My Little Morning Routine

I always want to start out my day on a good note, but it can be so hard with kids. For quite a while, just being able to sleep right up until the last minute before my kids work up was my first priority.

I then discovered how good it felt to exercise, and as the sleep deprivation starting lessening, I traded in a bit of extra sleep for getting up early to head downstairs for a quick 30 minute workout. I'd gulp down some water, and just start going at it. Then the mom cannon would launch -- breakfast and lunch prep, breaking up squabbles and school drop-off. 

Taking the early morning to be still, check in with myself and actually do some self-care wasn't even something that occurred to me (or thought I deserved), although I do concede that exercise is self-care.

Recently though, I started craving that stillness. I need to have that daily movement in my life too, but I realized that at this season in my life I'd like to start my day a bit more mindfully and maybe even treat myself to a quiet moment or two before being launched out of that cannon.

Here's what I've started doing. I still get up early, and first thing I always make myself a cup of hot water with lemon and apple cider vinegar. I head down to the basement, and if I'm feeling energy I'll do a workout, which really can run the gamut from yoga to barre to HIIT. Now that my kids are all in school a bit longer, it has opened up some time in my schedule. This means that if I don't feel energy, I can get the workout in a bit later and use the early morning for a valuable check in routine and meditation.

The "check-in" is a technique I learned from Caley Alyssa at the IGNTD retreat in September. The key is to ask yourself four questions and think about the answers or write them down.

1. How does my physical body feel today? (tired, energetic, strong, weak). What does it need?

2. How does my emotional child feel today? You know the one - that negative nelly or childish voice that always wants its way and drops all reason to just react. What would make my inner child happy? Or how can I tell my inner child to just chill out?

3. What is going on with my intellect? This is the rule driven side. Is it chattering about lists and all the things that need to get done but haven't? Is it creating stress that isn't really there?

4. Spiritual: Where am I on a spiritual level? This incorporates all the above element and is the true essence of all three elements.

After I've done my check in, I'll turn my attention to the kids, but am always less irritated and in a better state to really spend some quality time with them. Another additional way I've been treating myself in the morning is with a turmeric latte. I got the original recipe from Blair Flynn of Balance with B and have tweaked it a tiny bit here. It smells like love, tastes like heaven and truly feels like the perfect indulgence as I start my day. 

Let November be a time of grounding and self care. It's easy to get swept away this time of year. Often the way you start your day sets the tone for whatever happens next!

Recipe:

1. Combine in blender:

• 1.5 cups almond milk or cashew milk
• 3/4 cup cold brewed coffee (I like Chameleon, sold everywhere)
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp turmeric (I am loved Golde brand lately. Sold online.)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Dash of honey or maple syrup (feel free to omit if you aren't feeling sweet)
• 1 tbsp Philosophie Cacao Magic (sold online or via Urban Outfitters)
• 1 Scoop Vital Proteins Collagen

2. Heat ingredients over stove. This may seem a little time consuming and indulgent in our fast paced lives, but I really derive a lot of comfort from this very simple step. It also will make your home smell ahhhmazing. It takes 5 minutes, maybe less!

With that,

Onward!