Peaceful and Centered

I love my morning routine. I relish the stillness of a sleeping house, alone, with a very hot cup of coffee. This week, I get to wake up to this view.  We’re spending time with our dear friends to ski, hike, play cards, and recharge. Plus, a little work for each of us. I love watching the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is nothing like it.

This morning, the mountain range was blanketed by pink and orange. Then, this sliver of red. The sharp line grew as the sun broke through the horizon.  I watched the moment when the day began, and I soaked it in.

What if my days always began this way? Perhaps not in the mountains, but what if I took the time for a peaceful and centered start? 

The house was still quiet so I stretched out on the floor for some yoga as sunlight poured in the large windows. My journal called me to write a few notes and reminders about the day, but then I sat still in the silence with my eyes closed. Just breathe.

We need to stop feeling guilty about doing nothing. We are better human beings with self-care.

New Year’s Goals

One of my goals for the year is to reestablish my morning routine. Because I know that my mornings influence the day, for better or worse. It only takes a few steps, not hours. We can’t sustain a schedule like that anyway. In fact, I’m more likely to maintain a routine when I build on it each week. Adding just one thing at a time.

My morning routine evolves and changes but I know myself and “alone time” is a sacred space. Health and wellness, including a good night’s sleep, are non-negotiable. So is coffee. Coffee protects the safety and well-being of my family. 🙂

Morning Routine

• Start the Coffee
• Drink Water
• Feed Zeke and Empty the Dishwasher
• Devotional Reading with Coffee (10 minutes)
• Stretching (5 minutes)
• Plan the day in my Full Focus Planner
• No Social Media or Email until after 9AM – This step alone improved our mornings as a family.
• Eat the Frog – This means I do the deep work first, like writing or reading.

Most days I get close and do many of these. That’s good enough. Whatever your routine, keep it simple, and let go of the guilt.

Try starting with just three things, and yes, coffee can be one of them. In the words of James Clear and Atomic Habits, if we attach a habit we do all the time (drink coffee) to one we want to start doing, it helps cement the new habit. Coffee is the key to my morning devotional and quiet time. The habits stack together.

Anchoring my day with these practices makes me a better person and allows me to show up and serve my family and my clients.

What morning ritual do you love?