Self Care: Feed Your Mind
What are you feeding your mind?
The mind is the most important part of the body, in my opinion. Your mind controls your thoughts, feelings, emotions, actions and decisions, along with being the nest for your morals, values and beliefs. It is essential to take care of your mind in the same way and to the same extent that you would take care of your physical body.
Recently, I’ve discussed how current world events have begun to affect my everyday life, specifically my mental health and my mind. Lately, I’ve been feeling really stressed, anxious, and on edge, I attribute it to everything that’s going on around me. It is pertinent to be mindful of what you feed your mind, physically, spiritually and emotionally and the effect that it has on you. As of late, all that I’ve been feeding my mind, has begun to take a toll. Starting with the articles I’ve been reading. Continuing with the video clips I’ve been watching of the thousands of protests and riots across the country. Ending with the constant COVID-19 updates. Too much chaos. It was time for a hard reset.
Part of taking care of your mind is nurturing it. I realized that I needed to dedicate some time for self care. Self care days and activities are now a part of my regular routine. My self care routines are important, especially when I’m starting my day.
What is the first thing that you do when you wake up?
Pray?
Use the bathroom?
For most, me included, first thing I do is check my phone. I usually look at any notifications, catching up on everything that I missed throughout the night; along with checking social media for any news. After starting my mornings with my self care routine, it dawned on me, how the significant the little tasks I do in my morning affect my whole day.
Example:
When you check your phone so early before praying, meditating, saying affirmations, etc. you pose the risk of your day being thrown off before it even starts off. You never know what you will see, hear or read once you check your phone.
How you start your day is critical.
Let’s try something different: A New Morning Routine.
Instead of checking your phone or whatever task you usually do first thing in the morning, if you can, try my morning routine. Those early moments in the morning, set the tone for your day.
Morning Routine:
Devotions
Devotions are the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. I do my devotions a couple different ways. It ultimately depends on how I’m feeling. There are three useful resources I use for my devotions: my Bible app, my devotion books, YouTube (online sermons). Starting with my Bible app, this is the resource I use the most for my devotions. The app sends me a select verse everyday, around the time that I wake up. Usually, my daily verse aligns with the feeling in my spirit. Other days, I switch it up by using my second resource, my devotion book. My devotion book not only offers a Verse of the Day but it also connects to a bigger message that relates to everyday life. On days, when I wake up really needing the spirit to move through me, I utilize my last devotion resource, Youtube. I usually find on online sermon Youtube.. My favorite pastor to watch is T.D Jakes. His sermons always speak to my spirit. I leave feeling refreshed every time. Devotions are the key to starting my morning off right.
Pray
Prayer proceeds my devotions. Prayer is my time with God to express my appreciation for a new day and also to thank him for all the blessings that he has bestowed upon me.
Feed/Nurture
What are you feeding your mind in the morning? Instead of opening social media apps to read all the messy and salacious gossip headlines that hit overnight, checking for work emails, or looking for that text back that next came, feed your mind informative and educational material. In other posts, I have stressed the importance of being aware of what’s going on around you. I recommend subscribing to different newspapers and magazines. With most newspapers, you can sign up to receive morning email briefings. Start your morning by reading an article. Feed your mind.
Meditate/Reflect
Before you hit the day, head first, take some time to get your wits about you. This is your “day prep” time. During this time, do whatever you need, to get your mind centered and ready to tackle the day. I use this time to recite my affirmations. I want to start my day, affirming and lifting myself up.
Plan
The last step in my morning routine is equally as important as the others. After you prayed, meditated and reflected, now it’s time to plan your day. Think it through. What’s on the agenda? Oftentimes when I start my day without planning, I forget to do simple tasks. Keep it simple. Start with a to-do list. Write down everything you have to do for the day.
Morning Self Care Routine
My morning routine is a simple but effective way to start your day. Start your day off right by feeding your mind. Your mind is the most precious thing you have. Take the time to nurture and feed it positivity.
