Centering Exercises: Get Your Day Started Right

I know I only have 3 hours of silence in the morning. My kiddo’s at school, my husband’s at work. I have 3 hours, and a long list of tasks that need focused attention. It is my first instinct to jump in and get. to. work. However, in the last 6 months or so I’ve started taking some time in the morning, before I get to work to do some centering exercises.  I’ve tried different things and each of them have been positive in their own way.

I’ve noticed when I take 10 or 15 minutes (yeah, that’s all it takes) to get my head on straight before I jump in, the day goes smoother, the work goes quicker, and everything seems easier. It took me a while to let go of those 15 minutes, but I’m finding I’m getting more done by giving myself that time.

Here’s some centering exercises you might try:

• 10 minutes of quiet: I got this idea from Kate Swoboda and her fabulous blog Your Courageous Life. She talks about sitting and just being still. That worked. I used to beat myself up because my monkey brain wouldn’t slow down enough to “meditate” the way I thought meditation “should” be. So when I gave myself permission to just SIT, silently (maybe drinking a cup of coffee), maybe outside, just noticing the sounds, feelings, and smells around me, it was lovely. Very refreshing, and got my day started in a really great way.

• The Life Organizer:  I purchased Jen Louden’s Life Organizer, which is lovely. I would spend 10 to 15 minutes each morning thinking about the questions asked for the day.

• Morning thoughts. There are so many women’s devotional books available. Whether you’re religious or not you can find a book with something inspiring to take 10 minutes in the morning to think about. Starting the day thinking about something positive and inspirational seems to get things started right.

• Get in the vortex: I’m currently using the Abraham Hicks In The Vortex Guided Meditations. This series of meditations by some of my favorite teachers has been wonderful. I love that in the meditation they say there is nothing you have to do, just breath and enjoy. I love that. These meditations have seriously changed how I feel. I’m not getting as irritated as I used to, and I find it easier to let things roll away rather than get wrapped up in them. Fantastic way to start the day. 15 minutes of bliss quite frankly.

It may seem counterproductive to take a portion of the limited time you have available to work to sit down and do one or more of these centering exercises, but the gifts you get in return make the few minutes used totally worth it.

I’d love to hear how you start your day, and how you stay centered to make it a great day. Please, share in the comments.

image credit: Hape_Gera