What’s your first thought in the morning? Have you ever paid attention to it, or does it get lost in the rush of your morning routine?
Looking back, there was a time when hearing the alarm clock was the worst part of my day because it meant dealing with things I didn’t want to do.
After a few months of meditation, I started noticing a recurring morning thought: “I don’t want to get up because I feel disconnected and empty inside.” It had always been there, but I wasn’t really aware of it. I just felt it as stiffness in my body, bad mood, and low energy throughout the day.
Realizing how miserable and unhappy I was came as a shock because feeling like that had become normal for me. However, it was also a crucial step in my spiritual growth as a meditator.
All my unconscious negative thoughts and patterns became clear to me. With this knowledge, I had a choice to take action and do something about it.
Beside meditation, I’ve found three things that improve my mornings:
1. Body awareness: Instead of jumping out of bed, I spend 30 or 60 seconds lying there, reconnecting with my body. It helps me understand my mental state and whether my thoughts are positive or negative. Am I ready to embrace the day, or am I resisting it?
2. Silence: I consciously avoid turning on music, listening to the news, or checking social media. These activities don’t add any value to my well-being; they just bring agitation and negativity.
3. Taking things slowly: If I do every morning activity a bit slower than usual, I become more aware and focused on what I’m doing. Suddenly, simple things like taking a shower, exercising, and having breakfast become more enjoyable and relaxing.
How about your mornings lately? What’s on your mind? Do you have any favorite ways to bring calm into your routine? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I’m a freelance writer and mindfulness advocate behind this blog. What you see here is the combination of my three favorite things: reading, writing, and mindfulness. While you’re here, subscribe to my blog updates and gain access to free mindfulness resources for stress relief.
