I was listening to a podcast where the participants discussed lifestyle medicine in the 3rd age, and how what we do in our daily routine can either inhibit or enrich our life and health. This had a profound effect on me.
A particular phrase stood out: ‘body before business’. According to physiotherapist Michelle Lyons, we should attend to our body and mind first thing in the morning.
But how do we do that?
In our current day and age, most people keep one of the following morning rituals:
#1 Checking a mobile/iPad/computer first thing on waking. A study from IDC Research revealed that 80% of smartphone users check their mobile devices within 15 minutes of waking each morning.
#2 Turning the television or radio on first thing in the morning.
#3 Rushing around in the morning and buying a croissant and coffee on the way to work.
While we are used to our particular morning rituals, there are plenty of other ways to set ourselves up for a brilliant day ahead. Take for example the Mindful Morning Rituals, which are so much healthier than what I described above!
Because of the current fast pace of many people’s lives, our days may include more stress and pressure. People assume this kind of stress is simply an unavoidable part of life, but meditation can help enable us to manage our home and work lives in a more skillful manner.
A regular morning meditation practice helps create and cultivate peace of mind and happier relationships. As a result, we may become kinder and less judgmental of ourselves and others.
True peace of mind is always there, but we must let go of everything that obscures such calm and clarity – our confusion, our ruminating, our expectations, our inner chatter.
When we achieve calmness and peace of mind with morning meditation, our perspective changes and we may feel more positive about ourselves and the day ahead.
As previously discussed, the practice of mindfulness meditation is one form of a morning ritual. However, there are many sorts of mindfulness practices to choose from. It is important to pick something you are happy doing consistently.
These can be anything you like. You can establish them as timeout sessions where the focus is on you and your body, with no distractions. Here are some examples:
Choose some routines that feel good for you, or you could try my challenge below.
You need to commit to the process and allow yourself the time and space to practice your ritual. Remember, this is your special time.
You might start with a minimal time frame that best fits your lifestyle and increase it if you find it insufficient. First thing in the morning is best. However, you can also do this last thing at night. The full seven minutes to yourself, without distractions, remains nonnegotiable. This is for YOU.
Most of us underestimate how much water we need. Water will help with your digestive health, your mental health, and will hydrate your connective tissue and organs to help you feel less stiff and sore.
Write a quick gratitude sentence, such as “Today I am grateful for………….”
Practicing gratitude daily may lower your stress response, increase immunity, and help with mental health.
Take a deep breath in through the nose filling your lower belly and expanding your ribs, then slowly exhale through your mouth, making your exhale longer than your inhale.
Or breathe in, as above, to the count of 4, exhale for the count of 4 and repeat for the full minute. Breathing exercises help with stress, mental health, pelvic health, better lung capacity and feelings of wellbeing.
Mobility/flexibility is something we lose with environmental factors, including desk work, sitting for too long, phone use, and repetitive work. It is also something we lose as we age and hormonal fluctuations occur.
However, we can help ourselves become more flexible and mobile with just a few simple moves that don’t require equipment. This assists that water you just consumed get into the connective tissue inside your body. It helps with stiffness, digestive health, mental health, and it makes you feel good!
An array of different lifestyle changes and rituals is important for overall health and wellbeing. Having extensively researched the area of women’s health, I know different lifestyle factors can inhibit the physical, mental, and emotional health of women. I believe this will help cover many of the basics, so you can see and feel a difference in yourself.
It takes approximately 21 days to form a new habit. I hope you continue this restorative practice beyond 21 days and make it an important part of your lifestyle.
Currently, what is your morning ritual? What do you do immediately after waking? Have you formed a working mindfulness ritual to open/close your days? Has it become a habit? Please share your story with the community!
Tags Healthy Aging
Great post, thank you! My morning ritual is similar to watch you suggest. While I watch the sun rise (always a thrill!) I drink a cup of herbal tea and either write in my gratitude journal, or I listen to a guided meditation on Insight Timer (a free phone app). Then I do my exercises which are either walking with a friend, doing a Youtube workout video, or using my rowing machine. I’m lucky that I have my mornings free before I start teaching. Starting the morning in this quiet, intentional way is key for me to have a great day.
I’m 73, retired, and I have a dedicated morning ritual that I’ve managed to continue practicing for the past 15 years. I get up, wash my face, make my bed, turn on meditative music, and roll out the yoga mat. Then I do 25 minutes of ‘pajama yoga’ which includes inversions like standing on my head. After yoga, I do a gratitude meditation then I journal. It’s an amazing start to every day.
I absolutely believe Morning rituals make for a more centered mindful day. When I complete my basic morning ritual even if other things I had planned to do don’t get done, I still feel accomplished. Journaling, studying French, yoga, meditation, tending to my houseplants and making my bed everyday are my daily rituals. I know that I am privileged to have the time for such an extensive ritual. If you are retired or semi retired as I am, using the time you have in this way is a blessing.