Morning routine to inspire soft awakenings and productive days

"Every morning, the sun rises with new opportunities. Set your intentions like seeds, water them with love and watch them grow into beautiful blessings."

Rumi

Is your am routine like a fire drill or a zen practice? Do you scramble to find clothes? Skip breakfast or grab a fruit bar to gobble it down on the go? Anxiously skim your social media feed or make a list of chores for later? Or maybe you wake up slowly and mindfully to a prepped chia pudding and the sounds of yoga gong?

I have to admit one thing: naturally, I am not a morning person. I've always loved long evenings that open to long nights. For most of my adult life, I had worked till late and slept in (the perks of being a freelancer). But then I became a mum. Having children changes your relationship to hours in the day or, generally – your attitude to time. Suddenly, early mornings are your best ally. The peace and serenity of the world only just waking up are incomparable to anything else.

Even though in Australia (where I live), winter mornings are darker and colder than during any other season, and the cosy bed hardly wants to let you go, an early start to the day can leave you enlightened and ready to meet life's challenges that like to rise with the sun.

In his book, Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done, Josh Davis says that predawn hours offer several benefits that can't be found other times of the day. Why? Because mornings are a blank canvas – we still have some power over what's going to happen to us, and we can start the day in a calm, creative and productive way instead of being frazzled and stressed.

There are countless benefits to creating and maintaining a mindful and slow morning routine. It's proven to reduce stress and anxiety and help promote healthy sleep patterns. It also allows for some precious self-care time and sets you up for a slow and mindful day.

You can take inspiration from other famous early birds who loved to take advantage of this golden time. Sylvia Plath woke up at 5 am to write before tending to her two young children, and Toni Morrison said: "It's not being in the light. It's being there before it arrives." Haruki Murakami, the famous 'running novelist', often admits to living his life to a strict schedule. "When I'm in writing mode, I get up at 4 am and work for five to six hours. I go to bed at 9 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes an important thing; it's a form of mesmerism. I mesmerise myself to reach a deeper state of mind."

Neuropsychologist Dr Jennifer Wolkin says that the impact mindfulness exerts on our brain is born from routine. "It's a slow, steady and consistent reckoning of our realities, and the ability to take a step back, become more aware, more accepting, less judgmental and less reactive."

Sometimes, you also have to reframe mornings. Instead of thinking of early rising resentfully, imagine that by waking up early, you're creating a ritual. British model and wellness blogger Danielle Copperman calls this time of the day ‘a wondrous and sacred phase'.

Morning meditation doesn’t have to be an elaborate practice. Wake up half an hour earlier than usual. Light an incense or a candle. Have a mug of warm herbal tea or coffee nearby. Sit down for a 10-minute guided meditation (Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube have a great variety - recently, I like *this energy-boosting one by Joe Dispenza*).

A few tips to ease into a new day with gracefully

Shift your bedtime

There's one simple truth: good mornings start at night. To have the mental and physical capacity for a slow and pleasant day, we need to be rested. Some simple rules include avoiding alcohol and coffee/caffeinated drinks in the second half of the day and trying to finish work on our computers early (because blue light disrupts our circadian rhythms and leaves us feeling alert instead of tired). A solid two hours without any screens before going to sleep works wonders for our tired brains. We sleep better and wake up more refreshed. A perfect slow evening routine can include a herbal tea with honey, a calming essential oil diffused in the air, a book and a relaxing session of yin yoga or simple stretching.

Set your intentions

The morning is a powerful time to bring awareness to what you want to think, feel and achieve during the day. Think of a simple mantra that resonates with you on the day (some examples: "I attract abundance" or "I intend to flow gracefully through my day") and repeat it any way you like. You can do it while making coffee or when still in bed. Try to steer clear of your mobile phone for the first 30 minutes of your morning. This is also the time to start working with crystals. You can put on your citrine necklace to tune into the manifestation energies or wear any howlite piece to start the day in a slow, calm way. Or simply hold any crystal you own in your hands for a few minutes, tuning into its energy.

Prep all the way

Automating parts of our routines makes room for more fun and creative stuff. You can make a nutritious smoothie or a chia pudding (add oats, chia, your favourite plant milk and a bit of honey, mix and put in the fridge) in the evening and have it ready for you when you wake up. If you're a coffee drinker, prep your French press and favourite mug the night before and set out your tea or lemon, so all you have to do in the morning is boil or warm water.

Move your body

Getting your blood circulating in the morning is crucial to waking up your brain, especially if you're not an early bird. You can adjust your exercise routine depending on the season of the year, weather or your mood. Go for a swimor a run in the summer to get proper cardio. In the colder months, switch to a simple, brisk walk or jog to enjoy the morning light and listen to some podcasts, or do a yoga video from the comforts of your bedroom. Or get sweaty in the gym if that's more your vibe!