A Morning Routine For Your Soul, Heart, Nerve, and Sinew

If you're like me, my morning routine sets the pace for the rest of the day. If I don't get my morning mushroom mix, I'm easily irritated. If I don't have music playing, my body and mind will wander aimlessly. Like most of my friends and others that I know, when they don't get their coffee to start their day, the withdrawal symptoms are awful.

The routine you engage yourself in should be one that makes you feel ready to take on the day (or evening, for our blessed night shift workers). My routine is in nine phases, taking about 30-60 minutes. It's taken me nearly six years to figure out what habits bring me from a groggy zombie to a focused professional, and I've finally got it down. With this mixture of gradually-increasing tempo music and products I use to prepare for the hours ahead, I'll be sure to link everything so you can know exactly what I'm talking about!

Phase 1: The Waking Phase | "Home" by VALENTINE

The first thing I do when I wake up is to reach for my phone to play music. I ignore the notifications at first, and leave those for when this routine is complete. I start off with "Home" by Valentine because of it's slow trek to the chorus. It's not in-your-face, it's relaxing, and in a way represents the feeling of just waking up. Once the beat gracefully makes it's landing, I'm moving out of my bed and making it. This phase is intended to be short, since staying in bed long enough after waking makes me fall asleep again. If I ever have any issues moving from my bed, I will count down from ten, take a deep breath at two, exhale, and get up at one, which usually does the trick. From there, I make my way to the bathroom for my typical hygiene and ablutions.

Phase 2: The Hygiene Phase | "Faux" by Ed Tullett and Novo Amor

"Faux" by Ed Tullett and Novo Amor comes next. I'm still groggy from getting out of bed, but this song is peaceful enough to put me in a rising spirit. I'm not that musically-educated, but the falsettos give me the shivers, and there's a reason I chose this song. From a scientific perspective, falsettos actually trigger an adrenaline rush in the listener, and that high-pitched, loud singing causes our brain to release excitatory hormones that increase your arousal state and makes us more attentive. In essence, this song wakes me up. It's still a tempo that isn't too lively and carries an anthem-like, cozy vibe, but is a step up from Valentine's "Home."

In this phase, I focus on oral hygiene. I have heard it is common practice to brush your teeth and then eat breakfast, while others suggest a reverse order. Personally, it's whatever floats your boat. I do either, but what matters is that I make a thorough cleaning of my chompers.

I don't always use mint-flavored products to floss and brush my teeth, and I tend to find the mint mouthwash overwhelming. If you ever want to experiment using a different flavor, cinnamon is my favorite pleasant alternative. I use cinnamon floss and make a concerted effort to make sure I get everything out from between my teeth. Afterward, I'll scrape my tongue with a scraper, typically something like this one. Be careful when using it not to make yourself throw up—wouldn't want to clean up any more than what's already there.

I try to be somewhat environmentally conscious, using wooden toothbrushes that are easily biodegradable. I replace them every three or four months, then brush with cinnamon toothpaste and use cinnamon mouthwash that leaves a more flavorful aftertaste. While mint is certainly a stronger and more prominent scent, I like things a bit more subtle.

Phase 3: The Cleansing Phase | "Every Colour" by Luca Fogale

I came across "Every Colour" by Luca Fogale recently on my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. The falsettos still appear like they do in "Faux"; but are now in the form of millennial whoops that are prevalent in many pop songs. This one takes it up a notch and has a forward-moving rhythm. As it turns out, this is my favorite part of my morning routine and always brings a satisfied smile to my face.

I want to openly thank a cherished friend of mine, Emerald (@em.er.al.d), who has introduced me to the world of skincare. Since 2018 I have been an advocate for taking care of your skin, whether it's through simple soap and water, or going the extra mile using products. For me, LUSH has my weapons of choice for cleaning my face, and those choices have not changed since 2018:

While "Every Colour" plays, I will be washing my face first with cold water to jolt myself awake, then warm water to open up my pores. I want to make sure my cleanser, Angels On Bare Skin, has the chance to get deep into my skin. Some folks have dry skin on their face, others get very oily, and others have a mix of the two. I have a combination of the two, where I have an oily forehead and nose, but the skin near my cheekbones is scaly-dry. I take a pinch of my cleanser and put it in the palm of my hand, trickling water over it and smearing it into my palms into a grainy paste. The scent of lavender is remarkably soothing, and combined with the initial cold splash creates this level of calm alertness—a state which I enjoy being in often.

