A surefire way to tell that you will live a meaningful life
Hi there,
My name is Sahan Wiratunga. You might have heard of me through my blog or through my ebook.
Today I will be writing about an important thing you can do to ensure that you will live a happy and fulfilled life. Don’t worry, not gonna talk about some new age or religious B.S. This thing, well this routine, only takes around one hour per day and it will keep you absolutely energetic, happy and uplifting throughout the day.
Well, what is this magical routine then?
This is not magic at all. This is science integrated into human well-being. I am talking about having a tailor-made morning routine.
But, I don’t have time for these things…
This is a common reaction I get whenever I mention this ‘Morning Routine.’ This is perfectly fine and understandable. With our busy lives, sparing one hour, especially in the mornings can be a strenuous task. But first, hear me out. Let me list down the benefits I have experienced, and you will too, by having a morning routine.
It can make you ready and confident for the day ahead
We all face countless challenges throughout the day, not to mention the drama we face when working with people. Having a clear, focused and strong mindset is not only beneficial but essential to tackle these challenges. By taking a brief 5–10 minutes in the morning, to visualize your day, how you will behave in certain situations and to recite some positive affirmations will do wonders on how you will feel throughout the day.
It can make you calmer and mindful
I personally take around 15 minutes in the morning for a brief meditation. This allows me to be in control of my emotions, better understand myself and what my mind is trying to say, as well as let go of every unwanted thought and emotion. If you are new to meditation, I suggest you start with a brief 5-minute meditation, as meditating can be challenging in the beginning. You can build up on the duration of meditating, with time.
I can go on and on about blabbering about the benefits of meditation, but there are countless scientific articles for you to read up on if you are interested, rather than getting scientific advice from a random guy who only holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science.
This can make you look younger, fit and sexy
Like, seriously?
The answer is yes. You just need to spend less than 30 minutes a day on a workout. Forget about the things you heard like spending a good 2–3 hours on a sweat-inducing, adrenaline pumping, vigorous workout at the gym. I am not saying that those are bad. I am merely trying to say that those aren’t necessary for you to look younger, fit and sexy. Most importantly, to live a healthy life.
My total workout consists of a brief 10-minute full-body workout, followed by a 15 minute Yoga session. But hey, by all means, do what is comfortable and challenging for you at the same time. Make this time about you, your body and your mind.
You will have the opportunity to start the day with a clean slate
After everything, I take around 10 minutes to journal. If something is bothering me from the previous day, I make sure to write that down, analyse what is that bothering me and what can I do to make my life better and easier. My journal is my trusted friend in guiding me throughout the battles of life. When you are journaling, don’t hold back on your thoughts. Write everything down and experience yourself talking back to you, using the journal as the medium. Afterwards, when your mind is free, write down some stuff which you are grateful for. Be it a person, pet or a thing. Doesn’t matter. What matters is the feeling you get after being thankful for whatever you have at the moment.
For more details on journaling, I invite you to visit my blog. I have written some articles which will guide you from A to Z on how to journal, what to do and what not to do, etc.
This is it. This is what you have to do to make your life happier, fulfilled and purposeful. In addition, don’t forget to add these things into your morning routine, to make it more complete.
Have a nice, cold shower
I didn’t mention this in the main list, since this is something, everyone does (hopefully) in the morning. The key is having a cold shower. The reason being, coldness can awaken your neurons and make you refreshed. You will feel lighter and more relaxed after having a clod shower. Needless to say, do this after your workout session.
Have a complete breakfast
‘Complete’ is the keyword here. You need to include the right amount of proteins, carbs, fats, fibre and vitamins in your breakfast. Now your breakfast may vary from day-to-day. There is no clear-cut rule on what to eat and how to eat. Just try to eat a healthy and full breakfast, preferably, with fruits on the side as well.
Now, following all of these things at once can be seen as a big task. Your brain will definitely rebel against this routine at first, as the brain does not like any changes happening in your body and mind. It likes to stay in its comfort zone, because this way, the brain can ensure you are surviving, just like the days before. What you need to do is to challenge yourself every day. Be consistent and persistent. Because true happiness comes from, well, living life to the fullest. You know this already!