Three Things To Do During Slow Mornings
Embracing Slower Living After Forty
Slower mornings are essential for our overall wellness.
In my twenties and thirties, I led a chaotic lifestyle, and I literally woke up with my feet on the ground while I was still sleepy.
I never had time to greet my days mindfully. Instead, I’d have a quick, starchy breakfast and dive headfirst into my creative work.
As much as I enjoyed being busy and feeling accomplished, the stress of that way of living nearly wrecked me.
It’s easy to miss when chronic stress accumulates and begins causing health issues.
Now that I’m well over the age of forty, I have no desire to live a fast-paced or chaotic lifestyle.
Mindfulness is important to me because the creative work I do demands slowness.
These are the three things I do every morning and why I make sure my mornings align with the rest of my day:
Review My List of Priorities
Almost every night, I spend five minutes writing a list of things I’d like to achieve the following day.
Usually, I focus my priorities on my physical and mental health before I list the things I want to get done. My weekends are a little busier when I’ve made plans with friends and family, so they aren’t really structured.
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But even on weekends, I create an art piece daily. I’ll do something for my emotional health, such as spending time with my cats or doing an activity that I don’t have time for during the week.
Embrace Quiet Time
If the weather is decent and the sun is out, embrace quiet time in nature. Listen to the birds and your surrounding environment.
On a stormy or cold day, create a comforting space in your house where you can enjoy silence for ten or fifteen minutes. In my quiet moments, that’s when my best ideas surface.
Enjoy A Cup of Tea
Before 11:00 A.M., I enjoy a cup of green tea. I am not a coffee drinker, so a small amount of tea is my caffeine source. Green tea, especially, has many health benefits — it improves alertness, cognitive function, and boosts my mood.
Concluding Thoughts
Slower living, no matter what age you are, is beneficial for every aspect of your health.
At first, adjusting to a slower way of living was challenging, but when I started engaging in relaxing and stress-reducing activities, I began to strive for that.
It’s always my goal to align my mornings with the rest of my day and to make sure that my emotions and mental health are in the right place.
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