Slow Living: Morning Routines
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I AM NOT A SELF-PROCLAIMED MORNING PERSON, but neither am I not. Mornings are a time where, while reluctant to get out of bed, once out I'm happy to embrace the day (unless the little ones force the issue before the sun even hints at morning). But one thing that I have always noticed is the supreme power of mornings to shape your day—it's difficult to shed the energy of a hassled and frantic morning.
In our first installment on ideas and practices for Slow Living, we introduced the idea that to live slowly simply means learning to live in the moment, to breed awareness of our surroundings as a pathway to connect to the things that make us feel joy, and disconnect from the things that do not. It does not mean a life of only leisure, where you are freed from the trappings of "real" life, and we think the real key is to achieve a feeling of peace and fulfillment within the normal framework of society—that's achievable. We have found that much of the work in doing this is simply in laying the groundwork—finding the paths of least resistance—which means organization and prepareness. And with that, we have three very simple, seemingly mundane practices, that will surprise you in their potency because they allow you more freedom in the mornings—whether it's to meditate for ten minutes, sit with a coffee (and actually drink it hot), journal, a quick yoga sequence, a short walk, or whatever works for you. We think you'll find that slower, more peaceful mornings do more for your inner sense of joy than you could ever have imagined.
MAKE YOUR BED
I love getting into a made bed as there's just something about orderly sheets that feels more welcoming and satisfying at the end of the day. Now, that does not mean that I always make my bed, far from it, but I do strive to (a loose linen duvet cover goes a long way, simply shake out, arrange the top sheet and pillows and you're done in 30 seconds). It was only when reading Gretchen Rueben's ideas and research did I realize that making your bed actually has significance to your overall sense of happiness. Who knew?! It seems that making your bed is a small task that starts your day with a sense of orderliness, pride, accomplishment, and productivity. Give it a try (if you don't already) and see if it helps.
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LAY OUT YOUR CLOTHES
Often one of the biggest snafus of my morning is deciding what to wear (or simply finding something to wear). A very simple task that seems to take far less time in the evening than it does in the morning is laying out clothes at night, even if you work from home. Stepping out of bed and being dressed right away helps you feel more put together and ready to face the day, allowing at least another twenty minutes of time for yourself.
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PREPARE BREAKFAST AHEAD
Another massive time-saver, and who doesn't like waking up to something already prepared? This has become a favourite activity of mine as it ensures I don't simply fall back on toast, which does little to nourish my body. The simplest and easiest idea is overnight oats. Here are basic instructions:
In a small- to medium -sized mason jar (1 for each member of the family), simply pour 1/3 cup of organic, rolled oats, top with your preferred nut milk until covered, and stir in spices of your choice. My favourite is cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla (especially ground vanilla bean), and a touch of maple syrup for sweetness. I also add chia seeds, but if doing so add some extra nut milk as the chia seeds absorb a lot of liquid. In the morning I sprinkle with pre-toasted nuts, hemp seeds, and cocoa nibs. You can choose to eat cold or heat briefly in the microwave or oven, and if you must eat on the go simply take along with a spoon wrapped in a cloth napkin.
Try these ideas on for size over the weekend so that you have a routine in place to start on Monday along with the work/school week. The real trick is not simply hitting the snooze button with your new-found time, and doing something that fulfills you instead (in our case it's usually reading Charlie a book before it's time to go). Let us know what works for you in the mornings, we'd love to hear about it!
CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS:
LAUREN KOLYN, Photography: Lauren is a lifestyle and editorial photographer based in Montréal and Toronto, Canada. With a documentary approach to her photography, Lauren is a visual storyteller with a unique ability to capture the essence of the moment. Drawing much of her artistic inspiration from the natural environment, Lauren's photographic work explores the modest yet powerful beauty of her surroundings. She is also currently part of the Pure Green editorial team. View her work, follow her on Instagram.
