Boosting Mental Wellness with a Morning Routine

Sticking to a routine can bring normalcy and comfort even in the most chaotic times. A morning routine can boost your mental wellness if you address the different aspects of your life and approach it in a state of peace. Knowing you have accomplished so much first thing in the morning sets the tone for your day. You can start your workday or walk out of the house with your head held high in self-confidence.

Your morning routine.

You may have recently seen headlines covering the morning routines of celebrities and successful businesspeople and wondered what the hype was all about.

It is not hype. Successful people have used their morning routines to prepare them for the day, work on themselves, and get a jump on a new venture. Jim Rohn, Tim Robbins, Tim Ferris, Richard Branson, Oprah, and many celebrities, authors, politicians, and others have used a morning routine to ground themselves and shift their mindset.

The following are some ideas you can add to your routine to improve your mental wellness. What sticks out to you? Create a short list of activities to get started. Your routine can be as quick or as long as you want, depending on your schedule.

Move your body.

Exercising first thing in the morning might sound like a challenging task when you just forced yourself out of bed. But gentle stretching, yoga, or walking will get the blood and oxygen moving through your muscles, improve your heart health, and clear your mind. When you exercise, the neurotransmitters in the brain send out an overabundance of serotonin that will leave you feeling happy and accomplished.

The physical benefits of moving your body go even further than mental wellness. By working out, you are burning calories, lowering cortisol in the body, lubricating the joints, strengthening muscles and bones, and improving your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Your body needs to be primed and healthy to have enough energy to fulfill the calling placed on your life.

Read your Bible and a devotional.

Start your day in God’s word. You can choose a specific book in the Bible to study or read a different chapter of Proverbs daily to get started. Devotionals are a great way to explore the Bible while making it applicable to your life. There are plenty of free and paid devotionals online, in print, and apps for the phone.

A word of caution is in order here. Devotionals are supplemental material; they are not meant to replace the Bible. The Bible contains wisdom and instruction and should be studied with your heart and mind.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. – Joshua 1:7, NIV

Read a few pages from a personal development book.

If you are following along, moving your body addressed the physical aspect, and meditating on God’s word covered the spiritual element. You should also manage your self-growth. Choose books written by successful people in an industry or area you are interested in to read or listen to every morning.

You can choose a pastor, teacher, celebrity, businessperson, or someone else as long as they share their methods and philosophies in their book. Just reading for a few minutes or a chapter a day can greatly impact how you perceive situations and events.

Journal your blessings and thoughts.

When times get hectic, it is easy to forget all of the blessings and opportunities God has given us. Spend a few minutes each morning writing out those blessings and your thoughts for the upcoming day.

If you are worried about something, jot that down and talk to God about it. Sometimes getting our anxieties out onto paper releases them from our minds and enables us to continue toward our goals without that distraction. It will be fun to look back over your journal in the future and see how far you have come.

Repeat affirmations to build confidence.

Affirmations plant seeds in our heads to remind us of what we are compared to a false belief we have conjured up. For example, the affirmation, “I am a child of God. Jesus conquered death so I can live victoriously in Him here and in Heaven” does not allow room for self-doubt or fear. You can boldly enter any room knowing Jesus fought for you and that you have a place in His kingdom.

We can also use affirmations to change our mindset toward what we want for the future. If you believe, “I am bold and speak easily in front of groups of strangers because I see them as friends and brothers and sisters in Christ,” you can take that confidence out into the world, unafraid of public speaking. Write some affirmations on index cards or sticky notes and read them aloud with confidence each morning.

Enjoy the view with a hot drink.

Take some time out in the morning to sit quietly and enjoy the peace before you start your workday. You may want to choose a spot with a gorgeous view. If you do not have one at home, mix it up. Try a park or a bench at the local library. Bring a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy it as you appreciate the nature around you.

Being out in nature reminds us of God’s goodness. It also makes us feel refreshed and revives our spirits. Even as little as fifteen minutes outdoors can make you feel better. If the weather is not cooperating, choose a chair near a window and try to let in as much light as possible.

Make a to-do list.

Controlling your day means making sure things get done that are of priority. We often spin our wheels doing things that do not move us toward our dreams. If you have never made a to-do list before, you may wonder how this will help you improve your mental wellness. Without a task list, you are more likely to forget important tasks and errands.

Your to-do list can work like a brain dump. Make a master list of everything you want to be done, tasks around the house, errands and appointments, house and car maintenance, and phone calls. Whatever is weighing on you, add it to the master list. Now choose the items you need to complete today.

Does your to-do list have a life of its own? Are there some tasks you can delegate to others? Try to narrow down your list to what is essential if you feel like it is overwhelming.

Conquer the toughest task on the list first.

When you look at your to-do list, choose the most demanding task first. Choose the one you want to procrastinate on. Is it a phone call? Completing online forms? Running an unpleasant errand? By choosing the task with the most resistance first, you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete it.

Knowing you have conquered the hardest part of your day first thing in the morning will make the day seem easier. Treat it like a game. What task are you dreading? Place it at the top of your list for tomorrow morning and do it. You will be glad you did.

Need Help with Mental Wellness?

Want to know what else you can do to improve mental wellness? Creating a morning routine is only the first step. You will want to add a nightly routine to prepare for the next day. Brainstorm ideas on what you can do to lower your stress, such as laying out your clothes and packing your lunch for the next day.

If you need help, reach out to our office today to schedule an appointment with a counselor specializing in mental health and personal development. You can take back control of your days.