Mornings have a sweet spot in my heart for their enchantment. Mornings are mythical in their power, in their ability to cast a hue on the entire day before it even begins. Here are my six tips on how to make your mornings more meaningful:

#1 Own the First Hour

Whether you are a student, teacher or nurse, a mom of three kids, run your own business, or a high-powered exec — you can choose to own your day from the minute you wake up. I’d rather set my alarm an hour early and have a chance to get oriented in a calm, quiet manner, than sleep an extra hour and be running from the minute I get out of bed. Wake up at a time that you know you can own the first hour of the morning.

#2 Spent that Hour in Sweet Silence

Let the first hour of the day be absent of electronics and media. No phone, no television, no computer, not even a newspaper. When you spend the first hour of the day in sweetness — whether that is going for a walk, doing yoga or meditation, or simply gazing out the window while listening to the birds — you train yourself to be present. That awareness and attention allows you to stay in harmony with your inner self as the day comes at you.

#3 Honor your Beverage Ritual

I make tea every morning. While the kettle is warming, I place the leaves in my glass brewing pot and gather the cups and saucers. It’s an everyday ritual that can seem routine, so I do it with intention and a sense of gratitude, with no other noise or distractions. Your morning beverage ritual serves as a simple lovely prelude to a nourishing and delicious breakfast.

#4 Put Intention into Breakfast

I have an affinity for a long, leisurely, luxurious breakfast accompanied by either baroque music or jazz standards. Some days just don’t lend themselves to enjoy such a simple pleasure. However, the beauty of the ritual doesn’t always have to be measured in the actual amount of time, but in the state of mind while enjoying this daily practice. A luxurious breakfast is about preparing wholesome, nutritious, and delicious foods that delight the senses and please the palette and which you enjoy in a state of ease. This can happen whether you are enjoying a full fry-up with baked goods or a simple boiled egg and fruit.

#5 Invite Moments of Creativity and Beauty

After breakfast I take a few moments to bring something creative and beautiful into my experience. During work days it can be as simple as curating gorgeous images for my Pinterest boards, posting an uplifting note on Instagram, or writing a happy text to a friend. On weekends it expands to sketching out future vacation plans, planning recipes for the week, or just setting down my thoughts in a journal.

#6 Dedicated Time for Thoughtful Emails

I usually only respond to personal emails in the morning. If someone sends me an email later in the day I will wait and respond the next morning. I’ve found that these early morning responses are more thoughtful after I’ve had the evening to think about them and through the years I’ve also discovered that people pay the most attention to emails that hit their inboxes first thing! ☕️