5 Ways to Have Your Best Day Ever

Lately, my schedule has been really erratic. I’ve been traveling and some of my typical, nourishing daily routines took a back seat. But, the one thing I stick to as much as possible—no matter where I am—is entering the day intentionally.

Why? Because as a self-care evangelist for the last 25 years, I’ve learned that how I “enter” the day is how I “do” the day. The state of BEING I cultivate first thing in the morning has an enormous impact on how I connect, lead and relate to others throughout the day!

Do you flop, race or ease into your day? If we take a bit of time to make conscious choices, our morning time can set the course for how creative, positive, productive and happy we are in the hours to follow. How we begin our day is key to everything.

Here are five simple things I try to do each morning to support a great start (if your current a.m. routine includes a large dose of news and a carafe of Starbucks –be gentle with yourself; start with baby steps):

1. Ditch screen time and become comfortable with silence (or classical music). Be judicious about your media diet and who you allow into your head–at least for the first hour of the morning. Often we get our best ideas shortly after waking; give yourself some time to ease into the day without added mental clutter and unwanted noise. This can feel strange at first, but over time you may crave this quiet.
2. Stretch or do some gentle yoga before you get out of bed. Every morning I lie on my back and fold my right knee gently into my body, then alternate and bring in my left, stretching the opposing leg while taking deep belly breaths. Then I bring in both knees and gently rock side to side (great for the kidneys, adrenals and digestion). Want more? Read Why I Do Yoga.
3. Drink a cup of hot water with lemon shortly after waking. This practice aids digestion, hydrates, flushes out the lymph system, helps to detoxify your body and boost your metabolism. Even if you’ve got to have your java jolt, try starting with warm lemon water. Read more about the many benefits of this practice here.
4. Pause and enter your day intentionally. I believe this is the MOST important tip. Whether you meditate, pray, read an inspirational passage, journal about what you’re grateful for or choose a one-word intention that calls to you, taking time to enter your day thoughtfully and with intention has huge pay-offs. The benefits will be felt for hours to come (read Why I Meditate).
5. Give and receive morning hugs. Making a conscious choice to choose love over fear and embrace the benefits of hugging. Expressing care to your friends, pets and family members in the form of warm, safe touches and hugs has an enormous impact on your physical and emotional well-being and stress level. This is one of the fastest way to release oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) and to feel more connected to those you love.

We are creatures of habit. It’s easy to keep doing the same things over and over again and remain in a rut. Perhaps you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired and are ready to experience more well-being and joy? Author Robert Puller says, “Good habits, once established, are just as hard to break as are bad habits.” For me, it always comes back to the question, “How bad do you want to feel good?”

Warmly,

HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU IN PRIORITIZING YOUR SELF-CARE? HERE ARE SOME IDEAS!

• October 25 – 27th ~ Soul Tending: Cultivating Grace, Power and Intuition ~ A Women’s Self-Renewal Retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (Berkshire Mountains, Western MA).  From stillness comes discernment. Your soul is calling, are you listening? Join me for connection, replenishing rest, divine natural foods cuisine, song/movement, restorative yoga and more. Packages start at just $635 for this soul-nurturing weekend. Learn more and register.
• *NEW OFFERING!* Secrets to Facilitating Life-Changing Women’s Groups/Retreats in Uncertain Times ~ the course. Are you passionate about empowering other women in your area? Would you love to lead women’s groups/retreats this fall?  Connection = medicine. Created by Renee, this beautiful, self-paced video course—based on our wildly popular, now-retired 18-year-old Facilitator Training Program—offers everything you need to start facilitating women’s circles/retreats. Download today; available 24/7. Only $195 for a limited time. Learn more.
• SANCTUARY: A Women’s Self-Renewal Journey ~ September – November.  Learn to cultivate grace, power and intuition in a safe and sacred space. A 10-week, in-person Self-Renewal Group Experience for women.  Location: Brevard, NC, 45 min. from Asheville. Please inquire if there is space before registering. Learn More.
• Wild Souls Nature Adventures (based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western NC): authentic movement classes, community song circles, full moon hikes, meditation workshops, women’s circles & more. New offerings listed each week; have me design a custom experience for your team/friends. Join us Sunday, August 11th for our next Wild Souls Authentic Movement Class near Asheville, NC. Learn More.
• JOB OPENING: Women’s Empowerment Communications Internship! Know a savvy, professional junior or senior communications student? We have a wonderful, rare opportunity (virtual or in-person) just outside of Asheville, NC. Learn more: Women’s Empowerment Fall 2024 Communications Internship.

Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by life balance coach/author/speaker and catalyst Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art/science of self-care, Renee has been facilitating high-impact, interactive workshops and women’s retreats for Fortune 500 companies, national nonprofits/conferences and organizations/teams worldwide for 25 years. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Fast Company, Good Housekeeping, Yoga Journal, AARP Magazine, Spirituality & Health and more. She and her team have certified more than 450 facilitators in 10 countries around the globe to lead self-renewal groups/retreats based on her pioneering self-care curriculum. She’s the author of two books on life balance including the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. She and her husband live in Western North Carolina and their son lives in New York City; her latest venture is Wild Souls Nature Adventures. More on Renee here.