Creating a Nature Centered Morning Routine
We are nature, and nature is us. The undeniable similarities between the working of our bodies, and the workings of Mother Nature is what confirms the strong connection between humans and the natural world. But throughout history, our relationship to Mother Earth, has been strained. Our needs have been buried beneath the demands of this modern, fast paced, disconnected world. This unbalanced environment has created countless cases, of burnout, anxiety and depression, creating dysregulated nervous systems in many people, resulting in a deep feeling of unfulfillment, lethargy, and a closed heart space. Other common imbalances that can occur are problems with sleep, low and inconsistent energy levels, digestive disorders, mood swings, and inflammation and pain throughout the body. When these things occur, we can become disconnected to our sense of purpose, love, and feeling of our place in this world. Many people believe that they themselves are the cause of many of the imbalances that they feel in their day to day life, which may be case with some people...but if we want to get the root of the problem, we must first assess the environment in which the problem was created.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED...REFRAME YOUR MINDSET.
Nothing else matters more than how you start your day. How does the modern day person usually start their morning? Usually, it includes sleeping in way to late, scrolling through social media, rushing to get ready for work, and skipping breakfast, or eating or drinking something that is super caffeinated, carby, and sugary that spikes your blood sugar and gives you limited energy, only resulting in a crash later in the day. Repetition of this cycle is not only detrimental to your productivity and energy levels, but excessive sugar and carbs on an empty stomach first thing in the morning can lead to health problems that causes irregular blood sugar levels that creates imbalances such as diabetes, hypoglycemia and inflammation of the gut. On top of that, starting your morning in a rushed, hectic state, is a breeding ground for chronic stress and a strained nervous system which can cause its own myriad of health problems, and emotional hardships. Starting your day off this way also sets you up to continue to make rushed, imbalanced decisions throughout the day, that take you further and further from who you want to become. So how can we start our mornings slowly and intentionally to help us heal and make the right decisions that bring us closer to who we want to become? Let's shift into a different mindset of how we can utilize our mornings to help us heal, be more connected to nature, and reaffirm who we want to become. Reframe your mindset of the morning time being a ritual of waking and life, and pour your intentions into it. Rituals elevate the everyday by regarding all of life as sacred and worthy of our time and attention. It’s in the mindful how of doing such things, not always necessarily the what, that we can begin to see life through a more awakened lens, and by doing work, and acts of service that best aligns our passions and purpose with the evolution of our soul. In light of this, rituals can offer us a softer way of being by inviting compassion, curiosity, and contentment into simple things we do with care, adorning our lives with abundance that enriches ourselves, and cultivating endless gratitude, and filling the cups of our lives
INSTEAD OF A FAST PACED, STRESSFUL MORNING, CREATE A SLOW, NATURE FOCUSED MORNING ROUTINE
Below are 8 ways you can incorporate mindful rituals into the rhythm of your morning, specifically ones that harmonize the start of your day with the healing and restorative powers of nature. The beauty of doing these rituals in the morning is that they create positive intentions that set the stage for the rest of your day to unfold with greater awareness and presence of being. Beginning your day with mindfulness is bound to have a positive impact on not only the note of your morning, but also the tune of your day.
1. Rise With the Sun | Rising with the sun is a beautiful way to honor the rhythm of the season and sync your circadian cycle to that of Mother Nature. It is how our ancestors used to rise, along with many of our grandparents who worked the fields, and it’s one way we can watch the day emerge out of darkness into beautiful light. Beyond the metaphor of a sunrise, it’s also a really beautiful thing to see, the sun fulfilling its promise and come up each new day. Thoreau once wrote, “To really to see the sun rise or go down every day, so to relate ourselves to a universal fact, would preserve us sane forever.” Try waking with the sun tomorrow morning and do nothing but soak in the light, and feel it's warmth.
