The right morning routine has the potential to nurture your mind, body, and spirit, providing you with a healthy mindset that can influence the rest of the day.
A mindful and mentally healthy morning routine should consist of intentional actions rather than mundane tasks. It must include activities you love and can sustain while prioritizing stress relief, movement, and healthy foods.
How to Create a Mentally Healthy Morning Routine
Get started crafting your routine with these tips.
Tip 1: Manage Your Stress
Our physical and mental health is constantly under attack from outside influences that can wreak havoc on our nervous system. Stress can cause colds, flu, depression, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, heart problems, insomnia, irritability, overeating, pain, and digestive problems. A mindful and mentally healthy morning routine can help prevent some of these issues.
To ward off impending stress in the morning, try a few minutes of:
- Deep breathing
- Speaking positive affirmations
- A guided meditation
- Listening to calming music or nature sounds
- ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response)
- A leisurely walk in nature
- Cleaning or organizing
- A warm bath with lavender and bath salts
- Lighting candles or sitting by the fireplace
- Painting or drawing
- Puzzles or IQ games
- Listening to comedy skits or podcasts
- Writing poetry
- Writing in your journal
Adding a handful of these activities to the beginning of your day allows you to center your mind, calm your nerves, and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
Tip 2: Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
A nutrient-rich diet and daily exercise can enhance your mindful morning routine. Eating right and staying active isn’t all for vanity; it synergistically intertwines to safeguard your holistic health.
Be sure to:
- Never miss your morning meal: Eat healthy foods like fruit and veggies to give your body the energy to perform at its best.
- Hydrate frequently: Your body requires water to carry out functions that reduce stress and convert food into energy.
- Optimize your nutrition: Take high-quality vegan health supplements. Supplements ensure you get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients if you have a tough time obtaining them naturally.
- Get active: Regular exercise is not just for strength training; it can also positively impact your mood! Take a brisk walk, try a yoga session, or do a quick stretch or workout.
As you take care of your body, engage in physical activity, and nurture a mindful mindset, you’ll discover that these components naturally complement and strengthen each other, making daily practices more manageable.
Tip 3: Stay Consistent
Some people find themselves starting a new routine and then stopping without fully seeing the benefits. If you have a hard time sticking to a routine:
- Ease into it: To prevent overwhelm, start with just one or two new practices and gradually build up from there.
- Sketch it into your day: Treat your morning routine like any other daily habit. For instance, brushing your teeth every day is considered necessary. You can make this mind-shift by adding your routine to your calendar. Set reminders if you must until it becomes second nature.
- Find an accountability partner: Sometimes, inviting a friend or family member to try your mindful and mentally healthy morning routine with you can keep you accountable. They can provide encouragement and support but can also spark your competitive nature.
- Go with the flow: While consistency is key, be open to adjusting your routine on the fly. Life can be unpredictable. Being flexible can prevent stress and the likelihood of quitting.
- Mix it up: Adding new practices to your routine may help you beat boredom. For example, you can have themed morning routines or switch out rituals based on the season.
- Document your victories: A part of being mindful is feeding your mind positive things. When you remind yourself what went right in your day, your brain makes a positive connection to habits that resulted in a win.
You End How You Begin
The purpose of a mindful and mentally healthy morning routine is to command the type of day you want. You should make time in your morning for relaxation techniques, exercise, a good breakfast, and nutritional supplements. If you begin your day with these activities, you can actually elevate your mood, productivity, and energy levels, creating a wave of optimism no matter what may come.
Always remember to give yourself grace, maintain a positive mindset, and actively pursue your desired outcomes.
About the Writer: Aaron Smith is an LA-based content strategist and consultant in support of STEM firms and medical practices. He covers industry developments and helps companies connect with clients. In his free time, Aaron enjoys swimming, swing dancing, and sci-fi novels.
