9 Ways to Create a Magical Morning Routine
Your morning routine sets the mood for your day. An intentional, thoughtful routine can leave you feeling energized and ready to take on the world with a positive attitude, while a routine that is hectic or that you haven’t given much thought to can lead to feeling like you should have gotten more from your day.
A magical morning routine is a way to start out the day feeling really amazing. You already have a morning routine (your daily morning habits) whether you call it a that or not, the question is whether or not it’s a productive morning routine and setting your day up for success or failure.
Maybe you hit the snooze button a couple times before stumbling out of bed and making your way to the coffee machine. Or you might hop out of bed at 5 am like the energizer bunny and put on your running shoes. Major props if you are that person (I am not), you’re my hero and I want to be you when I grow up.
But even if you don’t get up early or workout first thing, you can still have an awesome morning routine.
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A Magical Morning Routine is Simple and Flexible
Now a magical morning routine isn’t meant to be complicated or have a lot of rules. It should be simple and enjoyable. You might already have a structured morning work routine, this is meant to be the flexible warm up to that. It’s going to get your head and spirit into a place that feels great.
If you set up “rules” for your magical morning routine you’re creating the expectation that these rules must be followed and you can’t be happy unless you do.
You can experiment and change it up everyday, the goal is just to create a little magic in your life that carries into the day.
All magic is simply a shift in perception.
This is more about creating the feeling of happiness than the specific things you do.
9 Ideas to Upgrade Your Morning Routine
1. Create a Joyful Environment
Lets be real, if the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning is a hot mess in you’re bedroom you’re going to feel stressed out. That is not the best way to start the day, I know this from experience!
Make your space someplace where you feel peaceful and inspired. Fill it only with things that are beautiful to you and spark joy. Make your bed cozy with soft sheets and pretty throw pillows. Pin up strings of fairy lights. Get a pretty vase and put flowers in it. Put some plants in there if you know how to keep them alive (or get some fake ones).
Here are more ideas for high vibe home decor.
Once you have your physical space in shape it’s time to try some different things and see what resonates with you.
2. Practice Gratitude
There can’t be enough said about the importance of gratitude. Appreciate what you have right now. Many of us are guilty of thinking “I’ll be happy when…” When I lose 10 pounds, have a million dollars, get my dream job, etc. But we all know that are plenty of people who have those things and still aren’t happy. Don’t wait to be happy, don’t put conditions on it.
Write down 5-10 things you’re grateful for each morning, say them out loud, tell them to your partner or pet, or think of them while you make breakfast. Put your journal right next to your coffee cup so that you remember to write in it as you drink your morning coffee, tea, or just water.
Some mornings while I’m still in bed I’ll close my eyes and think of a few things I’m grateful. Number one is always being safe throughout the night!
3. Meditate
Meditation is hands down one of the best things you can do for yourself, and the science supports that. Studies have shown that it actually changes your brain.
In a 2011 study, Sara Lazar and her Harvard team found that after eight weeks of meditation there was less cell volume in the amygdala, where you feel fear and anxiety. In contrast there was more volume in the hippocampus where emotions are regulated, which suggests meditation helps you deal with emotions and stress better. People with depression and PTSD had less hippocampus volume.
Here are just some of the benefits of meditation:
- Increased focus and concentration.
- Improved memory.
- Decreased stress and anxiety.
- Manages depression.
- Better regulation of emotions.
- Increased cognitive skills.
- Improved GPAs in students.
It sounds like it’s worth a try, right? Try my quick 6 minute morning meditation.
4. Set Your Intentions
Take a few moments to set your intentions for the day. That doesn’t necessarily mean making a to do list, though that’s ok to do, but decide how you want to feel through the day.
What is your attitude going to be when challenges pop up? Will you handle them with grace or will you get tense and stressed? Can you decide now that you will treat yourself and others with kindness?
Decide that whatever comes you’ll make the best of the day.
5. Learn Something New
Read an educational book for 10 minutes or listen to a podcast while you get ready. I made a list of the Best Self Help Books for Personal Development that you should definitely check out. Learning shouldn’t stop at high school or college, it’s so important that we continue to increase our knowledge throughout our entire lives.
6. Choose a Positive Inner Dialog
Another way to feed your brain is with positive thoughts, more specifically with affirmations-which are simply thoughts you repeat over and over again that reinforce a belief.
I have hundreds of affirmations for many topics on my website, like affirmations for motivation.
When used over time affirmations help to rewire your mindset, so instead of automatically having this dialog in your head declaring how bad the day will be, your thoughts are optimistic and you just feel better.
7. Listen to Music
The right music can put you in the best mood! Make a morning playlist full of songs that get you pumped and listen to it while you get ready for the day.
8. Move Your Body
We all know we’re supposed to do some form of exercise at least 3-5 days a week. Getting your workout done in the morning feels so good because then you don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the day. If you aren’t able to workout first thing in the morning that’s ok! Remember these are all just suggestions.
Go for a walk. Do a Yoga with Adriene video. Take a fitness class. Try a 4 minute HIIT workout. Work your tush with this 9 minute Booty Barre workout (it burns!). Do whatever feels good!
9. Journal
Journaling is a great tool to help you organize your thoughts or simply vent anything that’s bothering you. Writing out your ideas, feelings, or problems lets you see them more objectively and can lead to creativity, inner peace, and solutions.
Here are 21 Morning Journal Prompts to give you inspiration and help you start the day off right.
I hope this post gives you all the tools you need to create a magical morning routine that will have you feeling amazing all day! Remember you have to be consistent to see results. If you need help integrating these things into your morning check out my posts on How to Create Habits and How to Achieve Goals by Changing Your Environment.
Music is a part of my life. Listening to it even for 5 to 10 minutes heals all my pain. And starting a day with meditation music my favourite part of daily routine.
My mornings are so dreary because it is still dark when I wake up/get ready. These tips are great! I might try fairy lights in my kitchen!
I need to start a morning routine instead of being rushed all the time. I love the ideas you give to start your morning. Gratitude is suuuch a good way to start and I’ll for sure be including it in my morning routine!
Cynthia
https://curatedbycynthia.com
Love Yoga With Adrienne! Great tips, Reading self help/motivational books really gets me going in life!