05 Jul 3 Simple Exercises to Start the Day with the Right Mindset

There’s a reason why getting up “on the wrong side of the bed” in the morning is such a common phrase: how we feel in the mornings often determines how we feel throughout the rest of the day. If we start off on the wrong foot, chances are we’ll end up being even more irritable, frustrated, gloomy, or distracted throughout the day and into the night. 

In contrast, when we start the day with a positive mindset, we not only feel better emotionally and physically, but we’re also better able to handle any challenges that might come our way. But how exactly do you begin your morning with the right mindset? 

Although there are a variety of tools and methods out there, we’ve described a few of our favorite daily exercises below for you to practice each morning. Do your best to try at least one of these every day for 21 days to notice a shift in your overall mindset and create a positive daily habit. 

A Morning Meditation

Before you do any physical exercise, social media scrolling, or diving into your work emails, try starting your day with meditation. This gives you the opportunity to be more calm and relaxed, since you’ll have just woken up and won’t yet have many distractions. Here are a few steps to follow: 

1. Choose a place where you feel comfortable, such as a nearby park or your favorite spot in the house. 
2. Use a timer and start by setting it for five minutes. You can always extend the timer to ten or 15 minutes down the road once you’re used to meditating regularly. 
3. Some people prefer to listen to light music in the background, but you can also sit in silence if you prefer. If you do choose to play some sounds, find a soothing playlist without words or intense beats. 
4. Softly close your eyes or look off into the distance without focusing too heavily on what’s there. 
5. Bring your attention to your breathing, feeling the air moving into your lungs and out of your mouth. Do this for several long breaths. 
6. You might also start to focus on mentally scanning through your body, noticing where you feel tension. Breathe deeply as you gently and consciously relax each muscle.  

The key is to find your own way of meditating. While quieting your thoughts and keeping them from wandering is a common approach, you can instead try to guide your thoughts to be more present and focused on where you are and how you’re feeling. Just allow the thoughts to come, observe them without judgment, and then let them float away. 

Positive Affirmations

If you’ve never tried affirmations before, then it might be the perfect time to try! So many of us struggle with negative self-talk — you know, the things we tell ourselves that leave us feeling bad, guilty, or down about something in our lives. By kicking off your morning with positive phrases and thoughts, you can start to boost your confidence and feel more motivated while keeping the negative thoughts at bay. Here are a few tips to start using daily affirmations: 

1. Find ones that speak the most to you. There are hundreds of great examples of positive affirmations online, but some will feel more in-tune with what you feel or need to hear than others. Select a few you’d like to start with for the first month, and adjust them or swap them out for others over time. 
2. Write them down. Use sticky notes or a piece of paper and place them on your mirror, on your nightstand, above your desk, or on your wall. 
3. Take your time to read through the list aloud, really listening to each one and pausing where you need to. Repeat this at least three or four times. The more you say them, the better. 
4. Try a free affirmation phone app, such as ThinkUp. You can record your favorite affirmations and have them played back to you so you can listen to the affirmations in your own voice. 

Journaling

Sometimes we have so much mental clutter that an average day turns into a stressful one before it even begins. To combat this, we can try emptying out the negative energy by doing just that: getting it out of our minds. 

By journaling each day, you can declutter the mess of thoughts piling up inside your head. Whether you prefer pen and paper or a safe place on your computer, try journaling even for five or ten minutes each morning. This can be especially useful for things you don’t want to forget or intense emotions you’re experiencing, but without as much weight it may be putting on you spiritually. If you find that your mind races more at night and keeps you awake, try journaling right before bed. 

Boost Your Positive Energy at LunaVox

At LunaVox Transformative Healing, we work with women in Colorado and beyond to reveal the true cause of their pain, awaken to their potential, and live each day with passion and purpose. Learn more about our in-office chiropractic and reiki sessions, or see if our distance healing package is right for you!