Routine and consistency are two of the hallmarks of things that lead to having amazing health. First, one must have the right knowledge about what good habits there are to have and second, the consistency to implement that knowledge day after day. Healthy habits that are done consistently bear great fruit of incredible health. Sometimes I get asked how I start my day each morning and thought this might be of benefit to you. So, today, I will outline my morning routine and you can see if any of it resonates with you.
1. I try to go to bed each night at 11 p.m. (or earlier) and wake up at 7 a.m. This wasn’t something that was consistent for me in the past until I transformed my way of thinking about it in the last year. Powering down devices at least an hour before bed, doing some reading, turning most of the lights off and getting into bed all can help transition you to falling asleep earlier. Doing a guided sleep meditation at night is a great idea too. Your morning routine starts at night beginning with a solid sleep schedule. So, do you have a specific time that you go to bed every night and do you have the mindset of a workable morning routine to start your day off correctly?
2. Immediately upon waking, I make 16 ounces of vegetable juice (about 4 servings of vegetables). Usually, I make straight celery juice. At times, I will do one organic apple and carrots to make 16 oz. I have been juicing vegetables almost every day for the past 4 years. You can download my free Liquid Health Juicing Guide and The Nasty Nine Food List here. Science proves that the average American only eats 1 to 3 servings of vegetables and fruits per day, which is one of the biggest contributing factors to why we have so many health problems. Food heals. Fruits and veggies heal. Period.
3. I clean and rinse the juicer, prepare my morning tea (see below) and then I go take a cold shower. Taking cold showers has become popular due to a man called Wim Hof and the Wim Hof method. I highly recommend it. Taking a cold shower involves doing something that you really don’t want to do everyday and learning to not resist the process but to welcome it. It builds resilience and strengthens the immune system. His breathing exercises are also remarkable. He holds 28 Guinness book of world records.
4. About 15 or 20 minutes after I have consumed the celery juice, I will drink 16 oz of filtered water with one full squeezed lemon. Having this many liquids in the morning really jump-starts digestion, moves the bowels, and cleanses out debris and toxins that were processed from the night before. Just vegetable juice and lemon water in the morning can cause those who are constipated to really move the bowels, which is a must for good health.
5. Immediately after drinking the lemon water, I take my morning supplements and slowly start to drink tea. I make about 12 oz of non-caffeinated organic rooibos tea. I typically add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of organic ginger powder and one tablespoon of dried organic lemon balm leaves (great for feeling calm). I also will add a variety of herbs that are in a glycerin base to the tea. I might add a dropperful of cat’s claw, stinging nettle, licorice root, Oregon grape, or shu di huang or others. I add some local honey (support your local beekeepers) or organic maple syrup for sweetness. Many of these herbs are for continued detoxification, but also to deal with chronic pathogens in the body that in the past have contributed to me having an autoimmune condition.
6. While I’m drinking my tea, I will read for about 15 minutes. I’m currently going through the workbook of A Course in Miracles. I highly recommend it. I am also reading a mystical Christian text called The Cloud of Unknowing.
7. Next, I meditate each day for 20 to 25 minutes. I do different guided meditations or just sit in silence and observe my thoughts and emotions. Some days, I might also do some emotional release with The Sedona Method or Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping). Right now, I am going through a 72 part guided meditation course. I cannot even begin to tell of the wonders of meditation and loads of science confirms the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits.
So far, all of this takes me about 1 hour and 15 minutes in the morning.
8. Lastly, I will plan my day and eat my breakfast. Because I am very active (7-12 hours of exercise per week), and want to eat healthy, so I eat a very nutrient dense, calorie rich breakfast.
I make my own granola once every four days in my kitchen (takes about 5 minutes to make). I combine this with oatmeal and almond milk and consume it in the morning almost every day. Here is the recipe for the granola.
Ingredients:
One cup of dried fruit. I usually add an assortment of organic dried dates, figs, apricots, raisins and goji berries.
1.5 cups of various nuts and seeds. This week I did ¼ cup of organic hemp seeds, ¼ cup chia seeds, ¼ cup sunflower seeds, ¼ cup black sesame seeds (ground fresh in a coffee grinder), ¼ cup cashews, and ¼ cup Brazil nuts. Sometimes I double up on the hemp and chia seeds due to the magnesium and calcium content.
15 to 20 drops of lime essential oil (if desired). I like the little bite this gives it.
I combine all ingredients in a food processor and process for 30 seconds. I place all ingredients into a plastic or glass container and press down the contents into the container. I put it in the refrigerator and within an hour or two it hardens. I take ¼ of what I have made and place into a bowl along with 1/4 cup of organic oatmeal, a few dashes of organic pumpkin spice and almond or oat milk. I consume it cold. This is about 600 to 700 calories. For those trying to lose weight, this may not be recommended.
- Work at 9am.
This routine has helped me in so many ways. It is also flexible. If I need to change something I will. On a day off, I may not do anything like this at all. But, this is what I do 90% of the time. I hope this help you in some way.
