Dr Justin’s Morning Routine Challenge… Can You Commit?

Dr Justin’s Morning Routine Challenge… Can You Commit?
by Dr Justin Janss, Mental Health Provider

Dr Justin Janss lays out two very different morning scenarios in this most recent blog, he challenges us to experiment with our sleep and morning routines to yield benefits that last the rest of the day.

​Let’s take a moment to reflect on two possible scenarios… The first is similar to the picture I painted last month. We wake up in the morning, irritated at the buzzing alarm. Throw in a couple (or 10) hits to the snooze button to soak in a few extra minutes of shut eye before our feet finally hit the floor and it's off to the races. We rush to the bathroom, then to the kitchen, frantically trying to throw the morning together, ultimately feeling like we are behind the eight ball, chasing our tail the whole rest of the day....

Dr Justin’s Morning Routine Challenge… Can You Commit?
by Dr Justin Janss, mental health provider

Let’s take a moment to reflect on two possible scenarios… The first is similar to the picture I painted last month. We wake up in the morning, irritated at the buzzing alarm. Throw in a couple (or 10) hits to the snooze button to soak in a few extra minutes of shut eye before our feet finally hit the floor and it's off to the races. We rush to the bathroom, then to the kitchen, frantically trying to throw the morning together, ultimately feeling like we are behind the eight ball, chasing our tail the whole rest of the day. A quick check-in on our internal self-talk and we realize we have been laying into ourselves about how we SHOULD have gotten up earlier or the endless NEEDS we think we have to get done in order to feel like we have had a successful or productive day. Ugh, I’m exhausted just thinking about the countless days I’ve started this way over the years. Funny enough, I don’t ever remember a day that started this way and then suddenly turned itself around, leaving me without the frantic feelings I seemed to wake up with. It seems that if that’s how the morning goes, then that’s how the rest of the day is going to go too.
    Stick with me and let's consider the second scenario… We wake up naturally, at the same time we have woken up for the last few weeks. Luckily, we have been naturally waking up at least a couple of hours before the first true obligation of the day, which gives us plenty of time to jump whole-heartedly into the healthy morning routine we have spent years trying to get “just right” so that we feel energized and ready for whatever the day may bring. Before even rolling out of bed, we indulge in a few full body stretches, noticing our internal dialogue rattle through a handful of things we are grateful for to start the day. This carries right into a bit more positive self-talk revolving around some positive affirmations that make us feel empowered, inspired and joyful. After using the bathroom, we peacefully enjoy a warm cup of water before putting anything else into our system. Even though we don’t want to do it, a cold shower is next, which has a wide range of potential health benefits including, but not limited to improved circulation, increased metabolism and improved immune function (not to mention the daily opportunity to work on self-discipline). Feeling invigorated, we head outside for some fresh air and sunlight as we ground into the earth by walking barefoot in the grass. We might even venture into a few yoga poses or light stretches just to get the body warmed up a bit. Next comes an exercise routine and we follow that up with a 20-30 minute sauna session (I’ll need a whole different blog post to cover all the possible benefits both mentally and physically from regular sauna use). After burning off some of that morning energy, it’s time for meditation and breathwork. We finish off the routine with a bit of reading and some journaling to reflect and set intentions for the day ahead. Needless to say, it is quite a feeling to have accomplished all this before the work day begins. And yes, we did get all of this done before breakfast or that first cup of coffee.
    Of course, most of us would love to live out scenario number 2 day after day, but I imagine that for many of us, scenario number 2 is nothing more than a pipe dream. I’d also guess that I lost most of you at cold shower and that’s okay because I don’t bring any of this up to say we NEED or SHOULD follow what has become my ideal morning routine perfectly. Heck, I’d be lying if I said I was able to follow that routine perfectly every day. Part of the point is to show that it is possible to start our days in a healthier state than scenario number 1, and locking in a consistent routine might be the key to help us do it. Another part of the point is to show there is a wide range of activities that someone could incorporate into their morning routine that promotes health, wellness and vitality. I’m not expecting anyone to start from having no morning routine at all and then being able to jump right into the one I’ve found that works best for me. It’s taken me years of experimenting and trial and error to find what works well for me. It is only one example, not a measuring stick to grade yourself against. Plenty of people have healthy morning routines that are much less involved than the one I listed above. It’s all about what works for you. Pick up what resonates and drop what doesn’t. Can you be willing to experiment with simply putting one of these healthy habits into your morning routine? Can we start with a cup of water before slugging down the first coffee of the day? Can you muster a few thoughts of gratitude before rolling out of bed? What simple shifts can you take today that could help cultivate a more peaceful, joyful and fulfilling morning? And if you are feeling bold, I encourage you to give the full routine I described above a try for a week. A consistent morning routine, which allows me the time and space to practice self-care and self-love everyday is an essential element for me to live a meaningful, fulfilled life, so I’m willing to bet it could be helpful for your mental and physical health too. I would love to talk with you more about what does and doesn’t make a healthy morning routine. Please schedule a visit today and we can explore the potential benefits and the practical applications of a personalized morning routine together. 

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