How to Make Mornings Something You Look Forward to: Our 5 Favourite Practices.
Many of us Londoners are no strangers to late nights and busy mornings.
Anxious commuters running to beat rush hour transit queues and packed trains.
Nervous parents scrambling to get their kids to school on time and then go to work.
Mornings have become synonymous with stress and worry.
Many things fall through the cracks.
Until our body and mind demands a break.
On the other hand, it's so common now to read about morning routines.
From extreme 5AM workout sessions, to elaborate and beautifully curated breakfasts, everyone is telling us how we should or shouldn't start our mornings.
But the reality is, these things are not achievable most of the time!
Here at Southstainable, we are all about embracing the chaos, and leaning into it.
This means identifying the things that truly brings us peace, inviting those aspects into our life, and not feeling guilty to drop what everybody else is doing.
We cherish the unexpected, the parts that don't fit, and the messy aspects that make for a beautiful life.
Living intentionally means creating habits that are simple to follow, that make life easier rather than more difficult, and don't require a huge bank account or 5 am alarms!
Here are 5 things that we have been experimenting with and have worked for us.
We would like to encourage you to try them, to see if they fit for you, and invite you to make your life a little more intentional.
1. Leave your curtains open.
Don't underestimate the power of natural light - starting your day with sun rays flowing into your room is the best way to calibrate your circadian rhythm.
Tip: Set a reminder on your phone to open the curtains before you fall asleep at night.
2. Ditch your alarm clock
A blaring alarm at 7AM is enough to make anyone cranky - try setting your alarm to calm music, or your favourite song to make waking up something to look forward to!
Tip: Any song will do, we personally recommend something with no words, with a slow rhythm and happy vibe.
3. Drink an entire glass of water
This one seems too obvious, but despite constant recommendations to increase water intake, most people still aren't getting enough water throughout the day!
Keeping a carafe of water and a glass near your bed gives you a head start on reaching your water goals, and is a much healthier kickstart to your day than coffee.
Tip: everything becomes easier if you allocate a specific glass to a specific place. Fill it at night and place it in its allocated place, so it is already there when you wake up.
4. Use visual cues to help your future self
One of the most difficult parts of the morning is that AM haze.
It can be easy to forget essentials, like bringing your packed lunch, making sure to grab your umbrella, or taking out the bin.
Do your future self a favour by leaving out visual cues the night before, like a lunchbox next to the fridge, or a water bottle on the counter.
Tip: if you know you use the same items everyday, find a place to put them down when you finish using them. If items have a proper home, it will be easier to remember where they are.
5. Start your day off with a walk
Don't get us wrong, we know working out in the morning doesn't sound like something appealing.
However, kick-starting your day doesn't have to mean a sweat-inducing workout; it could just mean a walk to your local café, or a wander through your neighbourhood.
A big part of living with purpose is being in harmony with your body, not a slave to it.
We recommend making it at least 15 minutes, possibly paired with a good stretch after.
We got in the habit of going for a walk around the house lately and that has really boosted our morning!
Tip: Use your morning walk to visit your local café, and treat yourself with a small snack or fresh coffee to support your local neighbourhood.
Conclusion
A sustainable life entails finding the balance between our mental and physical needs and our life habits and commitments.
Meeting your mind and body's needs by slowing down and making intentional decisions can make a big difference between living a life that drains your energy and a life that enhances your spirit.
