A small morning habit that helps me feel more like myself
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Hi Reader, When I asked what you’d like to hear more about, feeling grounded and connected to yourself was one of the things you shared. I’ve been thinking about how much that connection can begin with the smallest moments of our day. One habit that helps me is waiting about an hour after I wake up before looking at my phone. I slowly walk down to the kitchen, turn on the soft under cabinet lights (on a dimmer!), let Charlie out, enjoy the ritual of making coffee, quietly empty the dishwasher, shower, and get ready for the day without rushing. None of it is especially profound, but there is peace in the order and routine and it gives me a chance to arrive in my day before I start taking in everything on a screen. This morning, I broke my usual rhythm. I picked up my phone before making coffee to check the weather because my teenage son was about to leave without a sweatshirt, and I wanted evidence to back me up. 😄 But as soon as I looked at my phone, I saw it all: emails and texts that might need my attention, alerts for the day’s appointments, and reminders of things to do. WOOF. I’d only meant to check the weather, but suddenly my heart was racing and I felt jittery, as though someone had given me a sudden infusion of caffeine. So I paused. I slowed my breathing and my movements, then got down on the floor to give Charlie some belly rubs. Once my heart had slowed and I felt more like myself, I went back to my routine. Cortisol naturally rises after we wake, helping us prepare for the day. Bright lights and blue light can influence that response, and phone screens emit blue light. Morning daylight can also help signal to your body that it’s daytime, though that’s harder to come by when you’re up before the sun. I can’t know what role the screen light played in my reaction this morning, or whether my cortisol rose more than usual. What I could feel was the shift from a peaceful morning into a sense that everything needed my attention at once. It reminded me why I value that first hour without my phone. And when I do reach for it earlier, I can still notice what’s happening in my body and take a moment to reconnect. If you’re curious, try staying off your phone for the first 60 minutes after you wake up and see how you feel. If an hour feels like too much, start with 30 minutes. You could add five minutes each morning until you reach an hour. Notice how you feel when you do pick up your phone, and whether anything shifts as you give yourself more time before looking at it. I’d love to hear what you notice! If you’d welcome some dedicated time to reconnect, registration is now open for our October sound healing gatherings in Upper Saddle River:
Each gathering is $45, with space for up to eight women. You can learn more and reserve your space here. With love, P.S. Have you checked out my new website!? Click here to check it out. Would love to know what you think! 📖 Order Book: The Savvy Girl's Guide to Thriving Beyond Narcissistic Abuse 📞 Book a Complimentary Call (30 min) Let's Connect ⬇️ |
Hi! I'm a Trauma Informed Coach, Sound Practitioner, Narcissistic Abuse Specialist™, Author and Podcast Host
I work with women who feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or caught in patterns they can't quite seem to change. Some are navigating the effects of unhealthy relationships or relational trauma. Others have spent years putting everyone else's needs ahead of their own. Through trauma-informed coaching, nervous system awareness, and body-based practices, I help women better understand their responses, explore the patterns beneath them, and develop a more trusting relationship with themselves. I also offer private sound healing experiences for women seeking space to rest and reconnect.