Best morning rituals to start your day on the right foot
Feeling unmotivated and sluggish when you wake up? Be inspired by the morning rituals of these dedicated early risers to set yourself up for the day.
Ben Lucas
Personal trainer and Flow Athletic founder
I wake up early – 4.30am-ish – before my alarm.
It is my favourite time of the day.
I spend the first five to 10 minutes journaling, which looks like this: “What do I hope to achieve from that day? What am I grateful for? Who do I need to connect with today, and how can I make their life better?”
This sharpens my focus for the day.
Next, I will spend five minutes box breathing, which can be practised like this:
Four counts in, hold for four counts, four counts out, hold for four counts.
This settles my nervous system, and makes me settled and aware.
Generally, I have a 15-minute walk to work, during which I listen to a podcast or an audiobook.
Currently, I‘m listening to an audiobook called It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad who, in my opinion, was one of the best mental coaches in the world.
- Morning sunshine: How to be an early riser
Eliza Hayward
Yoga and meditation teacher and Divine Flow Yoga founder
My mornings are never quite the same – with two babies, I can be up early or I could be given the sweetest sleep-in.
My husband and I will meditate in bed while still under the covers.
Meditation is non-negotiable; it is a ritual that sets the tone of my day and, for me as a mother, it guides me to my centre.
I relish the stillness and steadiness before the pace of the morning changes and then I am straight into connecting with my babies, changing nappies and clothes, and doing the brekky routine with the family.
Once I’m ready for the day, or at least half ready, we are out the door for a morning walk to our local cafe in North Narrabeen (Sydney).
Vikki Weston
She SUPs founder and managing director
As soon as my alarm goes off 30 to 40 minutes before sunrise, I get myself straight onto my balcony to awaken naturally, enjoy the first light and check out the water conditions.
I eat a banana and drink some water, and then it’s time to grab my stand-up paddleboard and head out.
I take to the water and position myself in the best spot to be struck by the first rays of light as the sun comes over the horizon.
I watch the colours evolve and the surrounding suburbs come alive with people.
When I return home for breakfast, I feel like I carry a secret – an experience no one else experienced that morning – and it stays with me for the rest of the day.
Luke McLeod
Meditation expert and Soul Alive founder
Even though I set my alarm to go off at 6am, most mornings I am woken up around 5.50am by my Japoodle, Pikachu, wanting breakfast.
After feeding her, I have a large glass of water with a drop of Siberian ginseng in it.
I’ll put on my runners and gym clothes, and walk down to the gym by 6.30am.
I usually alternate my training between resistance and cardio workouts that go for around 45 minutes.
Once I’ve finished at the gym, I’ll grab my large oat cappuccino and head down to the beach for a 10- to 15-minute meditation.
I’ll then finish my meditation by taking a few moments to just look out over the ocean and remind myself of things I’m grateful for.
- Find more Zen: 7 ways meditation can boost wellbeing
Ash Lane
Nutritionist and fat loss coach
There’s no such thing as a perfect morning routine – there is only a perfect routine for you.
So here’s mine – but look at it as a buffet and take what you like the taste of and leave the soggy salad behind!
My day generally starts at 4am or 5am with an hour of work, which makes me feel accomplished and set up.
Then we head off for coffee and a family sunrise walk where I get stillness and gratitude; then it’s home for school drop-off, with a podcast for some learning.
This routine is what I’ve come to know and love and covers not only my values, but also gives me stillness, gratitude, learning, accomplishment, and so much more.
