some meditate. I listen.

how do you choose to use your morning time?

everyone something they do, a way they wake up, even if they aren’t conscious of it.

some sleep in. others meditate or journal. some grab their phone and scroll, or check email.

i’m a fan of morning rituals and using the time for self-care, whatever that looks like for you. the morning time is important. we wake up in a liminal space. our brains are rested, we aren’t quite in 4th gear yet, and our subconscious minds can be accessed more easily. and by using this time with more intentionality, we can set the tone for the rest of our day.

this is why I enjoy writing in the morning. I have more access to my creativity.

since I moved to mexico a year and half ago, my morning ritual has become listening.

Sayulita mornings are a sonic treat.

waking up at rooster o’clock means rooster sounds dominate. one calls, another hears it and responds, and another, and another. then it starts all over. they’re like lead singers in this band.

the sounds of native birds in the jungle around me are steady in the background with a layered cacophony of sound all their own. some chirp occasionally, others coo more steadily. but they’re always present, infusing the air with their frequencies.

hens lay their eggs (sounds so painful.)

dogs will bark or howl, bugs will whizz by.

as the morning progresses, human sounds enter.

the neighbors slowly start their day by greeting each other and taking off in their ATVs.

and the sonic gas truck eventually travels down this dirt road, announcing its arrival by blaring its ‘theme song’’. I still don’t speak fluent Spanish but it sounds like this…. da da DA DA, doo. doo doo doo doo DO DOO doo do do doo doo. SONICA something…

I listen to all of this while drinking my coffee, eating my dates with almond butter, and waking up. it’s become background music for my life. a way to tune in.

between the jungle vibe and the ocean’s edge, i’ve become more connected to the land since i’ve lived here. meditation for me is listening. and studies have shown that listening to birdsongs - even 6 mins a day - can alleviate anxiety and calm the nervous system.

maybe this explains why life in cities can overwhelm us and why vacationers flock to nature. especially sayulita.

here are my top tips for using morning time to enhance your wellbeing:

🌱 stay off your phone, email, social media when you first wake up. (I know, I know, this is hard, but it also is numbing.)

🌱 go outside to expose yourself to sun/natural light within your first 30 minutes of waking up. this helps regulate your circadian rhythm.

🌱 tune in with your body and ask it what it needs. experiment with movement - yoga, simple stretching, dancing.

🌱 try a simple breath work practice. as someone who tends to hold her breath, I find taking intentional, deeper breaths in the morning helps me.

🌱 experiment with journaling. pen to paper, stream of consciousness writing for 20 minutes can be a great way to clear out what’s going on inside your head.

🌱 check in with your inner child. what is she feeling and needing today?

what other ideas do you have?