How to Gently Transform Your Mornings

 As the summer sun sets and the crisp, cozy embrace of fall begins to unfold, I find myself yearning for a transformation, especially when it comes to my morning routine. The laid-back days of summer, free from the rush of catching early buses or scheduling morning coaching sessions, have come to an end.

Now, the reality of early mornings has returned, with the added task of driving my youngest to the bus stop, only to crawl back into bed for another hour.  

While this pattern is comforting in its own way, I miss the energizing morning walks and heartfelt conversations with my friend Kristen, not to mention the precious downtime that allowed me to tune into myself and gain perspective before diving into the day’s demands. 

I can't help but wonder if you, too, are feeling a similar longing for a more serene start to your day. I’ll be the first to admit that the snooze button and I have become far too acquainted—resetting my alarm four times just this morning. This habit leaves me feeling groggy and unsettled, yet the thought of sacrificing any of my precious sleep seems unthinkable. However, I’ve come to realize that the key to transforming my mornings actually begins the night before.

Lately, my bedtime has been creeping later and later, now a full two hours beyond my ideal. While the temptation to overhaul my routine in one fell swoop is strong, experience has taught me that drastic changes rarely stick.

Instead, I’ve committed to a more gradual approach, aiming to go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night over the course of eight nights. This gentle shift is designed to ease me back to a bedtime that feels natural and restful.

So, how am I practically implementing this change?

☀️ For starters, I’ve set alarms on my phone to go off half an hour before my intended bedtime, complete with corny labels like “½ hour until rest time :) go on, nurture yourself…ease your way up to bed, my love,” accompanied by soft, inviting music.

 Yes, it’s as corny as it sounds, but it’s surprisingly effective.

 ☀️ I’ve also enlisted the support of my family and friends, making them aware of my new bedtime goal. For instance, last night when my friend Mel and my kids, Ari and Emerson, went out for ice cream at 9:00 PM, it wasn't exactly conducive to a 10:00 PM bedtime. Getting them on board with my new bedtime is key. Their understanding and willingness to adapt, perhaps opting for an earlier ice cream run, underscores the importance of communicating our needs to those around us.

 This brings me to the cherished part of my morning routine that I’ve sorely missed—

☀️ My morning walk and talk with Kristen. The ease of summer and my haphazard mornings filled with bus runs and snooze alarms have put these walks on hold. I miss my friend dearly, and I miss how invigorated my body felt moving in the morning light, how proud I felt for nurturing my body with movement before starting work. So, Kristen, it’s time to dust off those walking shoes because we’re reigniting our morning routine. We might not hit our usual pace or route right away, but with time, we’ll build back up to it.

Notice a theme here?

🐢 Slow and steady wins the race.

In our world of instant gratification, this concept can be challenging to embrace. I’m tempted to dive back into my old morning routine, and that might work momentarily.

However, my experience with habit formation, backed by research, suggests that slow, steady, and conscious steps forward are what cement these changes for the long term.

I’m not berating myself for hitting snooze or missing my walks; I’m human, and honestly, a break was nice. But with the knowledge that I’ve successfully cultivated peaceful morning habits before, I trust myself to do so again.

I hope this resonates with you, my friends. Please feel free to share your thoughts, your morning routines, habits, or anything else in the comments or replies. I love hearing from you and learning about your journeys.

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of slow, intentional change, trusting that each small step forward is a victory in its own right.

***Image captured on a morning walk with Kristen.