What are your first thoughts when you wake up? Do you prefer to be an early riser or someone who sleeps in? Do you find yourself feeling lazy after a long night of sleep? Of course, you could be sleeping through your alarms. But don’t you feel good about yourself? Are you able to hear the inner cries in your body? If yes, pamper your body and start your productive mornings by following a healthier routine.
Importance of a healthy morning routine
We no longer wake up peacefully and go about our daily routine leisurely, relishing the morning walk and reading the newspaper while savoring a cup of tea or coffee.
Nowadays, mornings are absolute mayhem. Everyone is running because they need to be somewhere for a specific time. This busy routine leaves you with very little to no alone time. It’s not about adding more things to your daily to-do list when you have a morning routine.
It’s about packing your mornings with the pursuits that will help you re-energize, reset, and refocus for the coming day.
Some of the top advantages of a morning habit include:
- Enhanced mental and general well-being
- Enhanced Metabolism
- Improves focus and motivation by reducing stress and anxiety
- You’ll need less mental energy in the morning, which will help you feel more rooted, connected, and confident.
- Empowers you to take charge of your day’s or schedule
- It prepares you for success and encourages improved time management
- It makes work more productive
- Increases job quality
And if you take the time to refuel before the day’s obligations get in the way, you’ll be better able to meet those challenges mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Moreover, you may be free from lots of metabolic disorders.
Ayurvedic concept on the morning routine
Ayurveda suggests special rules and regulations for healthy living.
Here is the 10-step protocol for a Refreshing Morning Routine
1. Wake up before the Sun
Ayurveda suggests the Brahma Muhurtham as the best time to awaken. In other words, two hours before sunrise. It is necessary to adequately cleanse and replenish your body before beginning your day. Don’t worry if you still need to get there; waking up early will become incredibly easy with practice.
2. Explore your Inner self
Judge your body, whether the food is eaten the previous day has been well digested, there is no flatulence, and the body organs and senses are functioning well. If you say in your mind that I am as healthy today as I was yesterday and I will be as healthy tomorrow as I was today, then extraordinary optimism comes to the subconscious mind. It gives confidence and strength to every body organ and cell to work in harmony. So far, all the innovations invented in this world have come from the human mind. If the human mind can create what is not there, carrying the existing one well is easier. That is why all those who have extraordinary confidence are successful in life.
- Flush out the toxins from the Body
As your body sweeps the toxin away at night, it’s crucial that you set out a definite time each day for bowel voiding because doing so will help you get rid of the toxin completely.
According to Ayurveda, you should have one bowel movement in the morning; otherwise, you may need additional rest.
Advice:Â If you have trouble defecating, try taking Triphala.
It is crucial to do bowel cleansing in the morning since it aids in the release of toxins, which makes you feel calm, energized, and healthy.
- Brush and floss
After the inner self-consciousness, after the ablutions, there comes teeth brushing. This help strengthens the enamel. It has been said that the root or stem of bitter trees, such as banyan trees, neem stalks, etc., should be used for brushing or even rubbing the teeth with virgin coconut oil can also do wonders on your teeth.Â
- Anjana or collyrium
Next is the time for Anjana or collyrium, which you are supposed to perform to flush out the free radical buildup in the eyes. You will be freed from glaucoma and optic nerve degenerative disorders by completing this.
- Nasyam
You can install a few drops of ghee or sesame oil in your nose so that the accumulated mucus in the nasal root and sinuses during night sleep gets eliminated, reducing the chances for bacterial growth and preventing damage to nerve endings in the nose, insulating you from anosmia.
- Oil pullingÂ
Kabala or Gandusha is done with any of the decoction, swarasam, and oil pool to prevent food particles or germs from getting in between the teeth and gums and causing damage to the teeth and gums and to neutralize free radicals. It can also eliminate the adverse effects of sweet and salty tastes in food.Â
- Abhyanga
Abhyangam is said to rub the body with oil or paste. An oil topically can protect the skin from the Sun’s UV rays. Similarly, Abhyanga is beneficial in reducing the wear and tear of the joints and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Workout
Those who want to be healthy should do yoga or exercise daily. The increasing number of health clubs, gymnasiums, and yoga centers is a good sign. Exercise imparts lightness of the body, energizing of the limbs,agni dipti, depletion of Durmedas and diseased body. Organs like the heart, brain, lungs, liver, intestines, endocrine glands, etc., get efficient. But, people with asthma, blood pressure, and heart disease should be careful while exercising.
