5 things to do before checking your phone in the morning for greater joy
If you feel an urge to check your notifications before getting out of bed these easy yet effective practices can literally transform your morning and help you move into the day with more peace, clarity, and joy.
Because let’s face it… overwhelm, distraction, and stimulation aren’t helpful and truly take away the beauty of the morning.
Checking your phone first thing in the morning has been found to set a stressful and reactive tone for the day and cause immediate anxiety.. I hope these practices help balance and improve your relationship with the morning and bless your days ahead, too.
Breathe: After you open your eyes.. take a few moments to connect with your breath before doing anything else. Give your body the gift of more oxygen and feel your cells begin to awaken naturally for a couple of minutes. You can gaze at the ceiling and try resting your hands on your abdomen to connect to the sensation of breathing to balance and relax your nervous system.
Listen: Once the alarm sounds off and you’ve taken some deep breaths allow yourself to notice the sounds coming to your ears. Maybe it’s the sound of birds chirping, the wind, rain, or distant traffic passing by.. whatever it may be just listen without judgment. Mindful listening connects us to the present moment and acts as a grounding technique that connects us into the present moment. This can break the cycle of early morning overthinking to reduce anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and start the day with greater clarity.
Pray: It’s truly a miracle to be able to lift our heads and experience another day. Give thanks for the day ahead. Check in with God before checking in with the world. Here’s a prayer I like to say in the morning: Heavenly Father, thank you for protecting me throughout the night. Thank you for waking me up again. Thank you for blessing me with what this day holds. May my eyes be open for seeing and my ears be open to hearing your beauty and direction. Amen.
Stretch: Lengthen your whole body and take up as much space in the bed as possible and take a few breaths in and out. Bend your knees and let them fall to each side for a few moments to gently open the spine after resting through the night. Place your feet together and open your knees to release the hips, legs, and low back. Once you sit up, stretch your arms up overhead and allow your neck to release by dropping one ear at a time towards the shoulder. Breathe deeply and feel your body let go of stress before placing your feet on the floor.
Skincare: Notice how your face looks after waking up and take a moment to bring it back into balance before the day starts. Splash some cold water on to help yourself wake up and mix up a beauty mask to refresh and renew for the day ahead. My favorite right now is this Ocean Remedy Mud Mask. After your mask sets and is removed, apply a layer of protective and nourishing facial oil and de-puff your morning eyes with this favorite gua-sha tool for facial massage. Natural beauty rituals are restorative to both the skin and the soul as they reconnect us to ourselves, our holistic beauty, and the gifts of the earth all at once.
The next time you go to check your phone in the morning, remember this list and give yourself a break with one or all of these techniques for a mindful start to the morning. And remember, mindful activities won’t leave you feeling drained.. What connects you to the present moment will always leave you feeling refreshed and restored.
Brittany Withrow