5 Morning Rituals for an Inspired Day

What we do in the morning is so important because it sets the tone for the rest of our day. Every morning, we have the choice to either have a successful, fulfilling day, or a lousy one. Let the bull trample you, or take control and show it who’s boss!

I am not a morning person; I have never woken up easily, I am currently mothering two young boys who frequently wake me up at night and who demand breakfast at the crack of dawn. Sometimes I feel like I don’t even get a chance to think, but I know this one fact: I create my reality, therefore it’s worth my efforts to touch base with myself right from the beginning (or at least after my sons have had breakfast and I’ve got coffee in hand!).

Here are five tips for making the most out of your morning and creating an awesomely inspired day:

1. Do something that makes you feel good.

What’s one thing that makes you excited to get out of bed every morning? I’m not talking about anything huge or super significant…mine is coffee. Maybe for you it’s a warm shower or an invigorating run. A small but important enticer that starts you off in a good mood; do that.

2. Don’t look at your phone.

I think this is important because it’s so easy to get sucked into social media or work emails before we’ve even spent any time with ourselves in the morning, which can create feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. Set a time for yourself for when you’ll check your phone or laptop, and don’t look before then. When I'm able to go the first few hours of the day without getting sucked into the social media world, I feel much calmer and serene.

3. Align

I have a morning worksheet that comes with my book called the Daily Alignment worksheet. Basically I take a few deep breaths, clear my mind, write down what I’m grateful for, three ways I most want to feel, and then write down 1-3 things the “future me” would do today in order to most feel the way I want to feel.

Breathing, gratitude, and intention helps you align and recenter yourself. And when you're feeling peaceful and happy, more good things find their way into your experience.

4. Feel the result of your goals being completed.

Here is where the magic happens. Look at each goal or intention you have for the day and think about how you will feel after it has happened. Here is an example of how I write out my goals:

My article on The Huffington Post went viral and is generating tens of thousands of likes and shares, bringing my blog so much traffic and new readers.

I feel: grateful, ecstatic, proud, amazed

I have my goal written out as if it’s already happened, and next I write how it’s going to make me feel, and then I let myself feel those emotions. Whatever it is, big or small, think about how you want to feel afterwards. This will bring the essence of what you want into your reality!
And if you’re thinking, “Dang Jessica, I don’t have all morning for this crap”, I just want to say that once you have everything written out, you are just running through your goals and allowing yourself to feel the feelings. This is your time to align with yourself and touch base with what you want to create in your life. I do it in less than 10 minutes every morning.

5. Visualize your day.

Lastly, go through a little mental rundown of how you would like your day to go. If you’re going to be asking for a raise at work, visualize being told YES and excitedly calling your spouse to tell them the good news. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you could visualize staying patient and present with your children. I always like to visualize phone calls and emails with good news or opportunities! Really, anything you’d like to happen, visualize it!

So, to recap:
1. Treat yourself.
2. Stay technology free for a bit.
3. Align.
4. Feel your goals achieved.
5. Visualize your day.

When we’re mindful and in touch daily with what our true selves really want and need, magical things happen and we feel much more in control of our lives. Do you have any morning rituals that help you start the day off right?