The Magnificent Morning

The following was an article published in a community magazine, about the power of the morning routine.

Some of my articles will be more practical and less philosophical and this would be one of them.

The morning time is the foundation for a great day and I value it highly.

I hope this blog may inspire you to have a better morning.

Enjoy.

The alarm sounds. Your eyes open. It is morning again. Another day has begun. Depending on the morning you may feel excited, sad, nervous, anxious, stressed or calm. Perhaps somewhere between “yea” or “ney”. Whatever your feeling is, when that light enters your eyes, there is a day waiting to be experienced by you.

Many people have discovered that being intentional with the “power hour”, the first hour of the day, can be the foundation of a great day to come.

First off, what do you need to do to be intentional about your morning? What routines do you already have? And why does it matter?

In our modern world with endless options and with the present crisis that confronts us, our bodies and minds can get overwhelmed. The morning is a time where we can establish a sense of control. A place to nourish our mind and body, before we start interacting with others and dealing with the daily tasks ahead of us. Putting attention on this first hour of the day, can make the next twenty-three hours that much better.

Creating a “power hour” to supercharge your mind and body requires recalibration. You may need to go to bed earlier so that you can get up earlier and choose or create a space in your home where you can have solitude. For the activities of the first hour, I like to use the acronym MMM, because afterwards you will have a “mmmmmmmm” feeling of wellbeing. The 3 M’s are Movement, Mindset and Meal.

Movement could involve weights, running, biking, dancing, yoga, or whatever movement gets you excited. Do what you need to get the blood flowing and bring a smile to your face. Mindset is getting your head right. This can be meditation, prayer, reading an inspiring book, singing, looking in the mirror and saying positive affirmations. Really anything that will get you thinking about the day ahead in a positive way. You may also journal for five minutes on your intentions for the day or sit and speak them out loud, giving a sense of clarity for what needs to get done.

People may ask should they do the movement or the mindset tasks first? I personally like to move first thing in the morning to get the blood flowing through my body. Subsequently my mind becomes more receptive to the mental activities ahead. I enjoy meditating later in the hour, as I appreciate the calm feeling that comes into my body, as I approach the business of the day.

You end with a healthy Meal, which varies depending on your preferences. Before having that nourishing food at the end of the hour, feel gratitude to all that you have in life. Think about the food you are about to eat, your family and friends, and the strangers that build, make, deliver and service all the material comforts that make your life enjoyable. For coffee drinkers, wait until the end of the power hour or later to consume that cup of joe.

The morning routine requires discipline at the beginning but will eventually become a habit as it becomes an integral part of your life. It will be your morning foundation that creates the fertile ground for you to be at your best, as you move into a new day.