Your Morning De-Stress Routine

[Nimi]

Hi everyone!

This morning and the past few mornings I have been finding it difficult sometimes to wake up and feel ready to tackle the day! Usually if I am a bit worried about something, taking a hot shower or listening to my favourite calming music helps me out. Other times I like to do some stretches. This isn't always possible though if you have to get in to work at a reasonable time haha.

I was just curious, for anyone else that has these times what do you find helps you? Maybe we can help each other out!

Nimi

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Nimi!

Thank you for your post and thanks for sharing all of your ideas!

Mornings are really hard for me - there's often a bit of coaxing and pep talks to get up. My partner makes me coffee in the morning, so if I don't get up, I'll let it go cold! That's a little incentive for me!

One of the things I'm big on though is lists - I get overwhelmed very easily so I make a list of a couple of things I really have to do that day. Often it's just the top 3. Having just a couple of things help because I feel more in control of what I have to do and what's next. I also write a little bit the night before to try and help with whatever is jumbled up inside of my head. If I have too much anxiety I won't sleep so this one is essential for me.

Stretches sound good! If you feel like you don't have a lot of time you could do them in bed before you get up, in the shower or in the car/on the bus too!

rt

[Emmen]

Hello Nimi,

I'm not at all a morning person, but because of my anxieties, I don't usually get a good sleep. When the morning alarm rings, I wake up exhausted and grumpy...and hating everything. What helps for me is to find something to be happy about. Usually that's my partner - just giving him a smile in the morning perks me up and reminds me there are things to be happy about in the day to come. We used to be long distance - those days I'd always text him first thing in the morning since I couldn't see him in person.

I also make to do lists so that I have a clear idea of what I will accomplish for the day. Not just the work I have to do, but I also schedule in breaks, like cooking breaks where I actively search out new recipes to try. I do art as well, although that's a bit harder to schedule in since it's mood dependent. Usually when I realise I haven't painted for some time, I'd write a reminder and leave it on my laptop so that I don't forget to have an art break whenever inspiration strikes (which could be a few days later).

I wish I could do stretches like you do (keep telling myself to), but I'm much too lazy!

Cheers,
Emmen

[Nico_B]

Hi Nimi and all!

I have developed a pretty strong morning routine in the last 6-7 months. It's served me really well so I'd love to share it with you all 🙂

Whether you're time poor or rich, we all have some form of a morning routine. From my experience, it pays to get clear on what that looks like.

Prior to last September, my mornings were an unfulfilling blur. Since then, I’ve strived to change that. Below is my template...

1) Journaling: Upon waking, I used to mindlessly scroll through social media and sport news when on the toilet. Now I write in a physical journal. I find it highlights repeat patterns and clearly displays what I’m grateful for, value, love, prioritise, need to release and want to improve.

Alternatively, pour out thoughts in freestyle form or verbalise affirmations. Whilst in the loo, you could read a book or listen to a podcast.

2) Cold shower: this isn’t revolutionary stuff, but like many others, I shower each morning. Until recently, I would leave the shower hazy and borderline sweating. I’m no Wim Hof, but I do finish my showers cold. Nowadays, I come out feeling energised, reinvigorated, awake and alive.

3) Movement: I complete some form of exercise/stretching each morning, whether high or low intensity, indoors or outdoors, guided or free. Often, I accompany it with music to align with my mood and dictate the pace.

Alternatively, sing, dance or find a physical expression that activates you. I find movement hugely beneficial to stop thinking and start feeling.

4) Meditation: whether my practice feels blasé, chaotic, psychedelic, grounding or transformative, I try to lower my judgement of what transpired, accepting and enjoying it for what it is.

5) Extras: social media is avoided, I limit phone usage to playing music and meditating on do not disturb mode and I skip breakfast as I intermittent fast. Also, lots of water!

It’s important to note that my routine can vary. Sometimes my process is long and indulgent, but it can also be rapid and condensed. Occasionally I skip one aspect as a ‘circuit-breaker’, sometimes I extend another.

Ultimately, my aim is to blend practices that wake up my mind and body and give my day a platform to build from 🙂

[Nico_B]

Continuing from my last post...

All aspects can be abbreviated, so there’s few excuses for me to skip the process entirely. Previously I’ve done 2ish minutes journaling, a 1ish minute shower (half cold), 2ish minutes stretching and 5ish minutes meditating. I recall feeling way better for doing something rather than nothing.

Some people are flowwy whilst others are more structured. During a solo trip in Europe a few years back, I lived an impulsive existence. Since then, I’ve naturally slid back into an organised schedule, with periods of spontaneity.

On a scale of: 1 (unplanned) <-----------> 10 (planned), I’d sit around 7.5.

Try placing yourself on the scale, then work out the balance your morning needs.

Why not set up your day in a mindful way? 🙂

---

Journaling is an area that several friends have asked me about, so I’ll detail it here. The length and depth of these vary, but each morning I write about five things: 3x grateful, yesterday I was proud, yesterday I could have, today I release and today I am excited. In the evening I write about one thing: 3x went well.

I start positively oriented, dive into challenging aspects in the middle and finish feeling enthusiastic and energetic. I always do short and sharp weekly, monthly and yearly reviews to capture the essence of each section for that period of time. All of this helps me unpack my inner world and I couldn’t recommend it more.

If anyone would like to know about my music playlists, mediation techniques or another aspect, I'm happy to share anything 🙂

Nico