Start a Morning Routine. It'll Make Your Day

Morning routines are proven to shape your day by positively influencing your brain chemistry, stress levels, focus, and overall well-being.

I’ve had a morning routine for over thirty years. Once I started it, and it became a way of life, I found that I can no longer do without it than I can food, or air.

Sounds over the top, I know.

But it’s true. And I know many people who share my feelings and experience. They all say the same thing.

What is a morning routine?

There are no set rules, protocols, or anything rigid. It’s simple, yet powerful.

I describe it as plugging into the source. Take a lamp, for example. A lamp that has a working light bulb can provide light. But it must be plugged into the real source of power before it will work — the electrical outlet. Right? Without electricity, the working light bulb is useless.

I equate my morning routine to plugging in to the power outlet — or the real source of power. For me, it’s God. For you, it can be God, a universal source, whatever you want to call it — whatever works for you. God, or the source, is said to be in every fabric throughout the universe. That it is what allows humans to function. Without soul, spirit, we’re nothing more than a body.

As I focus on God with prayer, meditation, and reading spiritual material, it’s as if I can feel the power of the source flow through me. I feel my body and mind relax; I feel connected, calm, and peaceful. I feel “a part of,” rather than “a part from.” Compassion for others dominates my being. I feel love for myself and others.

It’s a wonderful way to start my days.

The science behind morning routines.

Research at many of the top universities has found that it helps regulate stress, optimize brain function, and build the mental foundation for a focused, resilient day.

Here are some of the findings:

• Meditation has profound effects on the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and default mode network.

  • All of this helps “attention” and “decision making.”

  • Reduces fear and stress response.

  • Helps you stay in the present.

• Studies at Harvard and UCLA have shown gray matter increases in areas related to self-awareness, empathy, and stress regulation. So my sense of empathy for others and myself increases.

• Meditation can also decrease cortisol and increase GABA (a neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system). We all need a calmer nervous system.

• Repetition of morning habits strengthens neural pathways: “Neurons that fire together wire together.” Over time, your brain automates these behaviors, making them easier to sustain. In other words, it becomes easier to meditate or calm your mind.

• Starting your day with intentional habits increases the likelihood of making healthier choices all day through a psychological principle called behavioral momentum. We start out calm and peaceful, so the likelihood of maintaining that mood is fairly high.

• Regular routines reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, especially when they include mindfulness, gratitude, and movement.

My Routine

My routine changes often. What doesn’t change is the amount of time I set aside each morning. It’s a minimum of thirty minutes, often an hour. So, I always get up thirty minutes before my time to shower and get ready for work. If I have to be at work earlier than normal one day, I get up earlier, allowing me to still have the thirty minutes of quiet time.

It’s that important to me.

I call my time “quiet time” because my routine changes from time to time. I went through a period where I would meditate for twenty minutes, then read spiritual material, say prayers, etc.

Then, I went through periods where I’d read spiritual material, pray, and meditate for just a few minutes.

Then, I got to where I’d write out prayers every morning, many prayers, journal and read.

Regardless, I take thirty minutes, at the least, to plug in to the source with prayer, reading positive spiritual material, and meditating.

And, I’ve got to admit, however, there have been periods where I get my phone first thing and read the news, get on FB or other social media. LOL.

Not good.

But I soon get back to my readings, prayers, and such.

For myself and others I know who have a morning routine, the results are the same. We love that time in the morning, sometimes excited upon awakening to be able to sit and spend thirty minutes with God. The reason is simple: We feel so connected and peaceful.

It helps set the tone for the day. As we start the day off in quiet solitude, we begin our work day much the same, calm and non-reactive. Sometimes the mood lasts hours, other times it lasts five minutes. But I always feel connected to my source, God. And when I feel that, I have a sense that all will be ok.

Conclusion

I know many individuals who have a morning routine, and have for 30 to 40 years. They all say the same thing. They feel they could no longer go without it than food or air. It’s that much a part of them — and that important to them. After 30 or 40 years, if it didn’t do something special for them, they would have stopped by now. I mean, you have to wake up early — and who wants to get up earlier than necessary?

Think about that for a bit. This special time in the morning is very important to each and every person I know who does it.

Do you have a morning routine? Do you want to try developing a morning routine?

If you don’t have a routine and would like to start one, you can reach out to me in the DM or comment in the “leave a message.” If you have one, I’d love to hear what yours is and how it’s helping you. As I’m sure others would too.

Let’s help each other grow emotionally and spiritually.

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