A Morning Routine

During times of uncertainty it is important to have a routine to keep us grounded, and aligned with our purpose. I have found that my morning routine has kept me working towards my goals and structured my life in such a way that I don’t let distractions from the outside world affect my quality of life.

When I wake up in the morning I take a few moments to greet the trees outside my window, observe my breathing, and express gratitude for the current state of my mind and body.

I keep a small journal in which I can jot down my dreams. I have always thought I couldn’t remember them, but the simple practice of going to sleep and promising to remember your dreams, followed by writing down even a short sentence about your dreams in the morning, you can actually recall a lot more information than you would expect! During the full moon I often start with a sentence and end up remembering paragraphs worth of dreams, one leading into the next. I might also jot down things that I am grateful for, sometimes things that haven’t even manifested yet, but by accepting the positive changes into my life I am able to almost promise them.

I do oil pulling with about 1 tbsp of olive oil which is premixed with a small amount of Edens Garden Fighting Five Essential Oil Synergy Blend, 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade (Highest Quality Aromatherapy Oils- Cold Flu & Detox), 30 ml and North American Herb & Spice Oreganol P73, 1 Fl Oz

 A few drops of each oil can be mixed in with a cup of olive oil to produce a good blend. I swish the oil in my mouth for 10-20 minutes until the solution gets thickened. This is about how long it takes for all of the blood in the body to pass through the sublingual vein. The oil blend helps to adsorb toxins from the blood, resolve plaque, and has an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal quality as well. Often people do this with coconut oil but I have been extra cautious about the mycotoxins present in coconut oil since it can easily grow mold on it.  Banyan Botanicals Sesame Oil, Certified Organic, 16 oz – Pure, Unrefined – The Most Traditional of All Oils Used in Ayurveda, Good for Vata & Kapha is also a great choice and tastes good! I will often swish with oil while journaling or getting hot water ready for tea and medicinal tinctures. After I spit the oil out in the trash I brush my tongue and teeth and get myself ready for the day.Within the first hour of waking up, I use red incandescent bulbs so as to not blast myself with blue light first thing in the morning. 4 Pack 40 Watt A19 Colored Transparent Red Incandescent Medium Base Party Light BulbThis helps to regulate our circadian rhythms and reduce the amount of melatonin that is depleted from looking at unatural light. Just like the sky is blue, our electronics mimic that and display a blue light that we should only be exposed to when the sun is out. I also programmed my iphone to display a red light filter that I can easily switch to blue light as needed. For my desktop computer I installed Iris which has numerous settings for creating a more hospitable experience for looking at a screen.

I avoiding turning on my phone and checking emails during the first hour of being awake. I think it is important to focus on output before adding input into the system, especially during the first part of the day when our cortisol levels are the highest.

I look forward to getting up in the morning and drinking my Gut Healing Mushroom Shake. If the weather is nice I will go into the garden and gather herbs to prepare with my breakfast and jump on my Stamina 38-Inch Intone Plus Rebounder trampoline to promote lymphatic drainage. I will also use a Dyna Disc Balance Cushion – Royal Blue to stretch and strengthen my calves, and hang or do pullups on the Metolius Project Training Board CNC (Blue/Blue Swirl). Getting micro dynamic movements throughout the day has been helpful for my energy level.

Finally, I will prepare a breakfast containing a piece of protein like chicken, duck or pork sausage with a poached egg and kale. I find that starting the day off with little to no carbs really curbs appetites and cravings as I stay in ketosis for the first half of the day.