If you’re looking for a positive start to your day, a simple morning ritual is a great way to go. Kickstart your morning by practicing a bit of self-care, taking care of your body, and adding an early-morning dose of joy to your day. These are some of the morning routine upgrades that might help you love life a little more.
How Morning Rituals Make a Difference
You can call it a morning routine if you want, but calling this series of tasks your morning rituals can make the whole idea feel more personal and intentional. Whatever you choose to call them, these are a collection of steps within your morning that give you the best possible start to your day.
Morning rituals can help you start the day with a full tank and help you feel ready to tackle the rest of your to-do list. Even if your time is limited, a few intentional steps can help you slow down and breathe before the chaos of the day kicks off.
Simple Rituals to Add to Your Morning Routine
Maybe you already know how much the structure of a morning routine will help you feel energized and mentally prepared for the day. What you really need is some help to find the right actions or ideas to add to your morning lineup. These are simple and most only require a few minutes, so you can practice them in a way that best fits your schedule.
Start With Warm Water
Skipping coffee and starting the day with water is a tough concept to grasp for those of us who are self-proclaimed caffeine connoisseurs. But a small amount of warm water helps you start the day giving your body what it needs most: hydration and a gentle way to wake up. Don’t worry, you can definitely have coffee later on.
A little lemon juice and a pinch of salt in your water can help make the bland water more flavorful and aid in the hydration your body needs in the morning.
Get Sunlight Right Away
A little vitamin D first thing in the morning might help you feel energized physically and mentally. Take this time outside to sit quietly or take a short walk in the fresh air while you soak up that sunlight.
Move Your Body, Gently
Movement isn’t just important for your physical health, it can also help you start the day with a great mood and a boost of all those wonderful post-exercise hormones. But you’re also just getting your day started. So, try a gentle movement practice to ease your body into the day. Walking, swimming, stretching, pilates, and yoga are all energizing ways to move your body gently.
Nourish Your Body With a Protein-Rich Breakfast
The temptation to skip breakfast when you’re in the midst of a busy season in life is so real. But you deserve to eat, no matter how crazy your life feels. Reach for protein-rich foods to give you energy for the day ahead.
Sip Your Coffee, Slowly
There’s always time for a caffeine fuel-up, even in your simple morning ritual. Instead of making your coffee to go or grabbing one in the drive-thru, try reserving a few moments to slowly sip your java (or your tea) before you start the day.
Meditate or Pray
If you’re trying to squeeze in time for some spiritual self-care, meditation or prayer are simple activities that you can do practically anywhere. Whether you’re on your morning walk or hopping into your car, some time to focus inwardly and reflect on your spiritual growth can help prepare you for the day.
Make Time for Reading
Five minutes of reading may not sound like much, but if you add that over the course of a year, that’s quite a lot. If you’ve been trying to get more reading into your day, those five minutes while you’re slowly sipping coffee definitely count as progress.
Make Your To-Do List
A jumbled mind isn’t the best way to jump into your tasks for the day. Listing out everything, even the most simple tasks, helps you empty your mind of all the things and focus on actually doing them. Whether you do a paper version, like a bullet journal, or use an organizer app, getting it out of your head can do wonders for stress levels.
Spend 5 Minutes Tidying Up
As with reading, five minutes of tidying your home might not seem like much. But those five minutes might help your space feel orderly and lift a burden from your mind that you didn’t even know was there.
Get Ready With Intention
Self-care is difficult to practice when you’re racing to get your hair done and choose an outfit for the day. Take a breath, give yourself a few extra minutes, and get dressed and ready for the day with intention as you focus on caring for yourself during this time.
Personalize Your Morning Ritual
The beauty of building your own morning ritual is that it’s uniquely yours. You get to decide what you need most each morning and what activities help you feel the best.
Focus on Mind, Body, & Spirit
You have many needs as a human being. Your mind, body, and spirit deserve a bit of self-care as you start the day. As you’re building your morning ritual, try including at least one activity that helps you fill up your physical, mental, and spiritual tanks.
Your physical, mental, and spiritual needs might change in different life seasons. If you need to prioritize one over another in a certain season, that's okay.
Don’t Do What You Don’t Love
If you despise reading, then you probably shouldn’t add it to your morning ritual. If a yoga class sounds like your worst nightmare, don’t force it. Morning rituals should be all about the things you love or ways you can care for yourself.
Get Your Family Involved
If you’re trying to work in a morning ritual with other people in your home, you know that things will go much smoother if everyone is on the same page. Plan your rituals around the needs of your family so you can actually focus on self-care and start your day with intention. You can even help your kids do a few mindfulness activities so they can create their own morning rituals, too.
Add Other Self-Care Rituals You Love
We all approach self-care, discovering joy, and starting our day differently. Your way won’t look like everyone else's. But you might find some of these popular morning rituals helpful as you build your own routine.
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Wake up with a sunrise alarm clock.
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Start your day with affirmations.
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Get some snuggles in with your partner or your children.
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Use dry brushing to engage your lymphatic system in the morning.
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Listen to your favorite music or an interesting podcast.
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Do a brain dump and write down all your morning thoughts.
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Add to your gratitude journal.
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Take supplements that make you feel good.
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Make a breakfast you love or blend up a nutrient-rich smoothie.
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Tend to your garden.
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Spend intentional time on your phone or social media.
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Light your favorite candle.
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Spend time in a quiet area of your home reflecting on your intentions for the day.
Rituals Help You Set the Tone for Your Day
Routines might feel monotonous, but intentional rituals feel more like a “get to” than a “have to.” While a lineup of helpful morning rituals has a practical component, it can also feel like an expression of gratitude or a time to seek joy. As you’re building yours, stick to the things that fill your cup in every way.
