Start Building Your Morning Routine Now

You cannot move forward in living a healthy, full life unless you start building your morning routine. I can tell you firsthand that carefully curating a list of morning habits — building slowly and sticking to them — has completely transformed many lives.

Building a healthy morning routine is a key feature of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old system of natural health that’s truly stood the test of time. First originating in India, Ayurveda is considered by many to be the oldest health system there is.

The primary goal of Ayurveda is to help people live long, healthy and balanced lives. 

And one key element of living a more Ayurvedic-based, balanced life is creating a morning routine.

Creating a routine is essential in establishing balance in your body and mind. In fact, just a simple morning diet and lifestyle routine could transform life as you know it.

Positive side effects of creating a morning routine (and sticking to it) include:

    Regulating your biological clock

    Improving digestion

    Getting your cravings under control

    Easing that feeling of being ungrounded, which commonly crops up in the autumn months

    And so much more.

    Creating a morning routine is best done in small, sustainable steps.

    In fact, a 2012 study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that habit-formation advice, paired with a “small changes” approach led to high success rates. The key is when creating a daily routine, take small steps so the routine becomes second nature. In fact, some study participants reported feeling the healthy habits “worming their way into your brain.” Another reported feeling “quite strange” when skipping their daily routine.

    

 With that in mind, here’s a list of ideas you can draw from to start creating a healthy morning routine that works for you. Remember, start small and only add on once your initial tasks become “second nature.”

    PRAYER/MEDITATION/GRATITUDE

Rushing out of bed is one of the worst ways to start the day. Instead, focus on waking up closer to sunrise, reserving several minutes to say a prayer or feel gratitude before letting your feet hit the floor.

   Prayer and meditation have been shown to:

    

 Increase longevity

Balance inflammation

Boost immunity

 Support positivity

Help reinforce good habits

 DENTAL

 Tongue Scraping

Gently using a metal tongue scraper is a key morning routine activity in Ayurveda. The practice is said to support digestion and aid in supporting healthy detoxification.

    Oil Pulling

    Used primarily in the Ayurvedic tradition, oil pulling — known as gandusha in Ayurveda — specifically coconut oil pulling, is a fantastic oral detoxification method that’s simply done by swishing a tablespoon of oil (typically coconut oil, olive or sesame oil) in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes before spitting it out and then brushing your teeth.

    

 Oil pulling works by cleansing the oral cavity in a similar way that soap cleans dirty dishes. It literally sucks the dirt (toxins) out of your mouth and creates a clean oral environment that contributes to the proper flow of dental liquid that’s needed to prevent cavities and disease.

This unbelievably effective method has been used for centuries to support oral health and overall health.

    HYDRATION

Drinking a glass of room temperature water after finishing up your dental care is key. Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon is often recommended. Just be sure to skip the ice. That’s a no-no in an Ayurvedic morning routine. (Ice, in general, is not recommended.)

    BREAKFAST

 Ayurveda is focused on building “digestive fire,” keeping your metabolism, AKA your internal furnace, running smoothly. Skipping breakfast is an unfortunate side effect of modern-day living, but by waking up closer to sunrise, you should have more time to prepare and eat a fresh, simple Ayurvedic breakfast.

    

Some Ayurvedic breakfasts often feature some of the following ingredients that are higher in protein and fat, mushy and served hot to help you feel more grounded this time of year:

    

 Oatmeal

Cooked apples

Warming spices

 Cream of rice        

Adding a multivitamin to your morning routine can be a great way to fill in nutritional gaps that your diet may have. Ideally, you’ll begin getting more and more key nutrients from foods, but in today’s modern world, shortfalls are common.

    Multivitamin benefits may include:

        Filling any nutritional gaps

        Supporting a healthy pregnancy

        Promoting proper growth and development

        Helping to maintain bone strength

        Supporting cognitive health

        Supporting eye health

        Supporting cardiovascular health