Happy Monday! I have fallen into a bad habit of setting about 14 different alarms to make sure I get out of bed in the morning (I can't be the only one who does this, right??). These alarms go off about every 5 minutes over course of an hour, so not only am I continuing to sleep through most of them, but that sleep is interrupted by my phone constantly yelling at me to wake up! That's why I am ditching the snooze button (and my extra alarms) and committing to a new morning routine for one full week.
A morning routine not only helps you balance your sleeping habits, but also makes you more alert, more productive, and overall happier. You can start your day with a cup of coffee and the news, a workout or meditation, or even just jumping in the shower first thing and starting your day. Whatever routine you choose, make sure it will work for you to commit to long term - consistency is key until your morning routine becomes a natural habit. My game plan is to wake at 6:00am each morning to allow myself some "me time" before my day really starts. I will do some light stretching and breathing while the coffee brews, sit down to take a look at new podcasts or news websites while I drink my first cup (eventually, my only cup... but baby steps), and make my personal to do list for the day. Then, I will allow myself 30 minutes to get ready for work - hair, makeup, pack my lunch, and out the door. Just waking an hour earlier will already allow me to accomplish more in my day and feel more prepared for work. It will also help regulate my currently erratic sleep schedule and help me reduce my stress levels which have also been all over the map lately (I'm looking at you, post partum anxiety! But that's for another post, another day). Let's check in at the end of the week and keep each other accountable on our morning routines. Check in with me on Instagram to follow my progress and share your own routines with #WRWwakeup - show us what works best for you each morning and let's face the day together!
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Positive thinking has gotten a ton of great press lately, and for good reason. Having a positive outlook not only boosts happiness, but can also have an impact on physical and mental health, productivity and success, energy and sleep, and much more. Easy right? Not for most of us. Choosing to think on the positive side can be difficult especially when we find ourselves in a job that we don't love, a lackluster personal life, or even struggling with depression which is more common than ever. Taking a small amount of time out of each day to meditate on a positive thought is a great way to slowly shift your mindset and start reaping the benefits of positive thinking. Visualizing your intentions, repeating a mantra, or even just focusing intently on your breath are great ways to quiet the negative chatter in your mind and begin to shift your perspective for the day. Aim to start with just 3-5 minutes in the morning before you start your day - this can even be in bed before your feet ever hit the floor! Maybe bedtime is more feasible for you. Take that time to reflect on your day and what you want to change tomorrow. One of my favorite ways to take these mini meditation breaks is to pull a Crazy Sexy Love Note from Kris Carr. These cards are fantastic reminders to be positive, present, and kind to yourself and others. There are tons of great tips on these cards, which are also beautifully illustrated by Lori Portka. One of my favorites is "Be Gentle with Yourself" - a perfect reminder for someone who is pushing herself through grad school, starting a business, and planning a wedding. It is all too easy to be overly critical of myself during this stage in my life and I love taking a peek up at that card (that is conveniently pinned above my desk) and remind myself that I am human and need some love and care too. The lovely folks over at Crazy Sexy Wellness have been kind enough to send one lucky winner their own deck of Crazy Sexy Love Notes! Pretty groovy <3 To enter to win your deck, follow us on Instagram (@wildrootswellness) and tag 2 friends in the comments of our giveaway post. Want a bonus entry? Share the post and tag us in it and we will give you a bonus entry! Winner will be chosen on Friday 8/5 and announced Saturday morning 8/6! (U.S. residents only and you must be at least 18 years old to play)
Stay positive, Wild Things! |