Love this. I have a little ritual for mornings, I read a few chapters of my latest non-fiction book, then do 10 minutes journalling, I usually have a candle lit, or an oil burner with a "woody" oil in it. I also make myself be sure to drink my full bottle of water before I can have coffee. ☺️
One day I will be able to do this from a van parked somewhere beautiful. ☺️
Thank you Molly. I unfortunately have to go out to work 5 days per week (reducing to 4 at last from next week!) However I rise half an hour earlier than needed so I can do yoga (Yoga with Adrienne is my go to...love the addition of her dog Benji 🐕) This routine has become entrenched and totally helps with anxiety, low mood or frustration. I have also taken up listening to audio books when driving to and from work...i find this diverts my mind from unwanted thoughts.
It is good to listen and heed what the mind and body need in the morning as it sets us up for dealing with the day ahead. 😊
How beautiful! Thank you Molly. I too get up with anxiety some days, but as soon as I am out of the door for my walk, it all disappears. Moving does help. I like to make myself a cup of tea and sit in complete silence for 15-20 mins,before my walk in nature.
Congratulations on creating rituals that suit you, rather than what you 'should do'. I think it partly about recognising how your body and mind work. My body is slow in the morning and my mind is sharp, so that is when I write.
Love this Molly. I think when we figure out what we actually truly enjoy in our own lives, and live our life true to us, and not what we see on social media, that life feels more contented and happy.
I'm new here and not often on, as i am reducing my 'social' media time dramatically, finding new ways to "be" with people... right now you are the only one I'm truly following on Substack in my art-filled, self-care ritual, life and work-life.
I love what you say here. I feel as though I'm getting caught up in creating new practices and they may just becoming goals ! i don't particularily like goals, never have and that's not what my life is about. It's about expression through art, through writing, (journals, stories, healing experiences), food as art, Life itself as art and a deep connection with nature woven into all of this!
This mornings writing has touched me and is something i will continue to have thoughts and tea with, in this ever-evolving yet slowly delicious life of mine.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
p.s I am on the West Coast of Canada and love that you are living life in it's simplest in the UK.
This resonates so much with me, Molly. I have noticed how my morning routine has become a bit too automatic for me ie I do it but am not fully present with it, like I am going through the motions. And that is NOT what it is about for me! What you describe as a shift to slow rituals feels very resonant with how I have started to adjust my way of beginning each day. I am also self-employed and am grateful that offers me more space and time in the morning than some people have (ie I don't have a boss or colleagues expecting me to be somewhere at a certain time!) and so it feels important to me to respect and honour that time with rituals which nourish me for the day ahead. With the key learning point for me being......stay present with them, don't let them turn into just another thing on the to-do list or another goal to strive to achieve! Thanks Molly for prompting this reflection in me.
I love this. I feel like we humans always overdo something once we find it to be helpful. I always felt like I NEEDED a morning routine to do it (I guess life) right but actually I just have a slow start to my day. No label.
I get up, feed the dog and then take some time for myself. I journal, write morning pages, read...whatever I fancy. Then the dogs gets her walk and I listen to a podcast, music or just the sound of nature.
I adore this because starting the day with a strict routine isn’t necessarily the most natural way to set yourself up for success. How can we expect to wake up every single day feeling the exact same way and perfectly executing our routine? We're humans, not programmed robots! I’ll be adopting this approach in my own habits, focusing on rituals and values that align with the specific needs of each day (that are inevitably different).
Routines as well as morning routines keep me feeling safe and means that I can keep on top of caring for 2 kids, a dog, a gekho, my home and my unpaid/ paid work. All very positive.
However one slight negative is the monotony felt doing all of this mostly alone and at home. I’m a widow and parenting solo.
Recently I try to mix it up a bit and give myself a week off writing and creating my new business as a trauma-informed dietitian and family healing coach. I also use gratitude and mindfulness to approach tasks more positively.
But I still struggle with the monotony. Any more ideas on how to relieve this?
I can completely relate! I tend to shift my routines slightly with the seasons (so every 3 months or so), which makes my mornings/days feel a little more varied :)
Yes I’ve seen you do this. I’m starting to live more seasonally and actually notice and be more aware of the seasons. So I think this happens naturally but intentionally and mindfully noticing and doing this is a top tip.
I so appreciated your take on mornings. I have always loved waking up with my body's natural rhythm but never really thought about it as self care. I see it differently now. Thank you.
Such a great post, thanks Molly! I've been trying to "force" morning routines in my days, and for a while it worked, and it felt quite nice. But I was also stressing a ton when I wasn't able to do them.
I'd still love to have something similar to your rituals, for now the reading is incorporated (though as of recently I'm starting with a poem from "A Poem for Every Day of the Year"). And mostly going with the flow as I try to make my mornings nourishing and myself flexible enough to be ok with some mornings not going according to plan
Always so inspired by your thoughtful approach to slow living. I’ve been trying to do away with strict routines and forcing habits, I find they make me obsess over ticking ‘everything’ off, when it simply isn’t always possible! Instead, I’m just listening to myself and giving myself what I need that day or week or even in the moment. Sometimes that’s my morning gym session, other times it’s an extra hour in bed with a book and my dog!
I’ve also started using the term “ritual” over routine — it feels more nourishing and flexible. Morning reading is a habit I built last year (before I even get out of bed!) and it’s my favorite ritual. I even wrote a whole Substack post about it ☺️
Love this. I have a little ritual for mornings, I read a few chapters of my latest non-fiction book, then do 10 minutes journalling, I usually have a candle lit, or an oil burner with a "woody" oil in it. I also make myself be sure to drink my full bottle of water before I can have coffee. ☺️
One day I will be able to do this from a van parked somewhere beautiful. ☺️
What lovely rituals :)
Thank you Molly. I unfortunately have to go out to work 5 days per week (reducing to 4 at last from next week!) However I rise half an hour earlier than needed so I can do yoga (Yoga with Adrienne is my go to...love the addition of her dog Benji 🐕) This routine has become entrenched and totally helps with anxiety, low mood or frustration. I have also taken up listening to audio books when driving to and from work...i find this diverts my mind from unwanted thoughts.
