I think if you have been paying attention to some of the things I’ve said in recent blog posts, and have been following me on Instagram, you’ll have noticed that I am approaching life from a Christian–specifically Catholic–viewpoint now. I had a gradual pull and return to the faith, and I have found that it has been so powerful and so healing. It wasn’t difficult for me to change my worldview because it wasn’t really a change–I am a cradle Catholic who turned into a grocery store Catholic and even began to embrace new age ideas. My worldview however, was still very rooted in the values of Christianity. So when I was called back to the teachings of the church, it felt as though I was coming full circle.
If you are interested in discovering how I begin my day so that I go out into the world and try and live as Christ taught, keep on reading. Some of it are routines and practices that people of all/no faiths can embrace.
Bible Readings/Study
Something I am trying to do is start my day with God’s word. So I use my Hallow app to read the daily readings. The great thing about Catholicism is that each day all over the world, the church uses the same scripture readings in the mass. With my Hallow app, I can read the Bible readings that I would hear if I was to go to Mass. I find this is a quick and easy way to start my day in a way that focus me on Jesus’ life and teachings. Many of the readings bring me a sense of peace and remind me how important it is to live the truth. The more I immerse myself in the words of God, the more at ease I feel as I go through my day.
Other people go deeper and do Bible Study, meditating on God’s word and recording their thoughts about certain passages or stories. There are lots of journals you can purchase online to help you with going deeper into God’s word, so check that out if you are interested.
Nourish Your Body
Honestly, we cannot go throughout the day without feeding our bodies. So I make sure to have something that is filling and full of protein and good fats. I like to do a buckwheat sourdough with a nut butter topped with hemp seeds, but you could do so many yummy things that are quick and provide your body with real vitamins and minerals. So whatever you choose, make sure it’s healthy and good for you rather than just chugging coffee and heading out the door.
Some easy make aheads for a quick and nourishing breakfast would be:
- egg bits (mini muffins made with egg, sweet potato and onion)
- strawberries, blackberries, walnuts and pumpkin seeds mixed into Greek yogurt
- rye bread toasted and topped with hummus, grape tomatoes, black olives seasoned with salt and oregano with two eggs on the side
Gentle Stretching
I think a great way to start the day is with some gentle stretching. This doesn’t have to be yoga poses. I’m talking basic stretches where you simply stretch out your calves and quads, your shoulders and neck from the long hours of being curled up asleep. You can of course include yoga in your stretches or start your day with a quick yoga workout, but if that is too much, just stretching out your body is a good way to lengthen the muscles and tissues so that you can start moving without feeling tightness or discomfort.
Do be sure to get in some form of a workout later on though!
Doll Up
I don’t really mean this. All I mean is, change out of your lounge wear. Even if you work from home or are a homemaker, don’t spend half the day in your PJs with your hair unbrushed and sleep only rubbed from your eyes. Make sure you get ready for the day so that whatever you are doing, you can approach it with purpose and intention. Wash, and get ready for the day by putting on your day wear. A nicer pair of slacks and a simple tee shirt will do, but if you prefer a dress and apron that’s awesome! Make yourself as feminine as you feel and you’ll find yourself ready to face anything the world has to throw at you.
I like to include a bit of make up in this, but honestly at this stage of my life, my make up is very simple. Powder, blush, mascara and I’m pretty much done. But if wearing pretty eye shadows and lipsticks makes you feel beautiful and is apart of your day wear, be sure to include that as well because our aesthetics are personal and have to suit us as individual human beings.
Smile and Serve
Whenever we go out into the world into a shop or restaurant, we expect to receive service with a smile. And God calls us to serve. And really, work is service. You might be serving your family if you are homemaker. You might be serving the public if you are nurse or teacher. You might be serving your boss in your office job. And in all of these roles, there are parts that are going to be difficult or that you don’t like. Times when you might feel dumped on or abused. But if you begin your day with the mindset that you are willing to do your best to serve (aka have a good work ethic) then everything is likely to go more smoothly and more quickly. So smile and face your day.
I am not saying you should allow any sort of workplace abuse. It’s good to draw boundaries and not allow others to overwork you or use you in other ways that are inappropriate. I’m simply saying, face your day with fortitude and joy. I myself work in a difficult job. Teaching is very demanding, there are many challenges and problems I face that I cannot resolve as they are systematic (and I hate using that word, but in this case it’s appropriate) and I simply have to continue to face those challenges day after day even when I feel as though my work conditions are unsafe. I try to simply do my best and serve the students and school community with kindness and patience because I know the challenges aren’t going to going away. They are too deeply rooted and out of my control entirely. But I continue to try and smile and face it with a cheerful spirit.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the ways I start my day to help me walk along God’s path. I hope that some of them have resonated with you as that is my intention–to provide you with ways to grow that feel right and true to you.
Do any of these routines inspire you? Which do you practice in your life? Share in the comments below.