Two-Minute Morning Routine

In today’s world, we all seem to be operating on a thin layer of ice feeling as if one step in the wrong direction could make our perfect balancing act come crumbling down. This seems to be true in our personal and professional lives. It is as if we would lose our own heads if it weren’t for our apps, alerts, project management tools and other organizational processes. 

On top of all of that, the idea of adding one more thing that you need to do to keep it all together feels like it might just be the straw that broke the camel's back. This is why I created the Two Minute Morning Routine. It is intended to help you feel more balanced and ready to take on what life throws your way. 

For almost all of us, we can commit to two minutes to change the way we start our day. The best part is you don’t even have to get out of bed to do them! 

Step 1: 5-5-5 Breathing 

I have this beautiful breathing technique that helps me whenever I am stressed out and need to calm down my nervous system. It also works wonders to start my day. You breathe in for five seconds, hold for five seconds and then release for five seconds. I like to complete this series of breathing four separate times, for a total of one minute. These deep and intentional breathing exercise is like a mini meditation or a mini vacation for your mind. 

Step 2: Gratitude

The practice of gratitude has a positive effect on your overall well-being. It is like a magic stress reliever. I truly believe that you can’t be stressed and grateful at the same time. I also think that we have these lofty expectations of ourselves that we have to have grandiose things to be grateful for. I think that is a bunch of bologna. Sometimes I will say things like, “I am grateful I used the good lotion last night”, or “I am grateful to have slept until my alarm went off”. Remember that even the smallest of pieces of gratitude can have a profound effect on your well-being. 

Step 3: Ground and Protect

I always take a moment to clear away any bad energy from the day before. If this is something you have never done before, keep it very simple. “I release any stuck and stale energy and invite only things for my highest and best good today.” I have a much lengthier process that I follow on this step nowadays, but when I was just starting out with setting myself up for success every day, I started with this small intention. 

Step 4: Affirmations

An affirmation is simply a positive statement or a declaration of how you wish something would go. It is important to make sure that whatever affirmations you use, you truly believe them in your heart. I recommend starting with just two or three affirmations to begin your day. They can be something like, “I will approach the day with a positive attitude”, or “I am open and willing to start my day free of stress”. Find a few that make the most sense to you and give it a try. 

That’s it. If you follow those four steps every day you won’t believe that amount of transformation that will take place inside of you. I can’t promise you the kids won’t drop an entire box of cereal on the floor, or that you won’t spill coffee on your new shirt or that you won’t drop the ball on something you were supposed to do that morning. But what I can promise you, is that you will be way more prepared to handle those challenges as they come your way each day. 

Once you master this 2-minute routine, I encourage you to step up your game and add a few more steps to your day. 

Bonus Step: Stretching

Taking a few minutes to stretch your body in the morning is a great way to activate your muscles and release tension. It can improve your overall blood circulation and give you a warm and friendly way to start your day. 

Bonus Step: Meditation

Once you have these practices built into your normal routine, add 5-10 minutes of meditation. These can be a guided meditation from a teacher that resonates with you, or it can be a practice you develop yourself through trial and error. The most important thing is that you do it in a way that feels right for you. Either way, trust that it can work wonders in your life. 

If you are willing to do these few things every morning that literally take less than two minutes, you can start your day with significantly less stress. Give it a try for a week and see if you feel more ready to start your day with a positive attitude and calm energy! 

Love and Light,

Kara