritual journey is the expansion of self-awareness. The more self-aware you become the more you notice what’s happening in your body, your emotions and your mind.
With this increased awareness, you are better able to stay on track with your highest intentions. It’s like you awaken a separate, higher part of yourself that notices more and makes better decisions.
For example, you may become aware of how some of your favorite foods leave you feeling tired or with an upset stomach. Rather than telling yourself “I need to do something about that,” your greater awareness prompts you to quickly update your grocery list with foods that better support your wellness.
Or perhaps you notice that certain situations irritate you or make you angry causing you to lash out at other people. Now, instead, you stop, take a breath and choose an alternative way to communicate your feelings.
While routines are helpful throughout the day, morning is a special time for you to check in with yourself and align your body, emotions and mind so you can begin your day centered and focused on what matters most.
Benefits of a Consistent Morning Routine
While there are many reasons to adopt a morning routine, here are some of the best ones:
- It is a daily reminder of your commitment to your spiritual journey.
There may be days when you feel like sleeping in rather than getting up early enough to complete your routine.
When you get up anyway, you give yourself a strong message about your priorities.
- It forces you to choose the actions that best increase your self-awareness.
For example, many people choose daily meditation because it helps you align with your subtle self and develop the mental clarity you need to make more authentic decisions.
Repeating affirmations, reminds you to keep your mind positive, while journaling can offer insights into your emotional state.
- When you follow your routine you may find you are more awake, present and productive throughout your day helping you feel good about yourself and making you an asset to those around you.
- You become less reactive and find it easier to flow with life’s ups and downs. As a result, you are less stressed and you sleep better at night.
- As your self-awareness increases, and you start to feel the benefits of your morning routine, you will find yourself motivated to be even more consistent with your practice.
17 Powerful Morning Routine Ideas
Let's take a look at some powerful morning routine activities that will help you begin your day with purpose and intention.
- Before getting out of bed, take a quick view of your life and yourself. Breathe deeply and notice your thoughts and emotions.
- Connect with each of your three primary dimensions in turn and note any impressions in your journal.
- First your physical body. Are you full of energy and ready to go for it, or do you feel lethargic and like going back to sleep? Make sure to note any pain or discomfort you feel, along with its location.
- Your emotional dimension is next. Do you feel joyful, calm and content? Or do you sense irritation, depression or anxiety?
- What is your mind up to? Are your thoughts positive, and full of creative inspiration? Or are they negative, fearful and gossipy?
- Focus on the main imbalances and pick two or three positive actions that will bring them back into alignment.
Here are some examples:
- Write down a few things you are grateful for. This will remind you just how fortunate you are and take your mind off what may seem like problems or scarcity.
- Enjoy your choice of physical activity. Take a walk, practice some yoga or do your favorite workout. Moving your body is a great way to increase your energy level and shift your emotions to a place that supports balance and wellness.
- Follow your workout with a brief meditation to relax, align with your higher intelligence and increase your mental clarity.
- Practice your choice of conscious breathing techniques to help reduce your stress and promote relaxation.
- Spend a few minutes visualizing your day as productive, helpful and fulfilling.
- Repeat affirmations that resonate with you to cultivate a positive mindset and overcome negative thought patterns. Or, download and listen to one of our Sync Up affirmation soundtracks. Keep them handy for later use in case you need to get a chaotic day back on track.
- Take a few minutes to flow positive, love-based feelings like gratitude, joy or contentment. Imagine flowing them from your heart, around your body and out into the world.
- Notice if your mind is distracted by a difficult day ahead or one that occurred in the past. Then say "yes" to that experience, regardless of how you feel about it.
- Choose a healthy breakfast that supports your wellness. Then pay attention to how you feel after you eat. The best food to keep you balanced will change with the calendar, your stress level, your age and many other factors.
- Incorporate a few of these suggestions into your morning and see how they work for you. Start small. You can always add more later.
- Perhaps most important, don’t beat up on yourself if you miss a day or don’t have time to complete everything on your list.
A Morning Routine Helps You Feel Great
Mornings are a particularly auspicious time because they give you a chance to align with all that supports your spiritual journey before you encounter the ups and downs of the day ahead.
When you take advantage of that special time, you can look forward to greater self-awareness, reduced stress levels, and support for your spiritual journey.
Practicing your morning routine consistently will bring more balance, calm and joy into your life.
And isn’t that what we all want?