Our first thoughts in the morning literally set the tone for our day ahead, I encourage everyone to find one healthy habit to begin the next seven days with; add more as they align with your journey and subtract any attachment you have to making yourself wrong. Allow yourself to simply be, accept what is; if you resist, it persists.

Over the past 10 days there have been a handful distinct moments that brought my consciousness to ponder my morning habits. The first arose during a conversation with a friend, she shared that she doesn’t use her phone for the first 30 minutes of her morning; she takes that time to make a warm water and lemon, set her intentions, and reflect. The second, an online fitness instructor that I’ve followed for years started a “7 Day Jumpstart” program where she focuses less on workouts and more on mental health. The third was a LinkedIn post from my former company quoting the CEO referenced the first thought one has each day. Fourth, a friend (who I haven’t interacted with in 10 + years) posted on FB “what is the best way to start the day?” to which I replied, “with gratitude”.

Needless to say, energy re: the beginning of each day has been around me, I’m clear that on the mornings I miss a step (in my routine) or push one of my key habits to the back burner my mood has the potential to be different.

This morning, I woke up late. I struggled to get to the restroom then came out to the living room to say good morning to my roommate who was ready to conquer the day, and I said to him, “hold on, give me 20 minutes, I need to start my morning proper” and begun walking back to my room. He followed me a bit into my room where he saw my unmade bed (for the first time) and follows with a snarky remake, “yeah, you need to get this together in here”. His tone was appropriate as he has never seen my bed unmade, ever (unless I’m in it, of course). I wasn’t going to not make my bed; I just left my sanctuary without completing my morning routine.

It has been 11 months since I set the intention to make my bed every morning; I know that seems so silly and minuscule but it has the greatest impact on my life. At the time I made the decision to make my bed every day, it served as gauge for my depression, I had a hard-enough time just getting out of bed a year ago. But if I could get out of bed and make it, that was a win. In my mind, if I pushed myself to at least make my bed, I was going to be okay that day; this fed into my competitive side which literally is the only reason I was able to break out of the cycle of depression. Making the bed = win, not making the bed = loss (something was wrong).

At first making the bed wasn’t an easy take, there were days that all I could do was pull the sheets and comforter up a bit, and that was my best effort: Somehow though, that was enough. As I began to force these small wins into my wakening, my days became a bit lighter and I was able to add onto my morning routine. It has taken me some time to get to where I am today; each morning, is an opportunity to redesign the possibilities that are available to me.

Today during the start of my morning, I made my bed while acknowledging the gratitude I have toward having a bed to make, a roof over my head, and a healthy family. I then meditated for 15 minutes, followed by setting 3 goals for my day and jotting down a few things pertaining to my mood. One of my goals for the day, by the way, was to write. I’ve gotten away from it because I’ve not been inspired lately, I said that was due to the current hot topics, I didn’t want to write about them. Basically, just an excuse. But I also wrote down that not making myself wrong would contribute to having a good day, so I should be sure to accept the excuses I was making as simply that, an excuse and detach any negative feelings or emotions I have toward “excuses”. There’s a tendency as humans to get on the hamster wheel of emotions, especially when we have a mindset of knowing better or being aware of certain habits that might not serve us. Anyway, I digress.

I am not flawless in beginning my mornings with gratitude, meditation, exercise, tea, intention setting, etc. but I am proud that I haven’t missed a morning making my bed in almost a year (even during a hotel stay ). We often deprive ourselves of the things we know attribute to our joy, I encourage everyone, especially now, to bring awareness toward their morning thoughts and actions.

Our first thoughts in the morning literally set the tone for our day ahead, I encourage everyone to find one healthy habit to begin the next seven days with; add more as they align with your journey and subtract any attachment you have to making yourself wrong. Allow yourself to simply be, accept what is; if you resist, it persists.