I'm weird, but I like to smear the cleanser on my face like warpaint before covering my entire face in it. I'll draw lines beneath my eyes like a warrior getting ready for battle. I suppose these days we're not fighting off saber-tooth tigers and hunting mammoths for survival, but my heart rate jumps all the same trying to resist another slice of New York-style cheesecake. Clearly I am a warrior in my own regard.

I let the cleanser rest on my face for a minute or so, then rinse it off with warm water. This will keep the pores open for the next part, which is my favorite toner, Breath of Fresh Air. I keep this bottle in a fridge to ensure the water is chilly when I spritz a generous amount on my face. The constant shifting of cold and warm water on my face constantly serves round after round of waking jolts and refreshing relaxation. I also allow the toner to rest on my face for a moment, though others may suggest to pat-dry excess toner with a towel. It's your call, but my morning routine is my sanctuary and I take the time to savor it. Here is where I start to feel my skin glowing, but we're one step shy from really getting there.

Phase 4: The Moisturizing Phase | "Speak" by The Hollow Men

I like to take the time while waiting for the toner to dry up some to think about all of my friendships and connections that make me feel grateful inside. I have had more than enough experiences of bad blood, burned bridges, and friendships that have drifted away. But like I said, my morning routine is my sanctuary, and in it, I will think of good things—my health, my friends, my family, the roof over my head, and the good that came from the things I wanted, but never got. "Speak" by The Hollow Men enters the pop genre with a forward-march kind rhythm that starts strong and stops abruptly, much like an erratic relationship. While they never talk about rising past the ups and downs of troublesome bonds, that's exactly I think about that when I hear this song. Even if things can get rough, the highs and lows are part of life.

The Vanishing Cream moisturizer is the finishing touch. I add this after the toner has settled in, and make an effort to ensure my cheekbones get the most love. I'll rub this in a circular motion, ensuring no residue is visible in my 5 o'clock shadow. After this, my mouth is clean, my face is cleansed and moisturized, and I am definitely shining on the outside. But what about my insides?

Phase 5: The Natural Phase | "Be Real (Satin Jackets Remix)" by Rasmus Faber, Metaxas, Satin Jackets

"Be Real (Satin Jackets Remix)" is where we amp the tempo to a nu-disco style genre, giving us a smooth groove. Now that I'm all freshened up on the outside, it's important to have consistency on the inside. A song title like this is fitting to proceed into the next step—aligning our real outer glow with a real inner glow—and that means using real ingredients, too.

Now, I am not a fan of coffee, but I am a fan of mushrooms. Back in college, I tried a mushroom mix that was hard for me to get into, but I eventually acquired the taste. This is the most common hurdle that makes mushrooms difficult to stick with, myself included. I've tried a couple of different mushroom powders to assess the effects, but I have come across one that I genuinely enjoy very much.

Freshcap Mushrooms's Thrive 6 is a splendid blend of powerful mushrooms from the fruiting body of these mushrooms—no funny business. There's no additives like fillers, grains, or mycelium (which is like the "extra bits" of a mushroom don't carry all the beneficial compounds—kind of like the cone in ice cream. The ice cream is the part you want, the cone isn't always necessary). With just half a teaspoon of this mushroom powder, your ability to focus will be easier to access, as well as being able to stay on-task. There are also other effects like reduced inflammation and resilience towards stress. Here's some more information on the effects of reishi, chaga, lion's mane, cordyceps, maitake, and turkey tail.

Be warned, check with your doctor before using powders like these. While I am mentioning benefits, there can always be side effects.

I will usually have this powder mixed in with almond milk, and if I have a sweet tooth, I'll melt in some of a Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Sometimes I won't successfully mix the powder with the milk completely, leaving some chunks at the bottom of my glass. Surprisingly, the taste of this powder is not unbearable. If you've ever had 80% cacao dark chocolate or higher, it is very similar to this. It has an odd deep dark and smoky chocolate flavor, and has a subtle aftertaste of what seems a bit like marijuana. You most likely will not get a high from this. You can get the mix off Amazon here.

After maybe 30-60 minutes of taking this, I will feel some slightly heightened mental acuity, usually more discernible towards the end of this routine. With my skin still healthy and mental abilities loading up, I move onto my next phase: sunlight.

