Mornings are the hardest part of my day. My morning routine makes or breaks my day, as I learn to live well with an autoimmune disease.
I am finally at a point where I have experienced more good days than bad days for months, but the memories of my hardest days are still fresh. Along with those memories, I awake each morning with fear. Fear that I cannot physically be the woman, wife, and mother I want to be this day. I awake and the positive mindset I worked so hard for the day before has vanished overnight. Poof. Gone.
Even though several months have passed since my autoimmune disease diagnosis, I awake each morning with the realization of just how much my life has changed. The weight of my autoimmune disease feels heaviest in the morning.
Each morning, I have to take time to cultivate a positive mindset, ground myself spiritually, and overcome my fears. I lay in bed, pray, meditate, and give myself the best motivational speech I can. Sometimes my motivational speech is longer than others; sometimes it is more effective than others.
If you see me regularly out and about, you know I am a smiley and positive person. I am not smiling to hide the pain or to be fake. I am smiling because I overcame my inner demons that morning, cultivated a positive growth mindset, and am living well with my autoimmune disease.
I have learned the hard way that my morning routine makes or breaks my day. I may sound like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum, but some days I just do not feel like doing certain things, especially during an autoimmune flare. I try to keep in mind each morning that I feel best when I do my morning routine.
So, what does my morning routine look like?
This is my ideal, in a perfect world, and the stars align, morning routine:
- Snuggle my kiddos
- Meditation (20-30 minutes)
- Gentle morning yoga (video – 20 minutes)
- Prayer and scripture study (15 minutes)
- Walk outside with my dogs (20-30 minutes)
- Gratitude Journal (3 minutes)
- Self care (water with lemon, dry brushing, oil pulling, supplements)
- Healthy Breakfast (for help with an AIP breakfast routine, click here)
As you can see, my morning routine takes time. Some days I do not have the time, so I have to make choices.
Do I go to bed earlier the night before to wake up earlier?
Do I shift around my morning routine and do part of it later in the day?
Do I pick and choose parts of my morning routine and forget about the rest?
My morning routine is an important part of my life with autoimmune disease, and I am grateful for each of the benefits I receive when I invest time in my morning routine. If you have not already done so, I challenge you to find a morning routine that sets you up for success each day, and helps you be the best version of you.
