Implementing some relaxing routines into your daily life can help transform it from being one that stresses and anxiety-inducing into one that empowers. The key is building healthy habits tailored to suit your unique lifestyle needs.

Start each morning off right by setting yourself up for success with a relaxing morning routine that reduces stress and boosts energy, so that whatever the day may bring you will be prepared.

Start Your Day With Intention

Be mindful to set an intention each morning rather than let life’s demands control you; take the time to set an intention that resonates with your mood and energy levels, such as “love yourself” or “openness to learning”.

Stecker defines an intention as more of a theme than a goal, because it shows how you wish to show up in the world. Additionally, an intention differs from an affirmation as it emphasizes positive reinforcement as opposed to outcomes to achieve.

Once you’ve established your intention, write it down and place it somewhere you will see throughout the day – such as your fridge, computer monitor or bathroom mirror. Or integrate it into your routine so it becomes part of what you do while taking a shower, brushing your teeth or eating breakfast (we suggest Walnut Chia Overnight Oats or healthy protein scramble). Make it yours; carry it wherever you go!

Take Mini-Breaks

When your gears feel muddled, it may be time for a micro break. These short breaks help recharge both brain and body allowing for greater productivity when returning to a task later.

Take a micro break to hydrate and snack on healthy food to fuel both mind and body, then select an activity to stimulate your right brain and foster creativity. For instance, engaging your artistic side through painting or drawing may give your prefrontal cortex some respite from mental processing tasks; or try this creative meditation from street artist Shepard Fairey!

Be sure to fully unplug from work during your break by not checking emails or messages, and consider leaving your office and going for a walk or taking in some fresh air in a different environment. Doing this will not only increase your mood and spark fresh ideas but is also an ideal opportunity to reconnect with family and friends over phone calls or face-to-face visits.

Make Time for Self-Care

If your day consists of survival mode tasks and ticking items off your list, finding time for yourself can be hard. By practicing self-care in daily routine, however, self-care can help calm the mind and body, reduce stress levels, nurture creativity, and strengthen relationships.

Make it a point of setting aside an allocated period each day for self-care activities, marking it on your calendar as any important meeting or appointment would. Doing this will help keep yourself accountable to this time, as it prevents other responsibilities from interfering with it.

Make time in your schedule to relax by creating a soothing environment – dimming lights or playing soothing music is one way to do this – which will allow your muscles to unwind completely and leave behind any remaining tension. Even just 10 minutes spent walking outside, reading, journaling or sitting quietly could do wonders!

Avoid Screen Time in the Morning

Though technology can be useful for various tasks, excessive use may impede productivity and negatively affect your health. Excessive screen time in the morning may cause eye strain, distraction, and mental confusion – not ideal!

Incorporating mindful activities, like journalling or meditation, getting outside for fresh air or engaging in light workouts such as walking or HIIT into your routine for the first 30-60 minutes of each day is an excellent way to reduce cortisol levels and release endorphins that will leave you feeling less stressed or anxious throughout your day.

Use apps that delay notifications or put your phone on silent before bedtime to facilitate healthy conversations and strengthen bonds within your family.

At the end of each day, it’s vital that you ensure you get enough restful restful restful restful restful restful restful restful rest for optimal physical wellbeing and overall well-being. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol after dinnertime as well as developing an enjoyable pre-bed routine are all effective strategies for increasing sleep quality.

Set Goals

An ideal routine should leave you feeling relaxed, peaceful, and secure – and Tate advises keeping this in mind as you attempt your calming routine can keep you motivated even when Netflix keeps calling your name!

Goal setting should include both tangible and emotional achievements; tangible ones include reading an entire book series in one month for instance; but when creating your calming routine it’s also essential to set emotional goals such as feeling relaxed and refreshed each night, for example. Being hard on yourself if progress toward these goals doesn’t materialise will only derail their achievement – according to Williams.

Before beginning any new habits, it is also a good idea to assess how long it takes for new routines to form and your commitment level. Once this has been determined, begin fitting these relaxing activities into open slots in your schedule such as pre-bedtime rituals.