Every morning we have a choice: what is the first thing we do? Our first activities influence our thoughts, which in turn influence our mood and our day, our week, our life. There's no right or wrong, good or bad here, simply what brings US more joy and fulfilment each morning, each day?
I often reach for my phone: partly because it is there, it's easy, it feels morning-safe, doesn't require decision making. Worst of all, it tricks me into thinking that this is a productive activity (eg. reading news or responding to people = getting jobs out of the way, right?). But it also often leads to my mind racing with my to do list, thoughts on the news, being lost in thought in general, leading naturally to a certain amount of stress and anxiety. (Also being in our thinking & planning state naturally often brings some tension to the body.)
Or I can turn FIRST to a ritual, any ritual, that brings me into the present moment and makes me feel centred in who I am and who I want to continue to/ develop to be.
This can be as simple as making the bed, brushing teeth and making a tea and actually enjoying it without my phone. It can be as aspirational as meditating and exercising. Or as practical as I get up when my son wakes up and I go be with him, and make the most of this time I have him so close in my life.
I recently read Gabby Bernstein's 4 questions that she journals on each morning. I love them, so this is what I've been discussing with my baby in the mornings as we get up:
How do I want to feel today?
Who do I want to be today?
What do I want to receive today?
What do I want to give today?
Speaking the questions and answers out loud - or writing them down - is far more powerful than just thinking about them in our minds. Let me know if you try it and what you think, then I can also give you my update on how it's going for me!
With love
Maggie
Gabby has some interesting resources, this one is here. https://gabbybernstein.com/morning-journaling/
You can also easily save and print the picture with the questions above as a reminder (or make your own).