“You have to forgive me, it’s a slow morning!”

How many times have I apologized in a 9 o’ clock meeting for a slow start to the day or delayed responses.

There are days when we encounter a slow morning. For a person who is always focused on productivity and wanting to get the most out of the day feel really anxious and restless due to a slower start to the day. This WorthWorkin4Wednesday blog explains why slow mornings are not a bad thing and how we should deliberately create them every now and then.

We are so used to the idea of getting up and hitting the ground running that a slow morning seems to be an annoying thing. It’s not surprising considering a how much we are required to accomplish every day, and subsequently our morning routines are deliberately aligned with hyper productivity. However, this conscious and constant effort to keep up with the demands of the work and family can also keep our mind and body on a high alert and cause anxiety. Thus, slow mornings are our body’s and mind’s deliberate attempt to give themselves a respite, a much needed physical and mental break in the hyperactivity of our insanely demanding and taxing routines. Thus, there is a need to mindfully seek and cultivate more slow mornings so that our bodies get  chance to catch up their breaths, slow down and savor life as its meant to be enjoyed.

Go Analog

Have you realized how the clock and alarm in our smartphones have slowly replaced our wrist watches, wall clocks and alarm clocks. Convenient as it may seem, digital alarms and clocks serve as an excuse to start scrolling our messages and social media the first thing in the morning, which stimulates our minds, but not in a good way!

The constant dopamine hits make us overstimulated and distracted. Ironically, this kind of digital exposure doesn’t translate into action. In fact, this exposure to the digital world as the first thing in the morning makes us anxious and thus increases our tendency to procrastinate and delay getting up from the bed.

Thus, making one simple switch from digital to analog can make a huge difference in your body’s response, the state of mind you wake up in the morning, your mindset and outlook throughout the day.

Pray or Meditate

Instead of looking at your gadget, switching on the TV right away or rushing out to the bathroom, try praying or meditating first. It doesn’t have to be long, maybe just 10 minutes of your time to connect to the seek connection among the mind, body and soul, to align your consciousness with the larger force of the Universe.

Focus on your breath and how your body responds to each breath, how the muscles contract and relax, how the spine and shoulders relax, how mind fog and grogginess start clearing away with each breath. Meditation is the conscious effort to live in present…in the very moment. It helps you ground yourself to the here and now. Successful meditation in the mornings helps you ground yourself and generate the steam to pump up your engine.

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Start Earlier

Morning can be stressful, specially if you have young kids whom you need to send off to school. When you have your family’s needs and schedules, alongside your own, to manage, the need to hurry, rushing around and the panic get inevitable.

So, try to plan and lay out things the night before, plan to wake up 15 minutes earlier to overcome the panic and rush. To make your children active participants of the morning routines, use encouraging language with them like

“Let’s see how fast we can get ready today!”

“There is a reward for the one who finishes his breakfast and gets out of the door fastest!”

Plan Your a Breakfast

Instead of delaying your breakfast, replacing it with a smoothie, energy bar or cereal, or skipping it all together to save time and effort, plan a leisurely breakfast for yourself. It could be a scrumptious omelet with toast, pancakes or muffin or bagel straight out of the oven. Create a beautiful fruit parfait with layers of Greek yogurt, fresh berries, granola, and a drizzle of honey. Squeeze a glass of fresh orange juice instead of the usual caffeine. It would be something you don’t make normally for yourself.

So make the effort some mornings to prepare a lovely breakfast for yourself and enjoy it while sitting near the window. Read a book or the newspaper while having your coffee. Cooking a luxurious breakfast for yourself is a delightful way to pamper yourself and start your day on a positive note.  Starting the day with something special can create a sense of joy and satisfaction.

Go for a Walk

It doesn’t always have to be the high intensity workouts and jogging. You can also go for a walk on a slow morning instead of hitting the gym. The sunlight is immensely helpful in regulating your body’s circadian rhythm and also stabilizing your mood. Moreover, the exposure to natural light and fresh air can also enhance your overall sense of well-being. Go brisk or slow! Choose the pace that suits your mood. Furthermore, you can use the time to plan your day, set goals, or simply enjoy the quiet.

The Final Thought

The hecticness of our lives demands us to start our days quickly, be productive and become responsive the moment when we open our eyes. Thus, slow morning can be seen as a great inconvenience. However, a slow morning doesn’t necessarily mean an unproductive one. Small shifts in the habits can help us create a Sometimes, taking it slow can contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling day. Enjoy the tranquility in the early hours of the morning, set a deliberate, mindful pace, and use the time to prepare and recharge yourself for whatever the rest of the day is to unfold.