The perfect start to the day

Have you noticed the term "morning routine" popping up more frequently lately? Meditation seems to be gaining popularity as a key component. But why is that? What makes a routine so beneficial, and why is it particularly important to establish one in the morning?

I prefer to call it a "Mindful Morning" because the term "routine" can often carry a negative connotation. However, a morning routine is quite the opposite—it's a wonderful practice. What do I mean by that? It’s about starting your day with intention and mindfulness. Think about how it feels when the alarm goes off, and you accidentally hit the stop button instead of snooze. An hour later, you wake up in a panic because you've overslept. You scramble to shower, brush your teeth, gulp down your coffee, and rush out the door. How does that frantic start affect the rest of your day? Do you find that this restless, hurried beginning seems to set the tone for a day lacking in calm and tranquility?

Now imagine starting your day completely relaxed and at peace. The alarm goes off, and maybe you snooze for a few extra minutes before getting up. Without overthinking, you follow your morning routine, which gradually prepares you for the day ahead. You’ve found a routine that suits you perfectly—whether it's a round of yoga, enjoying a coffee or tea while journaling, or a jog to get energized for the day.

There is no single morning routine that works for everyone. Each person should start their day in a way that feels right for them. This individuality is key to maintaining consistency. Feel free to draw inspiration from others, experiment with different activities, and discover what energizes you and helps you carry that positive energy throughout the day.

How you start your day has a huge impact on how your day turns out. If you start the day relaxed and in a good mood, that's what you radiate. As the law of attraction says, like attracts like. This means: what you send out, what you give, you also receive back.

A routine conserves resources. Starting your day without needing to make numerous decisions allows you to save that mental energy for later. We make thousands of decisions daily—estimates range between 20,000 and 35,000—both consciously and unconsciously, which can be draining. Routines become habits, and humans are creatures of habit. When something becomes a habit, we don’t have to think about it or decide to do it; we just do it. This is why finding your morning routine is so important. It sets the tone for the rest of your day and doesn’t need to take long. Even ten minutes can be enough, as long as you stick with it.

Tips for a successful morning routine

Enough sleep

This makes it easier for you to get up and you feel more refreshed. Find your sleep rhythm.

Stay offline during your morning routine

The morning routine should be all about you. Therefore, minimize external influences as long as possible. Keep your focus on yourself and don't let yourself be distracted by your social media channels, news, etc. None of this has anything to do with you. Notice how you feel when you get up, physically and mentally.

Before you eat anything: brush your teeth and also pull oil

Our body detoxifies overnight and excretes most of it through the mouth. You probably know the coating on your tongue. You would then flush these toxins back into your body.

Ayurveda (an ancient Indian holistic healing method) also recommends scraping the tongue and pulling oil for a few minutes to remove toxins from the mouth. With the oil in your mouth you can easily hop into the shower and then brush your teeth. I like to use coconut oil after cleaning my tongue. But other good oils can also be used.

drinking water

Not only does our body detoxify overnight, it also dehydrates. A large glass of water - Ayurveda recommends warm water - wakes up the body and also supports the removal of toxins that have been eliminated overnight. The warm water stimulates digestion, which is still sluggish after the night. Why warm water? Warm water corresponds to our body temperature and is easier for the body to process.

Light makes you awake

Our body actually recognizes when it is day on its own. Only curtains or blinds make this more difficult. In addition, the sleep hormone melatonin is released in the dark. Flood your room with light and help your body wake up.

Take time for your morning routine

Many people choose to start their day with exercise, whether it's jogging, yoga, or stretching. There’s plenty of inspiration available on YouTube. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy session—what matters more is incorporating a mindful moment of movement and tracking your progress.

You can also simply take time to read or write down what you are grateful for or what your wishes and goals are. Everything is possible, nothing is neccesary.

If it helps you structure your day, write down what you plan to do today. Schedule breaks.

Maybe you also like to be creative or learn a new language.

Find silence

And if it’s “only” 5 minutes that you meditate, do a yoga exercise or breathing exercise. You notice how you are feeling, what thoughts are bothering you and how you want to deal with them. You sharpen your awareness for the day.

But the most important thing is that your morning routine should be enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a chore or an obligation you have to fit into your day. As mentioned before, it doesn’t need to take a long time.

Make the most of the crucial hours of your day by developing a personalized morning routine. This will help you optimize this valuable time and set a strong foundation for the rest of your day.