Morning Ritual for Lent

My theme for Lent is Simple Living, and so far I've looked at some components of a simpler schedule and a simpler house, but I'm missing a connection to simple living and intentional living; my days are currently lacking the energetic shift I get when my priorities are clear.

Today I've decided to re-evaluate my morning routine, because when it's done right my morning-time ritual gives me the energy and focus I need for the whole day. I think I need a few simple tweaks, with inspirational elements.

Morning Routine Components:

1. Review and update my schedule

2. Effective habits journal

3. Print an inspiration page

4. Visualization ritual

1. Review and update my schedule:

My morning starts with this soothing ceremony: I make my morning coffee, sit in my favorite chair, and I look at my schedule and my priorities chart, and choose tasks for each of my priorities that fit best into my day. For example, today my chart says:

Sanctuary

Creativity

Earth Unity / Garden

Celebration

Family, Friends, Community

Income

Dusting

Mantle

Write blog

Make beet marker

EC blog

Prune roses

Simple Living

Call Jen and Becky

Aldo & Arthur care

HK work

Lately, this is less soothing, and takes longer than necessary, because I've got so many deferred things from the day before. I hope my new routine will give me the motivation and energy to finish things!

2. Effective habits journal: 

My next morning task is a streamlined, daily dip into Stephen Covey's Highly Effective Habits that I wrote many years ago. I think it's still a good outline, but perhaps I've become jaded, and am skimming over the inspirational, motivational bits. I decided to go through and highlight the parts that speak to a spark of passion, motivation, inspiration, or energy, and these are the parts I will journal about each morning. 

For example , today's topic is First Things First: 

Journal about my dreams and goals, for one of my roles: What GREAT things do I want to accomplish? How will I serve people? How will I use my talents? How will I stretch myself? How can I become an “island of excellence”?

3. Print an inspiration page:

A couple of years ago, when we were working together on our Huge Garden Project, I began a practice of printing out a daily page of garden inspiration and the day's list of garden tasks, and putting it on a clipboard. I found this to be a great way to focus my day and muse about possibilities.

I think it will help me to reframe my day and my priorities now, especially if I can pinpoint the deepest reasons for my priority actions, and list any things I need to gather or prepare.

4. Visualization ritual:

The last little piece is the capstone. I will take just a moment to visualize my day, walking through my priorities to picture each one - the moment I will start, and how I will feel when I complete it - remember the REASON why each is a priority, and commit to act on each task with vigor.