Slow Morning Routines

Mornings are often a favorite part of my day, because, most mornings, I can take as much time as I want to move through my slow morning routine. But even on busier mornings, I make it a point not to rush, because rushing stresses me out and it can set the tone for my whole day in a way I don't want.

If one of the changes you want to make this year is to create a slower lifestyle, start with your morning routine. Here are some ways you could do it...

Slow Morning Routine: Try Morning Meditation

You deserve to take time each day to get grounded and centered. Meditation is a great way to do that, and if you can do it every day, you may find it helps in creating your slow living lifestyle in other ways.

Now, ideally, you would take 20 minutes or longer, from what I have read. And some experts recommend doing that twice a day.

But even if you only have ten minutes, it would make a positive difference.
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Here are some ideas...

(1) The easiest way might be to simply sit quietly for ten minutes, focusing on breathing deeply and slowly.

(2) You also could meditate on chosen words or phrases, or affirmations, like “breathing in peace,” or “I am centered and grounded,” or “God is with me.”

(3) Your ten-minute meditation could be a walking meditation, spent quietly observing nature.

(4) You could use a guided meditation that is only ten minutes long.

(5) You might spend your ten-minute meditation imagining a peaceful scene, and picturing yourself there. If the weather outside is frightful, staying in and imagining it, instead, might be better.

There are endless variations on these ideas and other ones you can try. The main thing to know is that you don’t have to give up on meditating just because you don’t have much time.

Taking time out to pause during a busy morning will always be a good idea even if that amount of time is short.

And on the weekend, you can give yourself more time to meditate.

For example, you could meditate on an intention you have set, and take the time to imagine it manifesting, taking in every detail you can think of and really placing yourself there, right in the middle of it.

I do that kind of visualization every day.

But you could save it for weekends, if that's when you have more time. If you did that, you might try shorter versions during the week, just to stay connected to whatever you are manifesting.

Meditation, visualization, prayer, and journaling are all powerful activities that go very well together. But the journaling portion is where you solidify, clarify, affirm, and strategize your insights, goals, and plans. This morning journaling session only needs to be 5-15 minutes. – Benjamin Hardy,
Ph.D, in Better Humans, Medium.com
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Slow Morning Routine: Journaling

As Dr. Hardy said, one of the best ways to use journaling is to affirm and support your meditation practice, especially if you are focused on manifesting something you want to create in your life.

Here are other ideas for using time each morning for a slow morning journaling practice...

Write down any insights you gained during brief moments of meditation or prayer.

Choose a topic for exploration and write down any thoughts that come up during that time.

Write about how you would like for the day to go, and what would be the best outcomes you can imagine for all that you have planned.

With a cup of tea, we are invited to relax into all of ourselves, not letting the busy mind run the show. Allow any questions, reflections, or contemplations, but set aside to-dos for later. Keep breathing deeply, savoring your tea and any chosen mindful activity, landing ever more in the refuge of the present moment. – Katy Taylor, PlumDeluxe.com

Slow Morning Routine: Time for Morning Tea

Do you love tea, too?

If you do, then, instead of skipping your cup of tea on your busiest mornings, just make a smaller cup. That way, you still get to have it, even though it isn’t the normal amount you are used to drinking.

But when you do have more, settle in with a big cup of tea and give yourself a chance to pause and relax.
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Slow Morning Routine: Tealight Candles

Even taking a few moments to breathe in the scent of a favorite candle might make a difference in your morning, and help you start it without the stress of rushing to get things done.

Do you have a slow morning routine?

See you tomorrow!