Waking Up With A Purpose

The way you wake up and start your day will determine how the rest of your day plans out. I remind myself of this as often as I possibly can so that I make sure I wake up with purpose. But let’s be honest, there’s tonnes of things we would all like to do in the morning, from getting our to-do list done, fitting in some exercise and making an Instagram worthy breakfast but it’s so easy to roll over in bed and pick up your phone to start checking emails and notifications. Perhaps you just wanted to check the time but got distracted and suddenly it’s time to rush and get dressed.

I realised this wasn’t how I wanted to wake up and that things needed to change. I knew what I wanted to do but needed to change my habits. So I decided to start a new morning routine and check in every week to see if I’ve fallen back into a toxic pattern of phones and noise and distractions. Which I did, but I just corrected it and started again.

Other things do get in the way sometimes and you have to adapt. I’ve tried pretty much everything to make sure that I can fit a positive morning routine into my daily life easily, comfortably and without too much hassle. I’ve finally found what works for me and I’m going to share my way with you so that you too can wake up with purpose, in your true self and feel empowered for the day ahead.

One of the biggest things I did was to reorder my bedside table so that it was clear of any clutter and unnecessary items and instead placed things that would benefit my soul when waking up. I now have 5 very important things on it:

1. A notebook and pen that I love and is specifically for any journalling, dreams or thoughts or ideas I woke up with that I need to jot down and let go of. Sometimes there’s all this STUFF in your mind that just doesn’t need to be there for the rest of your day. Sometimes I simply see it as a brain dump and that’s that. Don’t even have to look over it again.

2. My list of affirmations, so that I can pick one for first thing as I stand up and know my mission for the day. A positive affirmation that will make me feel good and in my power. I usually accompany them with a bottle of Moon Mist, my affirmation spray, which helps my inner calmness. It also helps anxiety.

3. A bowl of crystals that I feel connected to at that moment in time. Or if you aren’t into crystals, perhaps some Aromatherapy oils that you can smell or rollerball on your pulse points for an energising feel.

4. A cup or a reusable bottle of water with lemon – I often take one to bed with me ready for the morning and then will also get a fresh hot water with lemon once I’m up.

5. A watch/small clock so that I don’t need to check my phone as soon as I open my eyes.

What about my phone I hear you say. I put my phone on airplane mode as often as I can remember and I either leave it on the floor next to my bed or across the room so that I might as well look at it after I’ve done my affirmations at the very least. I’ve got better at leaving a few minutes before checking it and I never check my emails until after breakfast. That’s a big rule I’ve had to learn to stick to.
The important thing is not to put too much pressure on yourself to make your morning routine perfect. It’s about doing little things that will enhance your daily life.

Adopting the Japanese concept of “ikigai” could be the key to waking up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.
Ikigai is defined as one’s “reason for which you wake up in the morning”, which can be interpreted as your purpose in life.

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, where longevity is rife among its population, they don’t have a word for retirement, opting to use the word “ikigai” instead.
Apparently having a reason to wake up in the morning has allowed the multiple centenarians on Okinawa to live long and fulfilling lives.

So, can applying the concept of “ikigai” to your life really transform you into a morning person who wakes up feeling ready to start the day from the get-go? Apparently so. Learning how to channel your ikigai doesn’t have to involve making monumental changes to your normal routine, it’s about adopting fulfilling habits such as having a healthy breakfast, exercising and having social interaction.

Here are some simple things that you could try to increase your energy, feel more content and kick-start your day.

Exercise
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to enrol in 6am spinning classes or endure an intense bout of exercise in the gym first thing in the morning. It’s all about figuring out what form of physical activity that you personally enjoy and that will help push you to get out of bed. This could be going for a walk, doing some yoga in your living room, dancing while you eat your breakfast… whatever floats your boat!

Morning fuel
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you should also try and make it one of the most enjoyable. So many of us dismiss a proper morning meal as a waste of time, instead choosing to rush out of the house with an insubstantial cereal bar. However, indulging in a flavoursome breakfast can give your spirits an incredible lift.

Social start
The idea of meeting up with a pal for a coffee and a chin wag first thing in the morning may sound like a very strange notion, but that early social interaction could benefit you greatly. However, when you head straight to work after waking up, spend eight or nine hours at your desk and then typically return back home in the evening exhausted from the day’s events, that leaves very little time to tend to your social life but finding the time to have a small catch-up with someone who you care about could do wonders for your mood. If you don’t have the time to actually sit down and partake in an in-depth conversation, sending someone a quick text to brighten their day could have the same effect.

Of course, how you wake up sometimes is out of your control. You really want to wake up full of joy and readiness to start your day but your body says otherwise. I wouldn’t recommend pushing yourself because that would make the morning routine sound like a chore.

Whenever you feel low, it is recommended to remind yourself why you wake up every morning. Try to think of the accomplishments you have had because of starting your day right. You will feel better in no time.

In this modern world where our minds are busy preoccupied with thousands of tasks every day, how you begin your day is important. I believe it is the key to having the best days of your life.

Have a think about the things that could make you happy as an entirely unique being and act upon them every morning.

Love
Francine x

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