New Rhythms & Morning Rituals
Our days have changed dramatically in recent weeks as we adjust to a new normality. What once was an automatic response to waking, doing and getting somewhere, is now completely different. Our time and body clocks are adapting to a new rhythm. Yet there is something quite liberating about not having to march to the command of the ticking clock and deadlines.
Our commute sees the majority of us walking down a flight of stairs. We don’t necessarily need to dress up. We don’t have to battle to get ourselves and children out the door by a certain time.
So why do I feel its still important to have some kind of routine in your working week.
Firstly it helps your body clock maintain a healthy pattern. Most of us still have online meetings to attend, homeschooling to do and targets to meet if we are self-employed searching for innovative ways to keep an income coming in.
Secondly it helps our mental health & wellbeing by having something to look forward to each day.
I believe in setting a small ritual each morning to set that tone. An indicator of how you would like your day to begin, giving yourself a mental boundary between relaxed downtime and constructive working time. This doesn’t change just because you aren’t commuting physically outside of the home, dashing to find the keys and hoping you charged your phone!
Part of helping ourselves to achieve this means doing a little groundwork the night before.
Tidy your kitchen space so its clean & ready to welcome you. Seeing clutter and things to wash up first thing can be demoralising and you end up wasting your time back tracking to get to a place where you can begin fresh and it puts you in a stress mood.
If like me your workspace is in a small part of your kitchen. Try and leave it tidy as you would if you were at the office. Leave any action notes ready for the next day in a notebook. Make sure laptops are charged and screens cleaned. Put everything away that helped you that day with thanks and gratitude. I have a Tibetan singing bowl and will cleanse my area with a few notes. I’ll also cleanse any crystals by moonlight ready for new energy the next day.
Keep a notebook and pen or pencil by your bedside.
Jot down all that made you smile and were grateful for in the day. It could be something so simple like hearing bird song, or seeing the sunshine, a hug from a family member even if virtual.
Then write down anything the bothered you. Did you feel low? Did a social media feed irritate you with its comments. Was something on the news worrying you?
Now finish with what you might want to achieve tomorrow. Perhaps you have to do your online food shop. Or your child has to complete a certain task or test online. Anything that you might need to action or do. Take photographs, take your one daily walk or cycle or run.
By doing these the night before helps your mind to calm down ready for sleep and helps you put things into perspective to help control anxiety & worry. Plus if you have a memory like mine, it will be. gentle reminder of the things you need to catch up on.
Spritz some Lavender oil on your bedsheets, light a candle, meditate or do some relaxing yoga. I personally love the child pose to let all of the days tension out.
Okay, back to the morning!
Some days will be better than others. some you’ll see sunshine and others it will be dull and grey, maybe even raining. It’s fine, its healthy and its normal to have those ups and downs like an ocean wave. Be gentle and kind with yourself.
No-one expects any of us to leap out all Zen like with a perfectly clean spa like bathroom or neatly folded clothes but anything that can help give YOU space just for 15- 30 minutes is what the aim is here. Hence as much prep the night before.
Have you tried popping a few drops of grapefruit or lemon essential oil in your shower tray? As the warm water hits the shower tray they release their uplifting scent and you can inhale a few times to help centre yourself.
I always have hot lemon water first thing. Lately I put a few slices of Fresh Ginger in to help stimulate my circulation.
If you slice and squeeze the lemon at least a quarter to a half , pour on freshly boiled water and wait for it to cool down a little before sipping.
Whilst its cooling and weather permitting. I’ll bring in my crystals to place by my desk, strike a few notes with my Tibetan bowl to resonate the energy that my day is beginning. You could light a scented candle or diffuse some oils or just pop a freshly picked flower if you have any in a little vase. Or music is equally as uplifting, put on a favourite song and dance or just let the rhythm of the music flow. Read a book that inspires you!
Lemon water has many great health benefits, for helping our digestion, its a great PH balancer, to helping boost our immune system and flush toxins out, hydration with a small dose of Vitamin C.
Morning rituals vary for a lot of us. Some mothers are rising even earlier to profit from a bit of peace & quiet for themselves, to think and breathe a little before the bustle of children take their energy and time up with their demands.
Others are rising a little later than their normal routine as it suits them better, they don’t feel the pressure to have to factor in a commute and traffic.
Whatever your new routine is. I hope these tips make your day start off with good intention. I’d love to know what works for you. Maybe some Yoga? A walk with your dog? Baking bread?