Every morning just when the light begins to filter through the window, Daisy, my furry alarm clock, wakes me up with her cold nose against my cheek, tail thumping. She’s eager to start the day. I try to match her enthusiasm, groggily pulling on my clothes and reminding myself that coffee is soon to come. We take a leisurely walk around the block. I allow Daisy to set the haphazard pace; she alternately scurries fast to chase a rabbit, then slows down to sniff around and mark her territory. We always stop halfway at the neighborhood dock and walk down to the lake. The lake looks different each day, sometimes glowing pink with the sunrise, sometimes dark and choppy, sometimes still like glass reflecting the houses and trees across the shore. When we moved to this lakeside community I vowed to never get used to the beauty of the lake; I mindfully take it all in each day. I stop. And look. And breathe.

Day after day after day, Daisy and I take this walk. The details of the walk change, but the activity itself is constant.  No matter what each day eventually holds, this simple routine of walking the dog allows me to begin my day grounded firmly in the present moment.

My Morning Routine: An Example

Creating and sticking to a solid morning routine sets your compass for each day. I’ve come up with a routine that works for me, setting the right tone for the hours ahead. I use this time to remind myself of what’s most important and plan out the workday. Besides the morning walk with Daisy, my routine consists of:

• coffee & chatting with my husband
• journaling (at the very least I jot down 3 gratitudes, sometimes I also write about my word of the month or an affirmation/intention for the day)
• reading (non-fiction and scripture)
• planning

This is a routine I can stick with every single day, even when times are busy. I just make each part of it shorter if I must leave the house early for work. So instead of a leisurely 20-minute walk, I might cut that in half. Writing down three things I’m grateful for takes no time at all. And reading might just be a verse of scripture instead of an entire chapter of an inspirational book. Even in “streamlined” mode, the result is the same: the routine keeps me grounded and living on purpose.

How To Create Your Own Morning Routine

So how do you craft the perfect morning routine for you? This is a wonderful activity to focus on during your next Personal Retreat Day! Think about your personality and lifestyle. Are you naturally a morning person? Do you energetically jump out of bed ready to seize the day? Then your routine should probably include exercise and planning. If your brain needs more time to ramp up (…but first, coffee!) then you might consider planning your day the night before so your morning routine can be more relaxed. Meditation, caffeine, and a few pages of a good book could be a perfect way to set the tone for your day.

Speaking of setting the tone: no matter what your energy level is, a good universal idea is to set an intention for your day. An “intention” simply means stating an attitude you wish to bring to the day, or something you wish to accomplish. How do you want this particular day to go? What do you need most today? Is it more courage, more optimism, more patience? Do you want to greet every stranger with a warm smile today? If you start each morning thinking about how you can be your best self, that’s probably the only “routine” you’ll really need.

Ultimately, there’s no “right” routine. Spend some time during your next Personal Retreat Day to create one that’s right for YOU.