How to Start a Morning Mindset Routine

Those who have been following Isn’t She Stellar from it’s beginning know that I am 1000% a morning routine person. If I don’t have my early AM wake up and workout I am an absolute grinch all day long (well, maybe at least a little grinchy. I know what works for me, okay?). Recently, since starting my mental health recovery journey, I’ve developed a morning mindset routine to make sure I’m starting off every day as positively, aligned, and energized as possible. 

Very little feels as important to me as making sure I start every day in the right mindset, particularly while I am fully focused on recovery. This routine has been tweaked, tested, and perfected so that when I complete it my anxiety feels more manageable, I feel more optimistic about my mental headspace, and I feel like I’ve raised my energy to the right vibration I need for that day. 

The good news is that this routine is totally customizable and can be tailored for whatever it is you need in a routine, and whatever you need that day. My morning mindset routine and its components did not come totally and uniquely from my brain. They’ve been collected over time from practicing different journaling techniques (I’m also an avid journal-er), morning routines, dabbling in manifestation practices, and mindset hacks. (I’ll link some of my favorite folks with amazing morning routines and practices at the end of the post who inspired me 🙂 )

If you’re looking to explore or start a morning mindset routine, then this is the post for you! 

So, why even take the time to do it in the first place? Here are a few pretty good reasons:

• It’s backed by science. Scientific research has shown that a morning routine has the ability to increase happiness, reduce procrastination, boost confidence, and improve overall performance. 
• We can control how we want to feel. By deliberately setting and choosing our intentions for the day, we can focus our brains on the emotional state of mind we want to approach what occurs throughout the day. 
• Happiness is found within. Practicing gratitude and mindfulness allows us to tap into our own joy and instead find happiness within. We are empowered with everything we need, right now, to live the life we want. 

Don’t believe me? Check out more awesome reasons why morning routines and focusing on your mindset matters here and here.

Okay, so focusing on yourself in the morning is awesome. Let’s get started! 

First of all, as I mentioned, I’m a journal-er. So, my morning mindset routine is a journaling practice. There is a lot of research out there that talks to the benefits of journaling. But more than anything, I get a lot out of processing my thoughts on paper. The act of writing it down makes it feel really concrete for me, plus it helps me unswirl anything that may be jumbled up in my mind so my thoughts and intentions are clear. I also feel a heightened sense of commitment to what I’m writing, just for the fact of having written it down. It’s powerful stuff! I can literally feel my vibe raising as I’m writing (#goodvibes). 

Here is my morning mindset routine: 

(1) What I’m Grateful For

Practicing gratitude is an amazing way to raise your vibration and has proven to be an amazing mindset hack. Taking time first thing every morning to appreciate what you feel thankful for is such a refreshing and peaceful feeling. It doesn’t have to be anything huge or monumental in any way. It’s just whatever you are feeling in that moment. For example, yesterday I woke up and heard the birds chirping outside my window. It made me so happy! So, I wrote down I was thankful for the birds. Anything that makes you smile, makes you feel closer to your true authentic self, or that just warms your heart in that moment is plenty!

(2) Daily Affirmations

I never heard of affirmations before, but now I am obsessed with them. They are incredibly powerful and motivating. I have a few that I write down every day, because they directly relate to the season that I’m in right now (a season of healing). The rest I tell myself whatever I need to hear based on how I’m feeling that day. Pick and chose what works best for you!

(3) Big Life Visions

I love this part. I’m a huge visualization fan, and I enjoy picturing what my future will look like. It helps me cement in my mind where I am going and why. Plus, it helps make that future feel real and like I can have those things right now. It’s major stuff. When I think of my future, there are a few core pieces that come up every time. That’s what I write down here. Your vision statements should stay the same every day because it’s a testament to where you’re going in life. 

(4) Free Writing

Whatever I feel like I need to get off of my chest, I just brain dump it here. No pressure for it to be pretty, sensical, or eloquent in anyway. Just let it all go! Write for as long or as little as you need. 

(5) Intention of the Day

This is where I start to get more specific about setting up what kind of day I want to have. I do that by choosing my intention and emotion I’ll carry with me through the day’s natural ups and downs. Pick an intention based on what you feel you need to carry with you, and how you’d like to react to moments of adversity. Here’s how I like to think about it: if something were to happen today that would normally upset me, how would I like to approach that? From there, I write my intention. 

(6) What I’m Manifesting

In this section, I start tying my life vision statements into more actionable short-term goals. They represent what I am trying to manifest during the season I’m in, or for the upcoming year. It helps me boil down what I am envisioning for my future into something actionable that I can work towards and set measures around for myself. Once I get really clear on what I’m manifesting, my vibe feels all set for the day. It helps me start with direction and purpose. 

(7) Quote of the Day

This is as simple as it sounds. It’s just whatever I feel like I need to hear. Or, a quote that embodies the energy I want to carry forward into my day! 

Enjoy your morning mindset routine!

And that’s it! Its pretty straightforward, but really powerful. Even just writing these steps down and thinking through them raised my energy! Typically, I do my morning mindset routine after my AM workout and before my to-do list for the day. Especially after getting really clear on what I’m manifesting, its really easy to write a to-do list that is in direct alignment with where I am trying to go. And, its that much easier to effectively prioritize tasks. 

The good thing about all of these components is that you can rearrange them based on the flow that feels right for you. I’ve played around with these for some time, and this is the flow that works best for me. At the end, I feel so powerful and ready to conquer my day!

Here and here are some awesome people with amazing journaling routines and/or morning practices. They inspired the morning mindset routine I designed for myself! Check them out! 

And, let me know what you think of my morning mindset routine! Does it work for you? Feel free to design your own and let me know how it goes! You can send me a message on Instagram, or send me a note here!

Have fun, and shine on!

Ready to start your morning mindset routine?? Download your printable worksheet here!

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