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As the season transitions from summer to fall, it’s time to slow down and relax. It’s not about becoming lazy or unproductive. It’s more about making little changes in your mornings that allow you to find a healthy and calming balance between your responsibilities and your comfort.
One of the biggest changes that can be useful during the fall season is starting a new morning routine. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or extravagant, in fact, it shouldn’t be. Your fall morning routine is more about slowing down, waking up in a calm state, getting cozy, and just enjoying your mornings as you wake up and get ready for your day.
5 ways to Create a cozy and relaxing fall morning routine
1. Start Your Day Slowly and Calmly
If you are not doing so already, focus on starting your day as calmly and stress-free as possible. This means something different for everyone, but typically, you want to avoid any distractions that may trigger negative emotions or raise your anxiety levels.
Put Your Phone On Airplane Mode
Make a habit of turning your phone on airplane mode at night, or turning it off completely if you don’t use it as an alarm. At the very least, turn off notifications related to social media, and avoid checking your phone in the morning when you first get up.
Even if it seems innocent enough, getting a text or a notification from social media apps in the morning can be really disruptive to your self-care routine. One simple, seemingly innocent notification may weigh heavily on your mind, casting a shadow on the rest of the day.
Listen to Calming Music While Going About Your Chores
Listening to soft, calming music in the morning is a soothing influence, which is what you want. This gives you time to wake up very slowly, and remain as relaxed as possible at least during the first 30 minutes or so of your day.
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Avoid turning on the news in the morning. News broadcasts are designed to trigger strong emotions in listeners, which is something you can do without. The doom and gloom that newscasters love to reiterate endlessly on the news channels can put a dampener on your mood.
2. Get Some Sunlight
In the fall, the weather has probably cooled off quite a bit and you don’t spend as much time outside, but this is exactly why you need to make it a priority. There’s something wonderful that happens to your mind and body when you can fresh air and sunlight first thing in the morning.
Exposure to sunlight offers powerful benefits all year round. In the fall, it is even more important to stave off SAD symptoms that result from lack of sunlight exposure.
Here are some super simple ways to get that all-important sunlight exposure during this season:
Open all your windows – The simplest thing you can do is make a habit of opening your windows in the morning. Open your curtains or blinds to let light in, and if you can, open your windows as well. This not only gets you more natural sunlight in your home but some fresh air as well.
Sit outside on your patio or balcony – Enjoy your morning tea or coffee while sitting in the sunlight on your patio, balcony, or backyard. Make it extra cozy with a comfy blanket and don’t forget your socks or slippers if it’s cold out!
Go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood – Combine fresh air and sunlight with gentle movement by going for a stroll around the block. Remember this doesn’t have to be an intense cardio workout. An easy walk around the block will stretch your muscles and get your blood pumping.
3. Focus on Quiet and Relaxing Morning Habits
Remember that your morning routine should not be complicated or take hours to get through. Fitting in too many habits in your morning routine will end up stressing you out, which is counterproductive to what you want to achieve.
Just add a couple of routines that are easy to implement and that you find relaxing and therapeutic. The aim is to help you get ready for the day ahead.
Two of the best activities that epitomize quiet and relaxation are meditation and journaling.
Spending a few minutes meditating or deep breathing is a wonderful way to wake up gently without getting too stressed or anxious first thing in the morning.
Writing in your journal, especially if you incorporate gratitude journaling can also be immensely satisfying. The best thing about journaling is that there are no rules. It can be any style of writing you want, whether you do a brain dump every morning or you use journal prompts to find a topic to write about.
Diffuse fall-scented essential oil blends to fill your home with warm, cozy, seasonal scents.
4. Add Gentle Movement To Your Fall Morning Routine
To continue on to the rest of your morning routine, try to add some gentle movement in. Of course, if you decide to go outside for a walk or do yoga on your backyard patio, you can combine this step with getting sunlight and fresh air in the morning.
However, if it is a cold and rainy morning, or you aren’t quite ready to go for a stroll in your neighborhood, here are some other ideas for gentle movement:
If you don’t have the time or energy for a full-blown workout in the morning, why not just do a short stretching routine indoors? This gets your body moving in the morning and will give you more energy as you wake up, without being exhausted or sore.
You can also do a yoga or Pilates workout either from home or at a nearby studio. These are both great forms of gentle movement that also happen to be amazing workouts for the early morning.
If you want some cardio and light strength training in the morning, consider a low-impact workout. This isn’t quite as intense as your high-impact interval training (HIIT), but you still get some amazing exercise for your body and will release endorphins that boost your mood and energy levels.
5. Enjoy a Nourishing Breakfast With Fall Produce
Nothing beats a nourishing breakfast to start your day on an energetic note. Whether you prefer an omelet or a smoothie in the morning, consider adding some fall produce.
A saying I heard a long time ago – There’s a reason for the season – has stuck with me through the years. Studies show that eating fruits and vegetables that are in season provides the body with the nutrients it needs for that particular season. For example, summer foods are high in water content. Fall foods contain ingredients that help boost immunity and stay healthy through the fall and winter.
Fruits and vegetables that are in season during the fall include apples, pumpkin, squash, figs, cranberries, persimmon, broccoli, and eggplant. There are so many ways to add these foods to your breakfast menu.
While talking about nutrition, you can’t ignore the importance of staying hydrated. Drinking water takes a backseat in the fall because of the cooler weather. We either think it’s not important because we don’t perspire as much or because we just forget about it completely in the cooler weather. However staying hydrated is important all year round, and yes, even during fall and winter.
Drinking water is not the only way to stay hydrated. There are other ways to stay hydrated without drinking water. These tips are focused on summer foods but they can be customized for fall by substituting fall foods that have high water content.
Remember that your fall morning routine can and should be customized to your own needs and what habits you are trying to implement into your life. Choose morning habits that allow you to wake up gradually, start becoming more alert, and ready to take on the day.
If at any point, your morning routine becomes stressful, then it is time for some adjustments.
Related Reads:
Fabulous Fall Essential Oils & Blends
Hygge Activities For That Cozy Fall Feeling
12 Effective Ways To Manage Autumn Anxiety
Fight Fall Fatigue And Boost Energy Levels This Season
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.