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I’ve had countless mornings where I woke up already stressed, mind racing and thinking about the day ahead before I even lift my head off the pillow. If you let your monkey mind take over first thing, it starts telling all kinds of stories about the future that quite simply aren’t true.
Once I started incorporating intentional, holistic habits first thing, everything shifted.
Today, I want to share some simple morning habits that helped me reset my day, find my calm, and create a sense of groundedness that lasts all day long.
Begin Your Day with a Yoga Nidra Body Scan
Getting a night of restful sleep is key for a staying balanced and calm throughout your day. This morning habit is great for when you haven’t had a restful night however and need to reset your nervous system.
Yoga Nidra is a gentle yet powerful mindfulness meditation that brings deep relaxation to both your mind and body. Unlike traditional meditation, Yoga Nidra guides you into a state of restful awareness, creating the perfect foundation for a peaceful day ahead.
How to do it:
- Use a guided yoga nidra session (I love Ally Boothroyd on YouTube), a comfortable sleep mask and wireless earbuds.
- Simply listen, breathe, and let yourself drift into deep relaxation.
It’s my favorite way to ease into the morning, especially after a restless night. Even 15 minutes can restore your energy and reduce stress dramatically.
Try this body scan meditation first thing when you wake up, and notice the results in how you approach your day.
Nourish Your Body with Energy-Boosting Foods
The foods you choose in the morning significantly influence your mood, energy levels, and overall well-being throughout the day. Nourishing your body with protein-dense, energy-boosting foods can transform your mornings.
Some easy, energy-boosting breakfast ideas:
- Chia pudding topped with berries and nuts (great for omega-3s and antioxidants).
- Avocado toast with a boiled egg (protein, healthy fats, and fiber).
- Green smoothie with spinach, banana, and almond butter (packed with nutrients for steady energy).
Eating intentionally in the morning has been a true game-changer for me, providing stable energy without those dreaded mid-morning slumps.
Indulge in a Natural Skincare Routine
Creating a morning skincare ritual has become one of my favorite self-care practices. It’s a gentle, calming act of kindness that nurtures both my skin and spirit.
Prepare your skincare ritual and practice it a few times so it becomes second nature (and quick ) for busy mornings.
My Simple Morning Skincare Ritual:
- Gentle cleanser: Choose something natural and fragrance-free to gently cleanse and refresh your skin.
- Toning with rose water: A spritz of rose water helps soothe, hydrate, and prep the skin beautifully.
- Nourishing facial oil: Use a high-quality facial oil (I love this Badger’s Damascus Rose face oil) to moisturize and protect your skin throughout the day.
This routine isn’t just about skincare, it’s about taking a quiet moment each morning to intentionally care for yourself.
Incorporate Quick Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness doesn’t have to be lengthy or complicated. Quick exercises like mindful breathing or a mini body-scan can ground you in the present moment, bringing instant calm.
Try this quick mindful breathing exercise:
- Find a quiet spot and close your eyes.
- Take five slow, deep breaths, inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling gently.
- Notice your body relaxing more with each exhale.
Doing this for just a few minutes each morning has noticeably reduced my anxiety and increased my focus for the day ahead.
Diffuse Essential Oils for Morning Clarity
Essential oils not only smell wonderful, but they can also dramatically shift your mood and mindset. My mornings changed once I started diffusing calming yet invigorating oils.
My Favorite Morning Diffuser Blends:
- For Calm and Clarity: Lavender and peppermint.
- For Energy and Focus: Rosemary and lemon.
Here are 10 Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes to try for both sleep and a calm start to your morning.
I typically turn on my diffuser while journaling or preparing breakfast. It creates a comforting atmosphere that feels like a gentle reset for my mind and body.
Ground Yourself in Nature
Even if you’re in an apartment or have a small balcony, connecting with nature first thing in the morning makes a big difference in your mindset. This practice doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, it’s simply about intentionally spending a few minutes with nature and getting back to your roots.
Quick Ideas for Connecting to Nature:
- Water your balcony or windowsill plants.
- Walk barefoot on your patio or yard for a few minutes.
- Sit quietly outdoors and listen to birdsong or observe morning light.
Taking a moment to connect with nature grounds me immediately and helps keep stress at bay throughout the day.
Clear Your Mind with Morning Pages
If your mornings often start with a racing mind or lingering worries, incorporating Morning Pages can be life-changing. This practice, popularized by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way, involves free-writing three pages each morning without overthinking or editing.
How Morning Pages Can Help You Reset:
- Release Mental Clutter: Freely jotting down your thoughts helps declutter your mind, leaving you calmer and clearer.
- Connect with Inner Wisdom: Morning Pages offer a direct line to your intuition and subconscious, helping you tap into deeper clarity and insight.
- Create Mental Space: Writing down your thoughts, fears, hopes, or dreams gives your mind permission to let go and move forward calmly into the day.
I resisted Morning Pages at first because three pages sounded daunting! But once I started, it quickly became an indispensable part of my morning.
It’s my sacred space to reconnect, reset my mindset, and release anything weighing on my heart or mind. This simple act has dramatically improved my mood, creativity, and sense of purpose each day.
Create a Gratitude Ritual
Gratitude is an incredible mood lifter, anytime of the day. When my day starts feeling stressful or chaotic, taking a few moments to look around and express gratitude immediately shifts my energy to positivity and abundance.
Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude:
- List three things you’re grateful for silently in your mind as you wake up.
- Write them in your journal each morning.
- Say them out loud as you begin your day.
Practicing gratitude creates a powerful sense of abundance and peace, especially when life feels overwhelming.
Take Herbal Supplements or Adaptogenic Teas
Starting your morning with supportive herbs or supplements can profoundly influence your emotional and physical wellness. Adaptogens, herbs, and supplements like magnesium can gently support your body’s natural rhythms and reduce anxiety.
My Favorites for a Calmer Morning:
- Rhodiola Rosea: Enhances resilience to stress, boosts cognitive function, and reduces fatigue.
- Magnesium L-Threonate: Known to support cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity, perfect for daytime calm without drowsiness.
- Adaptogenic herbal teas: Ashwagandha or tulsi tea can promote calm and balance, reducing anxiety and improving your resilience to daily stressors.
This simple habit has greatly improved my emotional stability and calm throughout the day.
Simplify Your Morning Environment
A clutter-free, serene environment immediately influences your mood. Simplifying the spaces you spend time in each morning creates clarity and reduces mental overwhelm.
Quick ways to simplify your space:
- Clear off your kitchen counter before bed so it’s clean and calming for breakfast.
- Keep a minimalist approach. Fewer items equals more serenity. I always remember the adage “A tidy home is a tidy mind.”
- Choose neutral colors and natural elements in your decor to create a calm atmosphere.
When I simplified my morning spaces, I instantly felt calmer and less rushed.
Conclusion
Each of these holistic morning habits helped me transform my days from chaotic and overwhelming to calm, grounded, and intentional.
The key is starting small. Choose just one or two that resonate most deeply and integrate them gently. With time, you’ll notice the powerful ripple effects of calmness, clarity, and holistic wellness in your everyday life.
