How to create an intentional morning practice, every day.

Your alarm rings and what's the first thing you do?

Check your email? Run through your to-do list? Hit the snooze button until the absolute last possible second? What if I told you that your morning is sacred and it has the ability to impact your entire day ahead? Would you change anything about your routine?

I have read time and time again that a common thread amongst successful leaders, entrepreneurs and influencers is a consistent morning routine. While we may not all be striving to be the Oprah's of the world, there is value in creating consistency and setting intention. 

So maybe you don't classify yourself as a "morning person", but what if you took just a few small steps to invite a little more intention into your day? I speak to this practice because it is close to my heart. Don't get me wrong, I have fallen off the wagon many times... be it because I've been up all night with a newborn or because I simply didn't make it a priority. But every time I fall off, I notice it in a major way. So I choose to pick it back up and I commit to it again and again. What I've learned is that it's not about perfection, but instead it's about practice.

1. Write a gratitude list - write down at least three things that you are grateful for. Whether you use a dedicated Gratitude Journal or a notebook, getting your thoughts down on paper and processed through your brain can shift your outlook on the day ahead. You're beginning from a place of gratitude within your heart and your body.

2. "I AM" statements - write down 30-50 (yes 50) "I AM..." statements and keep them by your bedside. Each morning, pick them up and read them to yourself (especially on the grumpy days). These statements can be ever changing, based on what you're personally going through, but let them be powerful affirmations. "I am open. I am willing. I am learning to listen to what I need deep down..." etc. 

3. Move your body - I love to go through a gentle sequence to wake my body up, while still lying in bed. Here is an example, but choose any movement that works in your body, to get the blood flowing and circulation active:

• Roll out wrists and ankles
• Half Happy Baby
• Supine Figure Four
• Supine Twist
• Roll on one side to come to seated
• Seated Forward Fold
• Neck Rolls

4. Avoid technology - REALLY avoid it for at least 30 minutes. Give your brain and your body a chance to wake up, before introducing blue light and technology. This not only allows you to stick to your morning practice, but also lets you intentionally move into your day without distraction of email, social media or the news.

5. Meditate & Breathe - I have recently been practicing Kapalabhati Pranayama for 3 minutes each morning before meditating. It's invigorating and warming first thing, which I love. Morning is a sacred time for meditation. Your mind has been influenced by very little and is still quiet from rest. You can choose to sit in silence or in a guided meditation - anything that gives you an opportunity to drop into presence. 

So, are you open to creating an intentional morning practice? I'd love to hear how your morning begins! Small steps, consistently. 

xo
Bailey

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STUFFY NOSE STEAM CUP

We're deep into the season of runny noses and *snot*. This steam cup is a favorite in our house to help clear the sinuses and any funk living inside. 

Ingredients:
Coffee Mug
Boiling Water
Clean Towel
1 drop dōTERRA Oregano Essential Oil
1 drop dōTERRA Frankincense Essential Oil
1 drop dōTERRA Peppermint Essential Oil
1 drop dōTERRA Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop dōTERRA Melaleuca Essential Oil

Instructions:
Place the essential oils and boiling water into coffee mug
Place a towel over your eyes
Lean over the coffee mug
Breathe in the steam for a few minutes
Repeat throughout the day as needed

**for little ones: eliminate Oregano, place oils into a diffuser in your bathroom, seal the door with a towel, turn on the hot water in the shower and sit on the floor of the bathroom for 10-15 min. in the steam