Phase 6: The Sun Phase | "Light up for You" by LOYAL

"Light up for You" by LOYAL carries with it a drifting, atmospheric vibe that instills both a feeling of liveliness and hope. I think the piano really does it all. The beat is softer compared to Satin Jackets's remix of "Be Real," but the beat remains ever-present throughout, and at this point, I truly feel myself picking up. I'm snapping my fingers to the beat, tapping my foot, and/or gliding across the floor in my socks.

I have a vitamin D deficiency, so I take my mushroom beverage outside with me to catch some rays (a.k.a. sunbathe) for about 10-30 minutes. You can go for a walk if you want, I tend to alternate between sitting one day and walking the next. Sometimes some insects will land on my skin here and there, but oddly lately I find myself smiling about it rather than jiggling my limbs trying to shake them off (could be the mushrooms). While I soak up some rays, I'll usually write poetry that I hope to someday slam with, or do gratitude meditation.

Getting a safe daily dose of sunlight is not only a natural way to get vitamin D, but also to simply elevate your mood, sleep better, and strengthen your immune system. Considering all the previous benefits I mentioned from the mushroom blend, sunlight just adds to that slew of benefits. From here my mood is bright and cheerfully tranquil, and a step closer to being ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Phase 7: The Grateful Phase | "Come As You Are" by Prince Paris and Karen Harding

This phase with "Come As You Are" enters into my favorite genre, electronic/dance (aka "EDM"). Much of my music playlists are centered around the genre of EDM; it has the power to energize me, excite me, or just generally keep my spirits up. This song leads me to continue cultivating unconditional love for myself, reminding me that I am enough, and that I don't need a gimmick or fancy things to achieve great endeavors. The same goes for you, too.

I like to combine gratitude practice with meditation, and I don't think I need to explain all the benefits behind both (but here it is, just in case). Ideally, I do this while sunbathing, but you can do it separately. Like in the Moisturizing Phase, I think again about all the good things happening, but my grateful focus is on all things I am capable of doing. This means being grateful for being able to breathe, see, hear, speak, read, write, walk, learn, etc. Anything you are capable of doing, be grateful for that.

For those of you that like to use guided meditation, I have good news: I have a massive discount that I want to share with you over on the Brightmind app. They have different kinds of tracks for meditation to suit your needs, like practicing gratitude, walking meditation, acquiring restful sleep, sharpening focus, pain management, and a 7-day track for beginners. As someone who has a bit of mild anxiety (what with quarantine and the pandemic), meditating has helped me remain focused, grounded, and firmly resolute. You can get yourself a 50% discount off their annual subscription here.

I used to struggle with trying to feel the benefits behind gratitude until I read a book called When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron in 2017. If I remember right, she suggested to think about what would happen if you were to go blind the next morning, or if you were to go deaf by the evening. You would most likely savor every single thing you can see or hear before it's taken away from you. While this may certainly induce some fear, it can also be a comforting relief that you still have these simple things that are often taken for granted. You are enough.

Sometimes I'll even get a bit tearful practicing gratitude, which I think is a good thing.

Phase 8: The Dancing Phase | "Levitating" by Dua Lipa

My skin is glowing, my mind feels sharp, I have everything I need, and I'm in an all-around fantastic mood. So why not dance a little? I've been caught two-stepping on the stoop, Harlem shaking my shoulders wild, and doing awful moonwalks. Overall, I'm feeling electric. Sometimes I'll even stop here because I am at the peak of my feel-good vibes, and will get right to work.

But in case I need some reminder of where to direct all of this energy, what's next?

Phase 9: Carpe Diem | "Someone To You" by BANNERS

At the end of my routine, I'll play this song to give myself that last push to hold onto hope and continue working hard towards my dreams. I remind myself that don't want a flashy life with lavish luxuries and hundreds of fancy things, but I do want to spend much of my time making memories with good and interesting people. I'm bent on wanting to inspire others to chase after their own dreams because they can visibly see I'm chasing my own. If I change the world, that'd be cool too. But all really that matters to me is that I lead by example, and that the way I do it is a way that makes me happy. Writing stories like this are examples, too. Once I've gotten to this point in my routine, I have my soul on fire, the clearest mind, and the happiest heart.

Hopefully there's something here you would want to try and add to your routine, or at least gave you an idea of what you can add to your life to make it better.

Whatever it is you aspire to become, I hope you go and get it.

Thanks for reading.

P.S. Here's the Spotify playlist link, in case you want it!

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You can find me on other platforms as well:

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