Lately people have been on the 5am-9am before 9am-5pm trend. They are waking up at 5 in the morning to get their chores done before the day gets ahead of them. Ideally, avoiding stressful activities and preparing oneself mentally for the day is preferred. Waking up before the sun rises is better for the body due to the circadian system. Of course the morning can be spent on work and chores, but why not take advantage of the quiet bliss with “me time”?

There are other ways to be productive aside from laboring away at the task list. For some reason society is programmed to believe that self-care time is unproductive. That we need to “sneak” away to the spa in order to reach a sustainable life. But, personal time is the most product activity anyone can do. Taking care of oneself first thing in the day helps with cognition, emotions, and metabolism.

No matter which dosha, or personal energy, type, here are a few non-stressful things that prepares the mind and body for the day ahead.

Facial Massage

Almond oil works to nourishes skin especially during dry and cold climates. Using long upward strokes can help drain the lymph system and give skin a glow. Rollers made of rose quartz or jade also work. Circling the eyes with the ring finger helps to depuff and reduce undereye circles. Using oil with essential oils such as rose, jasmine and sandalwood is also an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety.

Body Massage

Abhyanga increases circulation, and reduces stress and depression. A warm herbal oil can stay on anywhere from 15 minutes to up to an hour. Showering or wiping it off prevents it from ruining work clothes. Sweat helps draw out toxins, so a workout then a shower is another option to get rid of the oil.

Meditation

There is no better way to take advantage of the quiet morning than meditation. This might put a novice back to sleep, but the range of styles can be a deterrent. The candle exercise, or trataka, requires focus on one part of a candle flame, so it does not involve eye closure. Trataka can alleviate a restless mind, improve memory, and helps the sleep-wake cycle by stimulating the pineal gland.

Pranayama

Breathing exercises can help balance emotions and physiology. Alternate nostril breathing relieves anxiety, sheetali alleviates anger, and kapalabhati increases metabolism. These are dosha specific to vata, pitta and kapha, respectively. An advantage to doing breath exercises in the morning is that they are best done on an empty stomach.

Exercise

Yoga, cardio, and walking are invigorating starters and support healthy metabolism. Sometimes yoga is the easier option when avoiding waking up the entire household. It also stretches the body and is improves anxiety. If noise is not a problem, then cardio sweats out toxins and minimizes cognitive aging. Walking early in the morning helps to get in step counts and enhances memory.

Writing

Gratitude sets up the day like a golf ball on a tee. Reflecting on the things to be grateful for makes reaching goals more effective. This can range from something as big as a raise to as small as the perfectly tasting apple. Being grateful has shown to work on the reward system through mu-opioid receptors, which facilitates daily social interactions.

Bottom Line

These self-care activities can be done alone or in combination. Mix and match depending on how much time is available. The activity chosen should not be stressful, so go easy on the yoga poses, for example. Also… Just sit and shut up for a while. It brings a lot of inner peace.