Think about the days you wake up at noon, rush out of the door, or click snooze 3 times—it feels like you have given up on yourself before the day even begins. Or even worse, the day is simply winning. It doesn’t have to feel like that! The morning is extremely important and plays a huge role in setting the tone for the day. A few months ago, I got tired of feeling out of control of how I was feeling when I had a billion things to juggle throughout the day, so…
I started walking every day.
Did it change anything?
Yes.
At the time, I was super into self improvement videos on YouTube—Ok, I still am. After hearing several people share the positive impact of movement in the morning, I couldn’t not try it. I had been pretty active, hitting the gym around 4 days a week, but adopting a healthier morning habit is never a loss. It started as a small 15 minute commitment—I would simply put on some tennis shoes after breakfast, and walk to the front of my neighborhood and back home. Some days I really wasn’t feeling it, but most of the time I enjoyed it. I got to listen to a few of my favorite songs and wake up a little bit more!
Over time, forcing myself to walk for 15 minutes turned into waking up early and looking forward to walking for an hour or more. I now walk at least 5 miles a day and have favorite routes to take. I notice cracks in the sidewalks, trees I like, when neighbors plant pretty flowers, and the faces of the same walkers every morning. I venture to nature parks on the weekends and have just worked up the stamina to start jogging with the occasional set of sprints.
The domino effect of positive things continued.
I ditched my phone! Singing along and dancing is fun in the car or when I’m cleaning my room, but I found that music was taking away from my naturally occuring thoughts. It is also freeing to know that I am no longer relying on music to amp me up—I encourage myself on my own. I recommend if you do not feel comfortable going out without your phone, use airplane mode so you aren’t tempted to check messages, but still feel safe. Of course, if you need a little boost, never feel bad about listening to a good podcast or playlist to wake you up…we love those. Just be mindful!
In addition to gaining a new level of morning focus, I get home feeling like I have already accomplished something! This feeling causes me to make healthier choices. I find it easier to choose making myself a green smoothie, or a nice omelette filled with fresh vegetables rather than grabbing something quick, or not eating at all. It would be counterproductive to create this new healthy habit, and then not continue to have that same level of care for my health moving forward.
On days that I don’t walk, let me tell you, I FEEL IT. Taking the time to recognize how I am feeling, plan daily tasks to complete, practice eliminating limiting beliefs, and get some exercise is simply the best way for me to start my day. Everyone is different, but if this in any way seems appealing to you, just try it. Strive to find a morning routine that propels you forward and never makes you feel defeated.
I took control of my mornings, and it changed everything.