2. Listen to Birdsong | Pausing in the morning to listen to the birds is a sweet tonic for the soul. From high up in their nest or on a perch, the birds invite us outside to listen. Either crack a window, step outdoors, or sip tea on the porch. If it’s springtime, you won’t have to go far. Listen to their call, their cadence, their pitch. What are they saying to one another, to you? If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed at any point in the day, return to their song. Envision being able to fly, and let the stress of the day fall behind you as you soar.
3.Write Seasonal Gratitude | Gratitude is one wonderful way we get to share our appreciation for the Earth's constant offerings and abundance. In your journal, create a list of 10 seasonal gratitude you are thankful for today. It might be the way the clouds create a soft ambiance in the morning, or the smell of rain, or splash of yellow from the daffodils outside your window. Whatever calls to you offering it’s gift, and in some cases, offering it’s life, take time to thank it. To tell it you appreciate it’s being, and that you’re grateful to experience its presence and beauty.
4. Read Transcendental Literature & Poetry | There is something beautiful and deep about the work created during the transcendental time period, when artists and writers wrote about the natural world with such heartfelt language that gave every blade of grass a note, and every flower a song. The following authors and poets are among some of my very favorite, Their words will evoke thoughtfulness and grace for your morning. Start with their most notable works, and take in the way they connect with the natural world, and invite us into a deeper way of seeing.
1.Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. Walt Whitman
3. Louisa May Alcott
4. Henry David Thoreau
5. Margaret Fuller
5. Make Herbal Tea or Coffee | The ritual of making something to sip in the morning is a lovely one indeed. There is a common mediation called the Tea Ceremony rooted in Zen Buddhism, about taking time to slowly brew a cup of tea and to sip it with intention, rather than rushed and on the go. It’s this profound act of mindfulness that invites you into the present moment to enjoy the tea, sip by sip, in the here and now. Use your senses to elevate the experience, noting how you feel when you drink it. This simple appreciation for the ordinary art of drinking your morning coffee or tea is a heart opening exercise in awareness, and non-judgemental way to begin your day. Pay attention and give thanks to the plants and leaves that made your tea, for the hands that picked and dried them, for the ceramicist who made your cup, and for the creamery and cows who made your milk. Each thread in the tapestry of this mindful ritual is quite deep when you take time to consider all the sources and lives involved in its making!
6. Go For a Walk | If the weather is comfortable and you have more than ten minutes to spare, head outdoors to get your blood pumping and your muscles moving! If you have little ones at home, this is a wonderful ritual to do with them if they wake early too. Take notice of all you see and hear, pick up leaves and sticks, walk at a slow pace, and breathe the fresh air into your lungs. Become aware of your breath as you walk, breathing deep on each inhale and exhale. You will find that this ritual replenishes both your body and your spirit, offering you a fresh perspective from which to begin your day to the tune of the season.
7. Meditate On Nature Outdoors | This ritual is more formal in practice, but doesn’t have to be fancy. All you need is a few moments of quiet and a focus on something from the natural world, either a flower, a cloud, a tree, or sunlight. Focus bringing your mind back to that natural object, and if the weather permits, head outside in your bare feet to do the same. Let your thoughts flow past you and recognize them as visitors. Say hello, then goodbye. Focus back on the flower, and breathe. You will feel your anxiety of the day’s to-do’s begin to diminish, your mood lifting with each breath.
8. Diffuse Essential Oils | Diffusing essential oils is a beautiful sensory experience that wakes up your body with the wonder of plant magic. Choose your oils and scents depending on the season, mirroring Mother Nature and her sacred rhythm, whether it be one of awakened energy or that of rest. Diffuse floral in the spring, citrus in the summer, spices in autumn, and woodsy oils in winter. Smell them with awareness, and notice the affect this ritual has on your wellbeing. Thank the plants who created these oils for you to inhale and enjoy.
By taking the time to incorporate these beautiful practices into your everyday routine, you will find that your ability to feel and connect with nature deepen with every magic and mindful moment . Reconsider how you start your day and show up in the world, and watch your life change with every month, season and year.