Morning Do...

Mornings can be busy and stressful even before we set one foot outside. However, a little time dedicated to solitude at the start of the day can have valuable benefits in the long run. According to an article featured in Forbes magazine last August by psychotherapist Amy Morin, a multitude of studies tout the benefits of solitude. Among those benefits are the opportunity to spark creativity, improve stress management, and develop more insight into who you are as a person.

Before getting into your daily grind, I encourage you to carve out 10-15 minutes of alone time (including unplugging from electronic devices and television) to ground yourself for the day ahead. It may be more challenging than you anticipate to safeguard your time alone. Stick with it even if you fall off the wagon a few times. You could use the time to pray, meditate, write, or stretch your body — the important thing is to have time alone when you are not distracted by the elements of your daily grind. I plan to be more consistent in carving out quiet (alone) time in the morning to write in my gratitude journal. Writing what I am grateful for at that moment (Dear Lord, thank you for…) and my intentions for the day provides me with a sense of peace and purpose. Sometimes, my intentions are very specific while other times, they are broad such as moving throughout the day with integrity and compassion.

If you aren’t used to solitude, it can feel uncomfortable or even unrealistic if you live in a household with others. However, incorporating solitude into your morning routine may be worth the effort to make it happen. As described by Dr. Morin, “Creating quiet time for yourself could be key to becoming the best version of yourself.”

I would love to hear about your experience with incorporating solitude into your mornings.

Take care,

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