How do you speak to yourself? As kindly as you speak to your friends and loved ones…. Or not quite so nicely? I had never realised how negative and hard on myself I was before I started my mindset journey. I didn’t even realise I was doing it, if I’m honest, and just got from one day to the next being hard on myself for every small thing that went wrong.
But learning about the law of attraction changed everything. I began to understand that my thoughts shape my reality, and that if I wanted to feel better, do better and be better, I had to start with the way I was speaking to myself.
One of the first and most powerful habits I learned about was a morning journalling routine. It’s something that I now do every single day, and I can honestly say that it changed my life.
What is a morning routine?
A morning routine is simply a way to begin the day with intention rather than reaction. No more waking up and instantly scrolling your phone, checking emails or rushing into your to-do list. Instead, you carve out time and space just for you. It can be ten minutes or an hour – I know everyone has different time pressures – but what matters is the energy you bring to it.
For me, the heart of my morning routine is journalling.
What is journalling?
Journalling is sitting down (coffee in hand if you’re like me and do this first thing!) and writing out your thoughts. It’s a practice that helps you clear mental clutter and reconnect with the version of you that you want to show up as. If you journal in the mornings, you can set your intention for the day. And if you prefer to journal before bed (some people do both, by the way) you can reflect on how the day went and what you want to achieve the next day.
I use my journalling time to:
- Write down what I’m grateful for
- Set intentions for how I want to feel
- Visualise how the day will unfold
- Use “I am” affirmations to reprogramme negative thoughts
Over time, the small act of writing this down every day has had a huge impact. I’ve gone from someone who lived with daily IBS anxiety and stress to someone who feels calm, capable and aligned.
How journalling helps
When you journal consistently, you start to see just how powerful your mind is. Here are some of the ways it’s helped me and the clients I work with:
- Rewiring negative self-talk: You start noticing your inner critic and quieting it.
Shifting into gratitude: Focusing on what you have creates space for more. - Manifesting your goals: Writing about what you desire as if it’s already happening draws it closer.
- Building emotional awareness: You learn to catch spirals before they take hold.
- Creating clarity: Foggy mornings turn into focused days.
It’s not magic as such, but it does feel magical when you realise how much lighter and more empowered you feel.
How to start and stick to a morning journalling routine
If you’re new to journalling then it might feel a bit strange at first, especially if you’re used to rushing through your mornings. But like anything, it becomes second nature with time. Here are my top tips:
- Start small: Even five minutes a day makes a difference, and I bet when you notice it starting to work, you’ll carve out more time!
- Use prompts: Try questions like “What am I grateful for today?”, “How do I want to feel?” or “What would make today great?”
Be consistent: The magic happens when it becomes a habit you do day in, day out – like brushing your teeth twice a day or wiping down kitchen surfaces after cooking. When you don’t even have to think about doing it but you’re reaping all the benefits! - Keep it private: This is just for you, so don’t worry about perfect spelling, pepper sentences and so on – and have fun! See the next point…
- Pair it with something you love: A cosy chair, a nice notebook or your morning coffee. In the summer you might be able to sit outside in the cool morning air before the day get busier. Make it feel like a treat.
Most importantly, stick with it even when you think it’s not working. Because one day, you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come. That you’re so much kinder to yourself. More focused, more intentional and more joyful. That’s when you’ll know it’s working.
This morning routine is ingrained into my soul now. I start every day with it, and I’ve manifested more things than I could have ever imagined. I truly believe that if you want to go from being negative to positive and start loving yourself, a morning routine is the best place to begin.
If you’d like support getting started or want to go deeper into this work, I’d love to welcome you into one of my programmes where we combine mindset, journalling and financial empowerment, all designed to help you feel good in your life and your bank account. You can get in touch here!