By Maryam Anser
In the pre pandemic days, early mornings were the bane of our lives. Alarms were going crazy, the snooze button was our best friend – just. five. more. minutes. The rushed monotonous routine every single morning to get washed and dressed yet still have enough time for breakfast – AND make it to work or uni on time. It was crazy! Many of us barely had time to gather our thoughts, let alone practice being present and in the moment. However, with many of us now working from home, and sadly some not working at all, lockdown has given us ample time to slow right down and be mindful.
Slow down the pace
The most important part of practicing mindfulness is to start the day off being present. Once you can get this nailed down, the rest of your day will naturally see you be calmer, and therefore, more in tune with your thoughts and feelings. So Instead of reaching for your phone the minute you wake up for a daily scrolling session, ask yourself how you feel. Dedicate the first few minutes of your morning to show gratitude and consider how you can set yourself up for a wonderful day ahead. It might seem difficult if you’ve fallen into a social media driven habit (it’s addictive, we get it) but with a little bit of practice, you’ll ace this part.
If you’re really trying to get into the whole wellbeing thing, consider keeping a journal – let it be your safe space. You can journal last thing before you switch off the lights, or first thing, it’s entirely up to you! But remember, little steps are perfectly fine, whatever your plans are for the day, make sure you take it easy and slow down – take your time waking up, getting ready and making breakfast. Perfect that morning routine, honey!
Listen to a motivational podcast
This one is a bit of a no brainer, you’ll have no choice but to be more mindful whilst listening to a positive and motivational podcast, it really puts everything into perspective. Life in what seems like perpetual lockdown is taking its toll on us all, physically and emotionally, which is why we need an injection of good vibes into our personal space. Listening to a podcast may not seem much, but trust me, you will listen to the words and they’ll begin to help influence your mindset and inspire you to think in a much more positive way. There are many mindfulness podcasts on Spotify, that also double up as guided meditation. Here are some good ones –
21 Day Positive Mindfulness Meditation Challenge – Kendal Maxwell
The Morning Ritual – Lilly Balch
Molly’s Mornings – Molly Williams
Meditate
If you’re not into listening to podcasts, a simpler way to relax and be more mindful is to meditate. We all have different ways of meditating, do your research, find something that suits you and feels the most beneficial! There are also plenty of meditation apps out there which take away the task of scrolling through websites and youtube videos for the perfect meditation routine; they offer simple daily meditation practices, the most popular being Headspace. So if you’re serious about mindfulness and being more relaxed, give it a go!
Pay attention to breakfast
How often have you heard “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Your doctor, colleagues, and even your mum know the score here, because breakfast is key to having a good day, so pay attention to the first thing you are putting into your body. With the hustle and bustle of daily commutes and rushing around, breakfast may never have been a priority pre-covid, bar the daily coffee and croissant from Pret. Now that you have more time, focus on eating healthy, energy filled foods for your brekkie to set you up for the rest of your day. Keep an eye on what you’re fuelling your body with, you are what you eat after all *insert googly eyes emoji*. If you’re putting junk or highly processed foods into your body, chances are you won’t have the energy to engage in self-care and mindfulness.
