This essay serves a purely selfish purpose: to simplify my mornings. I need to slow down. Regardless of the unscheduled tasks and moments, I need to be back in charge of how my day will unfold. I need to set the tone of my own day. Correction- I want to pave the right path for my own day.
The morning rush
Wake up, make coffee, wash your face, get dressed, prepare the child’s snack box, prepare your breakfast, feed the dog, prepare your work lunch, put the laundry away, comfort your crying child, dress your crying child, reply to urgent work emails and notifications while putting your shoes on and remembering to pick up keys, scarf, gloves.
Oh, and all this while trying not to absolutely lose your mind. If it sounds like a lot, that’s because it actually isa lot to start your day with. As my colleague said, our “stress backpack” is already half or entirely full by the time we are at work.
The Power of Perspective
But here’s the key: we are the makers of our own stories. Realizing that we can shape our day—turning it into a good or unpleasant one—is powerful. Lately, I’ve struggled to remember this. My mornings have been brimming with stress, leaving me exhausted before my day truly begins.
Yet, by simplifying my mornings, I’ve found relief, a lightening of the load that I carry into the day.
And most of the time, it is not about all the little things that need tackling. It is about the bundle of tangled thoughts in our head. The shoulds, the musts, and the have-tos.
We set ourselves up for failure by focusing on the negative: “I have no time for myself today,” “This workday will be stressful,” “That train delay will be frustrating.”
Tell Empowering Stories
Why not flip the script? Tell empowering stories that set us up for success. We can choose to be victims of circumstances or take charge of our feelings, approaches, and interpretations. That choice is freeing.
How to simplify your mornings
The key is to build certain habits that will help us maintain consistency while offering a sense of orientation and comfort.
• Wake up early (or earlier).
• Brew some delicious coffee.
• Light a candle.
• Avoid screens for at least one hour.
• Stretch your body- arms above the head.
• Exercise (if you are a morning type).
• Define your day’s goals.
• Don’t overfill your morning with tasks.
• Write down or visualize the day’s blessings.
• Meditate (any form that suits you).
• Breath deeply.
• Plan something to look forward to.
The secret lies in avoiding the rigid adherence to a checklist of the habits mentioned above. One must personalize their morning routine to suit their own needs and preferences.
For instance, I have stopped using my phone immediately after waking up. Inspired by the Little Book of Hygge by Mike Wiking, I now lit a candle on the kitchen table every morning while sipping my coffee. It slows time and creates a cozy vibe, especially during Berlin’s cold and dark winters. And I pause and breathe more often.
No need to mention that the very first thing I do is to boil the kettle and get my coffee ready. The rich smell and feeling of the warm cup in my hand kindle pleasant feelings within me.
Small Changes, Big Impact
I tell myself I have enough time in the morning. This mindset shift has transformed my morning experience—enjoying breakfast with my family, cherish my cup of hot coffee while sitting in the silence of my kitchen or getting ready without panic. Simplifying isn’t just about tasks; it’s about decluttering our minds and focusing on what truly matters.
Acknowledging, and most importantly accepting, that I am the owner of my life and controlling the mood of my own day is liberating and profoundly influential.
To reach this essential and almighty realization, one must remove the superfluous and dust off the excess; in other words, simplify.
We simplify not only the stuff, but also the thoughts and actions that hinder our wellbeing. We remove anything impeding our mind to focus on the important.
We simplify so the essentials can shine.
