Three Daily Routines That Improved My Life

As we grow the habits of the person who we want to become, we get there piece by piece, barely even noticing the slow change until upon glancing in the mirror one day, we see who we were always meant to be. Because I envisioned myself a creative writer with an active healthy lifestyle, I took babysteps to become more of those qualities each day. In the process, I found my anxious thoughts became more manageable and I had a greater ability to “flip the script” so to speak. Below are the 3 baby steps that I took to start living my best life. Now I can’t imagine my day without them!

Writing morning pages

Reading the book, The Artist Way, so many years ago, I learned about how Morning Pages declutter your mind and prepare your creative flow for the day. They have been at times a mind dump, a to-do list for the day, an analysis of my dream the night before, or a creative beginning to something I developed later on. In the book, Julia says the morning pages are just 3 pages, but mine have evolved from 3 pages, to setting a timer for 10 minutes while doing a free-write, to just writing until I feel ready to stop. The key is not the number of the pages or the time, but the practice. (Although the number or the timer are helpful when first starting out.)

Going for a walk

I could go on and on about the benefits of walking! The fresh air and movement alone do wonders for our physical bodies and our souls. But it is especially helpful for developing our creative brains. During my daily walk, I receive my insights, solutions to problems, and creative ideas. Again, I started with a small goal. I simply walked 10 minutes a day to now I am walking 3 miles a day, sometimes more. I love meeting people on the street, soaking in the nature around me, and feeling my muscles and my breath working in unison. I feel grounded, connected, and out of my cyclical thinking. Even if I walked the same path every day, the world is never the same. The nuances wake us up, gain our attention, and connect us to our environment.

Do you need a new place to explore? Check out these great places to walk in the Charlotte area. Or why not combine your walking and prayer time together by walking a labyrinth?

Following a Bedtime Ritual

Creating a routine before bed is a way to signal to your brain to enter rest mode. Not only is it helpful to go to bed at the same time each night to get your body clock in a rhythm, but also to practice some winding down habits. For me, this consists of turning off the TV, phone, and laptop and reading a book, sitting outside on a warm night, or taking a bath. After getting into some comfy clothes, I may sip some night-time tea and make a list for the next day so that I do not have to worry about forgetting something. Then I get in bed and do a meditation until I fall asleep. Even the process of closing blinds and locking doors sets your mind up for closing down for the night. Find a ritual that works for you and you will find it easier to fall asleep when you want to.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for people to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences and learnings with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.