A quiet morning doesn’t start with perfection. It starts with a feeling. The moment when the world is still soft, the light is gentle, and your house is still quiet. I raised 4 kids and know the feeling.
Many women, and probably most moms with young kids in the house, don’t get many of those moments. But all women, especially when stress has been running the show for too long, can benefit from a calm morning. A way to remind your body and mind that you’re allowed to feel steady, centered, and unhurried.
Just Take 5 Minutes for You
A few small choices can help you feel like yourself again.*
If you’re tired of constantly rushing (I’ve been there).
Tired of starting your day already behind (know the feeling).
Tired of feeling like your mornings belonged to everyone but you (yes!).
Try something different. Not a full routine. Not a makeover. Just five small steps that feet gentle enough to stick with.
Maybe YOUR mornings can change.
Don’t discount these suggestions.
Really give it a try!
Hitting this hard because I resisted because I didn’t think I had the time.
But it’s not like you have to wake up 2 hours earlier (we need that precious sleep).
But you do need to make the effort to fit this into whatever time you can spare. Maybe start with just 5 minutes.
And then, if you’re like me and see the value of calming your day from the beginning, you will want to take this time and maybe even increase it some if it is providing value.
1. Start with stillness and breathing
Don’t jump out of bed or grab your phone when you first wake. Instead of planning the day before your feet even touch the floor, sit up slowly and let yourself breathe. Did you know that just a few deep breaths can calm your nervous system.
Pay attention to how different it feels to begin the day without rushing. No pressure. No performance. Just a pause.
A moment to remember to start slow.
2. Move your body in a way that feels kind
Maybe to you, a morning movement needs to be a workout that is some sort of intense or sweaty.
In this new kind of morning, you can choose something softer.
A stretch. A slow walk to the kitchen. A few shoulder rolls.
You’re waking up your body with kindness instead of pressure.
And this small shift can help you feel more grounded than any workout ever has.
3. Create a simple sensory ritual
Think of something that you can see becoming part of your wake up time every day, that you look forward to doing every day.
Maybe this is where hydration can enter. Drink that glass of water!
The benefits of drinking water in the morning before caffeine is something you can really feel. Many people don’t realize the body needs to hydrate before having something that can dehydrate you and start you on the energy roller coaster that can go on all day.
I started to drink water or water with some electrolytes first thing in the morning, at least an hour before coffee, and it has been huge for helping me feel good to start the day.
Whatever you choose, take the time to enjoy it and just feel the gratitude of taking this short amount of time for yourself.
You are actually giving yourself little reminders that you can enjoy something without rushing through it.
Small acts of presence can make everything else feel more manageable.
4. Do one thing that clears mental space
Does your day start with lists, worries, reminders, and expectations?
You can shift that to doing just one thing to clear the clutter, and help your day feel more manageable.
You can write a few lines in a journal. Or tidy up a part of the kitchen or another room that always collects random things.
Maybe you want to simply open a window and let in some fresh air, or if you’re like me here in the late Spring, sit outside for a few minutes and take in the stillness and early morning sunshine.
It doesn’t matter what you choose. What matters is the feeling: “I’ve made space for myself.”
That one small action can make the rest of the day feel less heavy.
5. Set a gentle intention instead of a strict plan
It may be important for you to map out your entire day in your head before breakfast. But if that makes you feel overwhelmed, consider trying something new.
Choose a feeling instead of a checklist.
Calm. Steady. Patient. Focused. Present.
Just one word.
And if or when the day gets messy (remember it often does), you have something already in your mind to return to your word.
By the end of just the first week, your mornings can feet different.
Maybe not perfect. Maybe not magical. But calmer. More yours.
Help Beyond the Calm
There are still going to be stressful days. There were for me when I was younger and there still are today.
I have my nutritional help for that. My go-to’s for keeping my nerves in check are the b-complex I take daily and on days when I need more, I have two natural stress solutions.
The nutrition brand I have used for 44+ years is Shaklee because they are the most clinically proven wellness company in America and because of how effective the products have been for me these past 4 decades.*
The links go out to the product pages on my storefront that have lots of information about the supplement and ingredients.
Stress Relief Complex can help you feel calmer in 30 minutes. That’s not a claim, but how it’s worked for me over the years, as well as others I know. You can keep it on hand for when you need it or set a certain time, for example 30, 60, or 90 days, where you take it daily to help get your stress under control; and then take as needed. It is a blend of ingredients like most all Shaklee formulations: L-theanine, ashwagandha, beta-sitosterol, and L-tyrosine.
Cheer Up and Chill Out strawberry gummies are helpful to boost mood as well reduce stress. They contain Ashwagandha and L-theanine, along with B-vitamins and saffron. I personally like the gummy form factor (yes I am a kid at heart), and it really has worked to help calm me when I feel like I am rushed, being pulled in multiple directions and feeling anxious about it all.
I hope this was helpful. At 64, I’ve been through a lot of seasons in my life. Some have been busier than others, raising 4 children when younger and right now helping with 9 young grandchildren. Looking for calm and reducing stress have worked for me through it all.
I was born under the sign of Libra, the scales. While I don’t really follow Zodiak or astrology, I have always related to the idea of balance. Whether it be how I feel, how I eat, how much I exercise and sleep, even relationships, balance has been something I strive to keep.
Wishing you quiet mornings and a calmer, stress-free start to your every morning.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.