Morning Routine = Winter Resilience

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Do you agree: The hardest part of winter is getting up in the morning? 

Treat yourself to a morning routine that sets your day up for peace, productivity, and prioritizing your own needs. Establish it NOW so that it'll be rock solid when you really need it. 

Planning a morning routine you actually look forward to (coffee, anyone?) can help you get your feet on the floor with less angst, while preserving some me-time to set the tone of your day- you are worth it!



Revamp your morning routine

·       Get up earlier

While getting plenty of sleep is a great self-care tool, repeatedly hitting the snooze button can have detrimental effects on our sleep/wake cycle, which is already confused during the darker months. And yes, this may mean you'll want to get into bed earlier too! Rising earlier creates a little time for a stabilizing morning routine.

    Light Exposure

·       Include some warm light within 2 hours of waking for about 30 minutes. This may include:

  • Setting a timer on your Happy Lamp
  • Eating breakfast by a window
  • Stepping outside for a minute to greet the sun

           Greeting the Day

·       Establish yourself within this day. Try:

  • Meditation - even just a few minutes
  • Journaling - organize your feelings, track your energy, check in with yourself
  • Gratitude - starting your day by writing down 3 things you're grateful for is scientifically proved to increase happiness and wellbeing!
  • Intention setting - this can be as general as "being kind" or as practical as a to-do list
  • Breathing - try box breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, or 5-finger breathing to help wake up

        Warm up

·       Gentle morning movement warms up your muscles & joints from your night's rest - and it literally will warm up your temperature on chilly mornings! Try:

  • Stretching or yoga
  • A gentle workout video or routine
  • A short walk outside- yes, outside! (even just to the mailbox!)



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