Morning routine ( aka morning nourishments, as I call it) is an important part of my day. It greatly determines my focus, my composure and momentum for the rest of the day. This is what my nourishments in the morning look like.
Hello friends! It is early morning as I write this, and it is one of those times when everything just seems glorious. I am filled with joy, excitement and contentment for no reason. So I felt inspired to write this.
What is even more interesting is that, even though I am amidst a time in my life where I would be typically worried or scared, I feel okay.
Morning Nourishments
Morning nourishments is the term now that I use for my morning routine. My routine in the mornings has changed over the years, and it has definitely taken a big shift lately. I spend a big chunk of time on morning prayer, stillness, affirmations, journaling and immersing myself in uplifting content (more on that below). Work out (Yoga) is still a part of my routine, but it may or may not happen every day, depending on how early my (three) kids wake up.
Uplifting Contents
Bible-The magical thing about the Bible is that most of the time I open it, I am always lead to the verses which resonate with me so much at the given time. It is like the appropriate message gets delivered at the time I need it. Or it always gives a new thought to ponder about, in result diverting me from any worry or anxiety that I may have at the moment.
Books– I love inspiring books from Louise Hay and Dr. Wayne Dyer (to name a few). I am loving “Intimate Conversations with the Divine” by Caroline Myss. Some of my favorites that I recently read were What I Know for Sure by Oprah, Living your Yoga by Judith Hanson Lasater and Self-Care for the Real World by Nadia by Katia Narain Phillips and Nadia. I also started to read a few books by Bo Sanchez– I love the simplicity of his writing style, with a touch of humor and so many practical insights.
Videos– If I have time after I work out, or before bedtime ( I switch between reading a book or watching videos before bed depending on my mood), I go on YouTube and watch inspirational videos. I love podcasts by Lewis Howes and Marie Forleo. I also watch Dr. Wayne Dyer videos, Rev.Michael Beckwith, Kyle Cease and so much more.
Podcasts– My number one favorite is Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays. I dare you to listen and not end up being inspired. After every listening sesh at Super Soul, I am super joyful, motivated and ready to take on the day. I also love Abraham Hicks podcast and the Daily Breath by Deepak Chopra.
Yoga
I am now loving Boho Beautiful which is one of my recommendations in my Yoga at Home post. I have the paid subscription and I am very happy with it as it is a rich library of diverse yoga work out, flows, a fusion of pilates and yoga, yoga HIIT and even meditations. I also love Yoga with Adriene, and I switch between the two, but in the season of my life now ( little baby and all), I find more videos in Boho Beautiful that are more “work-outy” but not too long in duration. My kids wake up early, and to be able to squeeze in a powerful 10 minutes of yoga before they wake up is such a bliss.
Beautifying
Please don’t be mistaken by the word. My beautifying is just as simple as curling/ straightening my hair, dotting on CC cream over a moisturized face, a lipstick, and if I feel like it, mascara on curled lashes. I also try to be not in my pajamas all day. Because I do my work from home, dressing up, grooming up and a little polishing are imperative. It makes me feel ready to take on the day and allows me to be motivated for my day’s work.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to me to have this Morning Nourishments- as it is a crucial time to be with myself, to re-fuel, replenish, and re-center. At times, when it is really crazy around the house, or when something comes up, I may miss a day or two of carrying out my morning routine, but If I go on for days without it, I just feel too cluttered mentally, I lose focus easily and I get swayed easily in anxieties and worries. If I start the day with a strong footing, I am more grounded and I am a better person. I recommend that you establish one for yourself, too.
Who Has Time For All This?
I guess nobody has the time to be able to do all the things they ever want to do. But one can make time to do what he prioritizes today or day after day. I mean I am not able to do all of the elements of my routine every day. Some mornings, sitting in stillness for 5 minutes, then reading just one line from a book is all my time can afford. Some days, I can write a full page in my journal. Some days I can read an entire chapter, or listen to an entire podcast, but most days, a little bit of something goes a long way. Sometimes, a short prayer, plus a 5-minute affirmation is my entire routine. It really depends on the day, and I try not to be so rigid about it.
As a practical measure, I have to wake up before my kids. It just makes so much difference to be able to have that time alone. Once they are awake, my time is not my own. So it makes so much sense, and it works way better if I get to tend to myself first, in a peaceful way.
What Nourishes You?
What uplifts you? Inspire you? How do you touch base with your inner self? Is it a morning routine? Nightly? Please share them in the comment section below. Books, podcasts and show recommendations? I would love to know!
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