One of My Favorite Monday Morning Self-Care Routines

As someone who knows what it was like to live with chronic pain and nervous system dysregulation, I've learned the importance of starting my day with a consistent self-care routine. Starting my day on a positive note sets the tone for the rest of the day. A consistent morning routine can help establish a sense of control, calmness, and focus, which can have a ripple effect throughout the day. By prioritizing self-care, mindfulness, and intention-setting in the morning, individuals can accomplish these 5 things:

1. Boost their energy and motivation: A well-crafted morning routine can increase energy levels and motivation, helping individuals tackle challenges and achieve their goals.

2. Improve their mental clarity and focus: A calm and centered start to the day can improve mental clarity, focus, and productivity.

3. Enhance mood and well-being: Starting the day with positivity, gratitude, and self-care can contribute to a more positive mood and overall sense of well-being.

4. Set intentions and prioritize goals: A morning routine can help individuals set clear intentions and prioritize their goals, leading to a more purposeful and directed day.

5. Reduce stress and anxiety: By starting the day with a sense of calm and control, individuals can better manage stress and anxiety throughout the day.

By starting the day on a positive note, individuals can create a foundation for success, health, and happiness that can have a lasting impact throughout the day. The following is one of my favorite morning routines. It is designed to nourish my body, calm my mind, and set me up for success.

Gratitude and Positive Affirmations

My day begins with a moment of gratitude and a few positive affirmations like, “This is going to be a great day. Everything is going to work out for me. I am strong, calm and courageous. I am healthy.” Then I head to get my hydrogen-rich Kangen water. Drinking this water has been a game-changer for me, providing a natural energy boost that helps me tackle my day with enthusiasm. The benefits of hydrogen-rich water are numerous, including reducing oxidative stress, improving hydration, and increasing energy levels. I've noticed a significant difference in my energy levels since incorporating it into my daily routine.

Prayer Time and Self-Reflection

While hydrating, I try to get in a spot on my porch where I can see the sunrise. There I get 10-15 minutes of early sunlight in my eyes to reset my circadian rhythms. (Remember no staring directly into the sun friends!) This will make it easier to fall asleep later that night. As I soak in the sunrise, I like to take some time for prayer and then self-reflection. This helps remind me of my priorities and set intentions for the day. It's a chance to reflect on my goals, express gratitude, and connect with my Creator.

Sunrise from my porch.

Cooking and Nourishment

Cooking is another self-care activity that brings me joy. I often prepare my meals for the day or make a nourishing breakfast. I choose a high protein savory breakfast with veggies (which I eat first) to help keep my blood-sugar balanced all day. This is one of many tips I learned from the Glucose Goddess, Jessie Inchauspé’s book, The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing! If I start with a sweet breakfast, I am more like to have hot flashes disturb my sleep at night, which I do not love! If you struggle with blood sugar issues, this is a great book to read for practical habits you can incorporate in your daily life and around your meals to avoid those sugar spikes! My diet strives to keep my blood sugar balanced, as well as being gluten-free and mostly dairy-free, with a focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods.

For those living with chronic illness, avoiding gluten can be particularly beneficial. Gluten can cause inflammation, digestive issues, and exacerbate symptoms in individuals with conditions like auto-immune diseaeses, Lyme, celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Most Fridays I share one of my favorite gluten free recipes or packaged finds. Be sure to watch for those posts and stories on my socials if you are looking for some new options!

Lifewave Patches and Morning Walk

Before heading out for my morning walk, I apply my Lifewave patches. (Currently wearing X39 for healing, X49 for bone health and improved athletic performance, SP6 Complete for hormone and blood sugar balance, and Aeon for inflammation and an overall sense of wellness and reduced anxiety.) These patches have been a game-changer for me, helping me to increase my energy levels and reduce pain and anxiety. I love starting my day with a sense of vitality and purpose. My morning walk is a highlight of my day, as I get to enjoy the beauty of nature and the tranquility of the forest. Listening to the birds singing and the nearby stream trickling along is incredibly soothing for my nervous system.

One of my favorite forest walking trails

The Benefits of Walking for the Nervous System

Walking just 3 miles per week can reduce your chances of dimentia 50%

Walking is not only great exercise, but it's also beneficial for our nervous system. Research has shown that regular walking can help reduce stress, improve mood, and even fight off depression and dementia. A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that walking at least 3 miles per week can reduce the risk of dementia by 50%. Another study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that walking can help regulate the nervous system and improve cognitive function.

Sharing My Passion for Health and Wellness

As a Lifewave brand partner, I'm passionate about sharing the benefits of photobiomodulation* and other health and wellness tools with others. I believe that everyone deserves to live a life of vitality and purpose, and I'm committed to helping others achieve their health goals.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my morning self-care routine. By prioritizing my health and well-being, I'm able to live a more balanced and fulfilling life. Do I still fight dysregulation? Yes. Do I still fight getting in a hurry and feeling overwhelmed? Yes. But I am getting better at recognizing them and stepping back away from it! And this self care morning routine helps!

Let me know. What are some of your favorite morning routines that set your day up for success? Do you walk, meditate, cook, meditate, yoga, tai chi, drink hot tea, clean or dance around with a mop or broom? (Honey I Shrunk the Kids style?) I’d love to hear what works best for you!

Thanks for reading and have a great week friends! Take care of you.

*LifeWave patches utilize Photobiomodulation (PBM). it is a non-invasive, light-based therapy that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular processes, promoting healing, reducing pain and inflammation, and improving tissue repair. It's often used to treat various conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, and skin issues. PBM is thought to work by increasing energy production in cells, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting tissue repair.

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