How To Create A Relaxing Morning Routine That Does Not Involve Your Phone

Whether you plan to go phone-free for 15 minutes or for an hour, there may be benefits in making the change. Peaceful phone-free mornings can be what you make of them, focusing on your physical health, emotional well-being, or both. 

To create a relaxing morning routine that doesn’t involve your phone, the first step is to make sure your phone is away. Many people intend to have a phone-free morning, but are so in the habit of checking. To ensure you won’t give in to technological temptation, there are a few strategies you can implement:

• Turn on “Do Not Disturb.”  Most phones have a Do Not Disturb function to block any unwanted notifications. You may be able to select contacts you would like to still receive notifications and calls from. If this is not available to you, you can silence your phone.
• Use screen time limiting features. Phones often have features that require you to “unlock” apps of your choosing to prevent mindless app scrolling.
• Put your phone in another room. Putting your phone in another room can be a useful strategy to break the habit of reaching for your phone right when you wake up. Storing and charging your phone in another room disrupts the pattern by making your phone less accessible.

These tactics help you decide to look at your phone when you are ready, not when a notification goes off or a phone call comes through. It allows you to be intentional and more conscientious when you decide to break your “phone fast.” One possible issue with these strategies is needing the alarm on your phone. If this is the case, consider opting for a physical alarm clock.

Stretch your body. Try yoga. Take a morning shower. These are all ways to care for your physical self while you are just waking up. Moving your body is a great way to get blood flowing. Exercise in the morning is ideal for beating the summer heat. It improves mood, focus, and alertness, allowing you to start your day off on a good note. Yoga and stretching warm up your body and mind for the day for the same reasons. Showering in the morning helps to boost circulation and helps you feel more awake. All are great ways to kick-start your day.

Reading, sudoku, and crossword puzzles are all ways to stimulate your brain first thing in the morning. To help build the habit, keep a light read or a book of sudoku and crossword puzzles close by. You can leave it on your nightstand at night in preparation for the next morning, or put it in the kitchen so you can utilize it while enjoying your morning coffee or tea. As for books, choose a light, creative read. Reading something too educational and heavily structured can be too much first thing in the morning. It’s important to choose a book you truly want to read. Reading in the morning is an easy way to manage morning anxiety and exercise your creativity before the day starts.

Meditating and journaling in the morning can leave you feeling more confident while taking on the day. Just like the other suggestions, meditation and journaling lower stress. It allows you to start with a foundation of calmness and continue your day with built-in emotional resilience. That resilience may be needed when conquering the day’s events. Journaling in the morning reduces mental clutter. You can braindump your tasks and anxieties as a way of releasing them from your mind. You can also use the time to set intentions for the day or practice gratitude.