Harnessing the power of intentional mornings
I know it’s a little cliche, but it’s true: mornings set the tone for the rest of your day.
Rushed mornings → rushed days
Mindful mornings → space for calm, focus, and productivity
If you’re feeling drained or overwhelmed or like your day is out of your control, one of the best changes you can make is to establish a morning ritual that fuels your mind and body. I thought I’d share with you a couple things I like to do and encourage you to find and try a routine that works for you... starting tomorrow!
As a leader, I’ve found this is so important for being able to show up to work calm, centered, and ready to nurture your team.
1. Set your mornings apart
Instead of jumping out of bed and immediately checking emails or going into zombie mode, I like to:
Get dressed, spray my face with a rose water toner, massage my face with a gua sha tool and stretch my lower & upper body to slowly wake up.
Not look at my phone notifications for the first 30 minutes of my day. This one is hard to do, so I leave my phone on my dresser far away from me!
Make a pot of french press coffee to signal the start of my morning routine.
2. Create a 30-minute morning routine
30 minutes. Just 30 minutes! Anyone can do this.
Mindfulness and movement are my focus in the morning. My 30 minute morning workout is a non-negotiable for me, but I’ll add to my routine with:
A slow cup of coffee or tea
Soothing music
A 5-10 minute guided meditation
A mindful morning walk out in the fresh air (I live in San Diego, so this is especially refreshing!)
Journaling or setting an intention for the day
3. It’s more than mornings
While my morning routine is my anchor, I try to tap back into its benefits by taking intentional pauses through the day to restore energy and clarity. These small moments of mindfulness create space for better decisions, reduced stress, and renewed focus. (I’m on a lot of Zoom calls and I NEED these micro-breaks!) Here’s what meaningful meaningful pauses look like during my workday:
Breathe with purpose: A simple five-minute breathing exercise can clear your mind.
Get sunshine: Stepping outside for just 5 minutes (between calls or while on a video-off call!, while the water for my tea is boiling)
Move mindfully: Emails can wait for 15 minutes. I like to take an intentional walk to reconnect with myself. This helps me stay more mindful, it’s a little trick!
Optimize your time between calls: I try to end every call 5-10 minutes before the top of the hour to create a “brain break” to stand up and step away from my screen for just a moment to run to the bathroom, grab some lemon water, stretch, or practice gratitude to reset my focus.
My challenge to you!
Tomorrow morning, what’s one small change you can make to start your day with intention? And throughout the day, how can you find space to pause and reconnect with yourself? I’d love to hear how it goes and what things are part of your routine – DM me on LinkedIn or Instagram!
Lead the way,