- Bath
Taking a bath finally in the morning is to have the jathragni deepti, which gives strength and energy to the body, removes external impurities, itching, fatigue, and laziness, and prolongs life by eliminating diseases.Â
Bathing should be done in hot water in winter and with cold water in summer. But it has been said that no matter the weather, hot water should not be poured on the head, as doing so will harm the scalp and eyes.
Now you are ready for the morning diet…..
How to schedule a personalized morning routine?
Ayurveda is very personalized, so that you will get your morning routine here. You may constantly search for productivity or create a morning schedule. First, you will be facing the struggle to get out of bed. But the first thing you need is self-affirmation. With this very sole thing, you can achieve heights. So be packed with positive vibes and get out of bed for a fruitful morning.
Do check it out!!
Morning Routine for a Vata person
- Get up everyday at the same hour. This will guarantee you quality sleep and help you establish a stable routine.Â
- Grab yourself a glass of warm water when you stand up. This tells your body to get rid of contaminants.
- Spend ten minutes in meditation, or more if you can, and allow inner peace to guide your day.
- Set a simple purpose, “Today, I feel balanced and pleasant in whatever I do.”
- Daily massage your body with nourishing aromatic oils such as almond oil to revitalize blood circulation, providing warmth.Â
- Bathing should be a consistent activity every day to stay fresh and clean.Â
- Break your fast with cereals, nuts, milk, etc.
Wake up by 6 am every day.
- Drink a glass of lukewarm water when you wake up. This will eliminate toxins.
- Meditate for 10 minutes or longer.
- Set an intention for your day
- Massage your body with soothing oils such as coconut, sunflower, or olive.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Get dressed, choosing clothing in cool colors such as green, silver, and blue.
- Practice a Pitta-balancing yoga asana (this takes less than 10 minutes).
- Eat a healthy breakfast with awareness.
- Perform your morning work and activity.
- Your schedule should have enough “space” between appointments and deadlines. Pittas frequently overbook their schedules, which causes them to worry as the deadlines approach. Focus your concentration on taking three slow, deep breaths whenever you start to feel stressed or agitated.
Morning Routine for a Kapha person
- Get up just at 6 am. In Ayurveda, the period between 6 to 10 am is considered a time characterized by increased Kapha energy. If you get up before time, you’ll avoid the feeling of drowsiness that you may experience after a great night’s rest.
- Drink a glass of lukewarm water when you get upÂ
- Meditate for 10 minutes or longer, letting the quiet inner set the tone for your day.Â
- Set an intention for your day
- Massage your body with light, warming oilsÂ
- Bath.
- Wear clothes with vibrant colors that excite Kapha, like yellow, red, and orange
- Practice a Kapha-balancing yoga sequenceÂ
- Eat a healthy breakfast with awareness.
- Perform your morning work and activity.
- Everyday exercise, every day. Engage in energizing activities such as cycling, running, swimming, or dancing. There is no need to be out for hours. Even just 20 minutes can give you energy.Â
- Sip on warm ginger tea; throughout the day,Â
- Which is delicious and refreshing for Kapha
Diet
Your diet should consist more of protein rather than plumping lots of carbs.
As we are in an era of less physical exertion, we should be conscious of carbs as it is not getting burnt and will get added to your weight.
Tips for planning a healthy morning diet
- Drink a glass of lukewarm water when you wake up. This activates your digestive system and balances out fluid loss. You can add lemon juice to taste.
- Ditch those regular idlis and dosas and try something better, as idli and dosa are not recommended for daily usage by Ayurveda
- Try to include more veggies, nuts, and raw foods.
Here are some quick recipes for a leisurely morning:
- A warm porridge with moong dal and red rice with a dash of ghee and salt
- A bowl of salad made with paneer or scrambled eggs, greens with a bit of seasoning
- Additionally, you can go for smoothies with coconut milk, apples, bananas etc.
- Khichdi with fewer spices is a beautiful combination of carbs, proteins, and other nutrients; thanks to the Mughal advisor Raja Birbal for this superfood!!
Benefits of a Healthy Morning Routine
You will be bestowed with the following if you plan your mornings
- Boost your metabolism
- Disease-free days
- Enhanced mental and general well-being
- Improves focus and motivation by reducing stress and anxiety
- Empowers you with much energy
- It prepares you for success and encourages improved time management
- It makes your work more productive
Conclusion
Let’s end up by catching a quote from the famous book of Robin Sharma, The 5 am Club, where he says, “Take excellent care of the front end of your day, and the rest of your day will pretty much take care of itself.”
Like what you do in the morning will reflect till the end of the day. So be an early riser and be productive.
Your time is valuable, so spend it sensibly!
