Mindful & Easy Mornings

I just had the most delightful easy morning! 
(Except for the part where Renly started barking at 5:45am...who needs a rooster when you have a puppy who has found his voice?)
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I woke up, let Renly and Lilly out for their morning meeting with the sun and grass.
Prepared my coffee, exactly the way I like it.
Snuggled back into bed with my favorite mug in hand.
Lingered in bed for an extra 30 minutes, listened to an inspiring podcast, thought about the day ahead.
By the time it was time to get up and ready for work, I was content, alert, and a good attitude on and ready to go.

Of course none of this happened by accident 
(except for the barky pup)
This morning was mindfully prepared and designed by yours truly. 

My main goal in this lifetime is to make my life, and yours, easy. We spend so much time and energy and thought into making life more difficult (weather or not we're aware of it) and dwelling on the challenges, instead of creating changes and shifting our mindsets.
One of my methods is automation. It sounds kind of boring, I know. BUT! If I have a structure and system in place, I can set-it-and-forget-it and flow through my day with ease and joy. 

Recipe for an Easeful Morning:

• Plan ahead!
• Create your breakfasts for the week ahead of time, perhaps on Sunday before Game of Thrones comes on. This week I made two batches of Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats, and the other days I will have my quickie on-the-go usual of Greek Yogurt and a banana.
• Shower the night before, utilize the bedhead for a messy beachy french-girl 'do. Spray on the dry-shampoo, hit the ends with an oil of your choice, and quickly define rogue pieces with a styling tool of your choice
• Wake up a bit earlier than you need to. That extra time for lounging makes all the difference.
• Choose rituals that make you feel peaceful and delighted.
• Take a few minutes to jot down some thoughts to align yourself with the type of day, and therefore the type of life you want to have.
• Use those thoughts to create mini-action steps you can take that day. 
• Practice mindfulness - You don't have to sit on a meditation cushion for an hour to experience this. Sit outside, feel the breeze on your face, listen to the birds, enjoy the quiet of the morning. It's a magical time.