Many start the day leaping out of bed as if shot out of a cannon. Running through our minds is a myriad of urgent obligations, and we send our brains into overdrive by first checking our phones for “vital” messages and “consulting” social media.
We want to start the day on the right foot but mostly ignore the one thing that sets everything else into proper motion: an inspiring ritual.
We know the peril of approaching a fitness routine improperly hydrated, nourished, and stretched. Yet, most give far less thought and effort to beginning their precious day than their workouts.
Who. Think a good start applies only to the upwardly mobile professional juggling a spouse, children, and a career? It is equally essential for the retired, empty-nester without apparent obligations. Absent deliberate consideration, we allow time to dissipate instead of honoring it.
When. Ideally, you perform your ritual when life is not compelling you to other actions. No matter how early the children demand breakfast or the factory whistle blows, you can set your alarm earlier. An end-of-the-day, “when-not-a-creature(including a screen)-is-stirring” time also works.
Where. Any place that allows you to be in a peaceful state conducive to clear thinking. Go to your easy chair, the backyard with its landscape backdrop, or the balcony overlooking a city stirring from its slumber or winding down from the day’s events.
What. Googling “how to start my day” yields 12 billion results. They typically include a combination of meditation, breathing exercises, prayer, journaling, inspirational reading, or listening to soothing music.
If in the morning, remove sleep’s cobwebs and get your blood flowing, even if only walking down the hall, performing light stretches, or engaging with your domesticated animals. Before jolting yourself with coffee, drink a glass of water and activate your digestive system with fruit before assaulting it with a sugary toaster pastry.
The length varies, but anything shorter than fifteen minutes may be insufficient, and anything longer than 30 probably, and acceptably, includes one of your essential activities, such as a fitness routine or faith practice.
Why. At least during one point in your active day, the practices ground you and enable you to put things into perspective.
The quiet space and peaceful state facilitate the mental clarity needed to discern the activities that are most aligned with your values and that provide the greatest accomplishment. Equipped with this knowledge, you are less distracted by the less important things, and the coming day does not seem as overwhelming.
This powerful impact on your fulfillment elevates the collection of practices from a routine into a sacred ritual. Ironically, the days I have too much on my plate and do not have time for my ritual are the days I need it most. If I skip it, the day reinstructs me on its value. I go through the day feeling somewhat unsettled and invariably miss something I wish I had done.
Mine. By way of example, I share mine: rise, check my phone for notifications from ancestors or descendants, walk to the kitchen, grab my water bottle, eat a banana, settle into a comfortable chair, read faith-based material, pray, journal the previous day’s meaningful actions, read the Daily Stoic, and finish by confirming the activities I wish to perform with an eye towards those I want to journal the next day.
Yours. Which practices, how many, and how long are up to you. The objective is positioning yourself for fulfillment, and it is not dependent on any specific element. Just begin, and it will evolve as needed. The practices transform into a ritual once you reap the benefits, and any reluctance to invest the time and effort disappears.
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Preparing for your day peacefully and thoughtfully and understanding your objectives leads to greater well-being and accomplishment. Do not miss out.