Many people swear by the importance of morning routines. For me personally, a routine is very important but so is the way I choose to start my day. Starting your morning well can make such a positive impact on your mood, and set the tone for the rest of your day.

For years I started my mornings by exercising before work. Afterwards, I always felt fresh going into the office and noticed that my endorphins had lifted. Part of my job now involves sitting down at a desk for the majority of the day, so now more than ever, I find that getting that movement in before a long day of sitting down is really beneficial to both the way I think and feel. As a busy mother I don’t have time to do this everyday, but at least three times a week I’ll get my body moving whether it’s Pilates, gym, boxing or taking my dog Lola for a walk. It’s this movement that allows me to recalibrate and sets me on the right path for the day.

When I first started practicing meditation, I realised that the best time to do this was also in the morning. Meditation during the quieter first hours of the day allows me to calm my thoughts, as well as lift my mood and energy. The practice itself aligns me with the way I want to feel that day. If I’ve allowed myself enough time, after meditating I will also write down six things I was grateful for from the day before in my gratitude journal. For you it might be something as simple as writing down a few things you were able to achieve the day before so you can reflect on what you accomplished rather than focusing on what you didn’t. As soon as we start identifying the positives rather than the negatives in any situation we wire the brain to a more joyful way of being. My friend Hugh van Cuylenburg from The Resilience Project talked to me on the Podcast about how when you win the  morning you win the day. I can’t agree more.

Now, you must be thinking - I don’t have time to do all of this. How do you do all this before work and getting your kids ready for school? It’s quite simple, I make time for it. If it means getting up at 5am then I will. My morning time is sacred to me and I prioritise this because of how it makes me feel. The days I don’t follow a morning routine or make time to nurture myself I feel grumpy and out of alignment. The importance of this rhythm plays a key part in keeping both my mind and body healthy.

Do you guys follow a morning routine? What works for you? If so I would love to hear about it.