I’m going to admit to you…I did not want to get up early this morning. Maybe because it was rainy and chilly this morning, but it was hard. You know what though? I did it anyway. I chose to be intentional with my time. I chose to get up because I know how I feel when I start my day early. It’s quiet, no one is needing anything from me, and it’s peaceful. This is the time I wish I could have a full day of. Darkness, peacefulness, my bible and a hot mug of matcha tea!!
Waking up early takes being intentional.
What Does It Mean To Be Intentional?
Being intentional means you are doing it on purpose and with meaning behind it. Just trying isn’t enough. Just thinking about it isn’t enough. But being intentional with your choices means you take responsibility for what you are doing and you are making those choices for a reason or for a goal.
Intentional Wellness
When you choose to follow intentional wellness, you are choosing to practice healthy habits daily. You are choosing those habits on purpose and with a meaning.
How To Be More Intentional
Being intentional with your healthy lifestyle habits takes time and a lot of doing the things you don’t want to do for a while. Changing lifestyle habits is hard…but worth it.
I knew I had to start waking up earlier for my health. I was having a hard time falling asleep and sometimes staying asleep, which made it hard to wake up in the morning. And then I was groggy during the day. It seems counterintuitive to wake up early to fix tiredness, but that’s what my body needed. Once I started intentionally waking up early, I could fall asleep when I wanted and then get a full, restful night’s sleep.
Continue reading below or watch my YouTube video below to find out my top four tips to become more intentional and wake up feeling more rested.
4 Tips for Getting Up Each Day Feeling Rested
Prioritize Sleep
Become intentional with your sleep habits by creating a sleep routine. Start by shutting off all electronics an hour before you want to fall asleep. Create a calm environment by maybe reading a book, taking a soothing bath, playing calming music, and dimming the lights. Keep your room dark, quiet and cold for the best sleep.
If you happen to wake up in the middle of the night, intentionally focusing on your breath will help to shut your mind off and put you back to sleep. Start by doing 5, 7, 8 breath. To do this, inhale for the count of five, hold for the count of seven, and exhale for the count of eight.
(…oh and go grab my Energy Elixir for more sleep tips!!!)
Get Your Energy Out
If you aren’t moving enough during the day, your body won’t be tired enough for sleep, leading you to tiredness the next day. Movement through exercise, especially building muscle, will create the most benefits for bringing more energy and feeling rested.
Intentional Nutrition
Feeling well rested each day takes being intentional with your diet. What you eat can either bring health and vitality or feelings of being run down and tiredness. Make sure you are filling your meals with real, nutrient dense food. Ideally, your plate should be half non-starchy vegetables to give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to vitamins and minerals. You also want to prioritize protein and get about four ounces of protein at each meal. Having too many starches will cause tiredness. Don’t completely cut them out if you want them, but have an appropriate amount of only one-quarter of your plate.
Regulate Your Nervous System
Nervous system regulation definitely takes intentionality. To regulate your nervous system, you have to remind yourself you’re ok. If your mind is anything like mine, it can lie to you and tell you something isn’t right and make you believe the worst possible scenarios. You have to be intentional with your thoughts by combating the lies with truth. Journal your negative thoughts and truths you can meditate on. Breathwork and contemplative prayer are my go-tos for regulating the nervous system and feeling well rested.
Being Intentional
Getting up each day and feeling well rested doesn’t just happen, you have to create it by being intentional with your lifestyle choices. What does it mean to you to be intentional with your lifestyle choices? What choices are you intentionally making to get up feeling well rested each day? I’d love to hear! Comment with your intentional lifestyle choices.
