Early Morning Light II

What does my morning routine look like? What makes me feel productive, energized, and goal-oriented? How can I make more time for what feels good so that I'm better equipped mentally, physically, and spiritually for my day?

These are the questions I asked myself when I readjusted my morning routine for the summer.

College classes were over for the next few months, I was settling back into my childhood home for the foreseeable future, and I wanted to enjoy every moment of these hot and humid days.

So I asked myself what I needed to get out of my time and what kinds of things would give me that.

I wanted peace.

So in my mornings, I do what gives me peace: I pray, I move, and I dress.

These are all simple things that prepare me for my day and whatever's on the agenda.

I wake up at 5AM and take a moment in the bathroom to brush my teeth and put on lip balm. Then a grab what I'll need for the next hour and a half (prayer book, Bible, planner, laptop) and head downstairs to my favorite morning spot.

(It's a cozy corner of our house full of lovely decor and comfy cushions).

Then I settle in for a minimum of 30 minutes of prayer, drinking deeply of the Almighty Strength of God spiritually, and sipping on 32 oz. of water physically.

After this, I spend up to 30 minutes moving my body, gently stretching out the kinks, and building material strength and immaterial confidence. Exactly what I do during this phase changes depending on the day and where I am in my cycle, (more on this to come!) but it's either running or yoga.

At this point, I'm feeling energized, focused, and peaceful, so I head upstairs to get dressed and address the day ahead of me.

But let's be honest, an early morning lifestyle is a challenging habit to get into if your body's clock doesn't naturally wake you at dawn!

So below are three steps that are crucial to my success and make the daily discipline of waking up early life-giving.

Step 1: GET ENOUGH SLEEP!!

Your morning starts the night before.

Getting enough sleep the night before is crucial to your well-being in an early morning lifestyle, and if you don't get enough, you'll hate waking up early, burnout, and quit.

That is an abusive and in-advantageous way to run your life!

So think ahead, go to bed early, and wake up ready for a new day.

I personally need a minimum of 8 hours, but I really need more like 9 or 10. Since I wake up at 5 and need 9 hours of sleep, I have to be shutting my life down around 7 and get ready for bed so that I can be asleep (not lying down, but be asleep) by 8.

Do what you need to do to guard your sleep like your most secret treasure.

I would also say that while winding down for the night, prepping things you'll need for the morning makes those first few minutes a lot easier.

Setting out my clothes for the next day, sleeping in my workout clothes, and making sure that all of the items that I use in the AM are where they belong are a few of the things that I do to set myself up for success. :)

Step 2: NEVER BEAT YOURSELF UP

Step two is all about mindset.

You are an imperfect person. But God loves you.

Sometimes you sleep through your alarm. But your family loves you.

Sometimes you fail. You should still love you!

Nothing about being imperfect means being unlovable, especially by those equal to yourself, even more so by your own self!!

Self-love is a necessary aspect of being the best version of yourself and striving for excellence every day, which is what productivity is all about.

Not giving yourself the grace to make mistakes or take a break or change things up is a recipe for disaster.

Reel in the negativity, love yourself, and do and say what you would advise your most beloved to do and say.

Step 3: FIND WHAT FEELS GOOD AND DO IT A LOT!!

Step three is where the discipline of a good bedtime and self-love pay off!

Spend that first hour or two doing what you love!

For me, it's prayer, watching the sunrise, and either yoga or a run before getting dressed for the day.

Maybe for you, this is your time to read, or paint, or garden before your baby wakes up; or maybe you want to kickbox while nobody's watching; or maybe want to get out on an early morning hike, or write a book, or practice pipping flowers...

It's up to you how you use your time, and I advise you use it as an incentive to wake up, knowing that the first thing you get to do is what you love.

(This requires the self-love to allow yourself to do something just because you want to and the sleep necessary to make it happen).

So there you go!

Sleep, love, be happy!

Love,

Laney <3