8: It’s Love
Guys, I know it’s only been a month, but I think it’s time to go ring shopping. It might sound fast to some people, but I’ve just never felt this way before.
It started with the little things. Tea as the sun rose up over my deck. A made bed without a still sleeping me in it. Hair. Makeup. Adult dress wear-- that’s right, even pants.
Morning Ritual, I vow to comfort and keep you, and do all of the other things that a vow would list that I neither remember nor care to look up.
I know there are skeptics out there that don’t believe in a love like this. That think there can’t be anything more than sweatpants and whatever’s left in the dry shampoo can. As someone who only a month ago would’ve told you I’d rather Winnie the Pooh it than try to wiggle and kick my way into a cold pair of jeans in the morning, I understand your disbelief.
If I’m tired, why would sleeping in less help me feel more awake?
This is definitely the hardest one for me to commit to. Morning Ritual may be my healthiest relationship, but sleep will always be my oldest and greatest love. I feel the same way about chocolate, but I think I’ve gotten to the point where if someone offered me a Halloween sized bag of Crunch bars or one bar of deep, smooth chocolate, I’d pick the latter. The same logic applies. I could sleep in for an extra hour, but when my alarm blares at me and my next thought is that I have to be on my computer now, my needs can wait, how I feel can wait, then I spend my whole day with me in the background playing catch up to being a person.
For anyone reading this thinking, well that’s why I set multiple alarms to ease myself into the morning, a study by The Sleep Health Foundation shows that having multiple alarms to wake us up just so we can go back to sleep is actually not very good for our brains or sleep quality. And that’s exactly what it comes down to; quality over quantity. By getting a little less sleep, I spend my whole day more relaxed, more in my own body, more committed to the waking world, ultimately leading to a much better night’s sleep.
Why would being in less comfortable or cozy clothes make me feel better?
There really is something magical about getting into a pair of sweats, maybe an old broken in sweater and some slippers, and feeling held together by warmth and softness. But that magic loses its power a bit when I wake up in that cozy feeling, spend the day in it, and then have another night in it. It’s like carrying night time Alli with me all the time, as great as she is, she is not nearly as productive or put together as day time Alli can be. Because that same magical cozy clothes feeling I get, I can get from my nicer clothes too.
By making myself look nice and ready for the day, I feel that much nicer, that much more ready. I’m tricking my brain because she means well, but she doesn’t work all that great at providing the nice/ready feeling on her own. The same thing applies for hair and make up. It makes my mornings more fun to treat myself to a little lipstick or try a new hairstyle out.
It’s these small steps that add up to something bigger and they definitely build on each other. If I get up at my first alarm, I’m more likely to make my bed. If I make my bed I’m more likely not to get back in it if maybe it’s too cold for changing to feel like an option. If I make myself a mug of tea, that kind of attention to my body makes me want to work out. If I work out, I’m more likely to shower. Shower means hair and make up. Hair and makeup mean cute outfit.
The best part about this long list is that even if I only do a few, even if I only do one, it feels like an accomplishment. I feel more committed to myself and that kind of self love stays with me the whole day.
For anyone that’s looking to try this and is maybe trying to take it slow or wondering what they’d like to start with, I do want to add a few notes here in case it makes getting started any easier.
Getting dressed-- even just changing into cuter sweats-- and doing up my hair/make up has definitely been the most effective strategy to get me up and moving (my theory is that I move around more because I’m feeling so good about how I look I want to flaunt it to my empty house).
My workouts were most effective in really raising my spirits when they were a little goofy (like include dancing), have a mini blast of cardio (also could be dancing), and end with a deeeep stretch (even if it’s quick and somehow also dancing).
I know I’ve said this a million times, but if staying out of bed is hard, make that bed! It truly helps so much because even if I sit down on my bed to work it doesn’t drag my energy down like getting under the covers.
Make it as witchy as possible!! I light incense or a candle, get my humidifier going-- really lean into a vibe that makes this not just mentally healthy, but genuinely fun.
Which brings me to my goal for this week:
Witchification! I’m going to try to find different ways to bring that into my mornings and will report of my findings next week.
And so goes my October microrisk! Since next Monday will be the last day of the month, I’ll be starting November’s then. Thus I am off with purpose and intention!