It is good to listen and heed what the mind and body need in the morning as it sets us up for dealing with the day ahead. 😊
Yoga is so wonderful to do in the morning, or anytime of day!
Benji is perfect!
How beautiful! Thank you Molly. I too get up with anxiety some days, but as soon as I am out of the door for my walk, it all disappears. Moving does help. I like to make myself a cup of tea and sit in complete silence for 15-20 mins,before my walk in nature.
This sounds like such a peaceful routine Savita :)
I began loosening my grip on morning routines last year. My nervous system is so thankful.
Congratulations on creating rituals that suit you, rather than what you 'should do'. I think it partly about recognising how your body and mind work. My body is slow in the morning and my mind is sharp, so that is when I write.
Love this Molly. I think when we figure out what we actually truly enjoy in our own lives, and live our life true to us, and not what we see on social media, that life feels more contented and happy.
So true :) 💚
Hi Molly
I'm new here and not often on, as i am reducing my 'social' media time dramatically, finding new ways to "be" with people... right now you are the only one I'm truly following on Substack in my art-filled, self-care ritual, life and work-life.
I love what you say here. I feel as though I'm getting caught up in creating new practices and they may just becoming goals ! i don't particularily like goals, never have and that's not what my life is about. It's about expression through art, through writing, (journals, stories, healing experiences), food as art, Life itself as art and a deep connection with nature woven into all of this!
This mornings writing has touched me and is something i will continue to have thoughts and tea with, in this ever-evolving yet slowly delicious life of mine.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
p.s I am on the West Coast of Canada and love that you are living life in it's simplest in the UK.
Patricia
So lovely to have you hear Patricia! :)
Lovely to be here Molly~!
This resonates so much with me, Molly. I have noticed how my morning routine has become a bit too automatic for me ie I do it but am not fully present with it, like I am going through the motions. And that is NOT what it is about for me! What you describe as a shift to slow rituals feels very resonant with how I have started to adjust my way of beginning each day. I am also self-employed and am grateful that offers me more space and time in the morning than some people have (ie I don't have a boss or colleagues expecting me to be somewhere at a certain time!) and so it feels important to me to respect and honour that time with rituals which nourish me for the day ahead. With the key learning point for me being......stay present with them, don't let them turn into just another thing on the to-do list or another goal to strive to achieve! Thanks Molly for prompting this reflection in me.
This is so true Susan!
I love this. I feel like we humans always overdo something once we find it to be helpful. I always felt like I NEEDED a morning routine to do it (I guess life) right but actually I just have a slow start to my day. No label.
I get up, feed the dog and then take some time for myself. I journal, write morning pages, read...whatever I fancy. Then the dogs gets her walk and I listen to a podcast, music or just the sound of nature.
What have you said to Skye? She looks sad. She is missing her granny no doubt! xx
She's complaining about having to pose for yet another photo!
I feel her pain! x
I adore this because starting the day with a strict routine isn’t necessarily the most natural way to set yourself up for success. How can we expect to wake up every single day feeling the exact same way and perfectly executing our routine? We're humans, not programmed robots! I’ll be adopting this approach in my own habits, focusing on rituals and values that align with the specific needs of each day (that are inevitably different).
Routines as well as morning routines keep me feeling safe and means that I can keep on top of caring for 2 kids, a dog, a gekho, my home and my unpaid/ paid work. All very positive.
However one slight negative is the monotony felt doing all of this mostly alone and at home. I’m a widow and parenting solo.
Recently I try to mix it up a bit and give myself a week off writing and creating my new business as a trauma-informed dietitian and family healing coach. I also use gratitude and mindfulness to approach tasks more positively.
But I still struggle with the monotony. Any more ideas on how to relieve this?
I can completely relate! I tend to shift my routines slightly with the seasons (so every 3 months or so), which makes my mornings/days feel a little more varied :)
Yes I’ve seen you do this. I’m starting to live more seasonally and actually notice and be more aware of the seasons. So I think this happens naturally but intentionally and mindfully noticing and doing this is a top tip.
Thank you ❤️
I so appreciated your take on mornings. I have always loved waking up with my body's natural rhythm but never really thought about it as self care. I see it differently now. Thank you.
Such a great post, thanks Molly! I've been trying to "force" morning routines in my days, and for a while it worked, and it felt quite nice. But I was also stressing a ton when I wasn't able to do them.
I'd still love to have something similar to your rituals, for now the reading is incorporated (though as of recently I'm starting with a poem from "A Poem for Every Day of the Year"). And mostly going with the flow as I try to make my mornings nourishing and myself flexible enough to be ok with some mornings not going according to plan
A poem a day is a lovely idea! :)
Always so inspired by your thoughtful approach to slow living. I’ve been trying to do away with strict routines and forcing habits, I find they make me obsess over ticking ‘everything’ off, when it simply isn’t always possible! Instead, I’m just listening to myself and giving myself what I need that day or week or even in the moment. Sometimes that’s my morning gym session, other times it’s an extra hour in bed with a book and my dog!
Love this Michelle! :)
I’ve also started using the term “ritual” over routine — it feels more nourishing and flexible. Morning reading is a habit I built last year (before I even get out of bed!) and it’s my favorite ritual. I even wrote a whole Substack post about it ☺️