Hi y’all,
I lived as a nun before and during the age of the internet.
As a nun, sometimes life felt rushed, hurried, and reactive even before the World Wide Web. My morning ritual of quiet, which included prayer, reflection, and journaling, kept me centered throughout my day.
Since the invention of the internet, we have been experiencing the age of smartphones and AI. Stress is in hyperdrive, and the feeling of being overwhelmed is relentless.
As a nun, that morning ritual was an anchor of peace when work or life became overwhelming and stressful.
I still practice a morning ritual today. Every day, this mindfulness practice supercharges the battery of my whole being so that I can face the day energized and rooted in peace, no matter what happens.
Mornings set the tone for your entire day.
If you start rushed and reactive, you’ll likely carry that energy forward. A few moments of mindful stillness can be the difference between feeling grounded or being overwhelmed.
Here are three reasons why making space for morning stillness matters.
Reason #1. It Creates Mental Clarity Before Distractions Take Over
Most people wake up and immediately reach for their phones, diving into emails and notifications. This habit floods your mind with other people’s priorities before your own.
Instead, start your day with stillness, even for a minute, which gives your brain a chance to wake up on your terms. You’ll make clear decisions and feel in control of your day.
Reason #2. It Reduces Stress Before It Starts
Stress doesn’t wait until noon to show up. When you jump straight into work or errands, your nervous system stays on high alert.
But when you pause in the morning, through deep breathing, journaling, or quiet reflection, you train your body to enter the day with calm instead of tension. A slight shift in the morning can prevent stress from snowballing.
Reason #3. It Strengthens Self-Awareness
Stillness creates space to notice your feelings before the day sweeps you away. A simple check-in, such as “What’s my energy like today?" helps you move through your schedule with intention instead of autopilot.
The more aware you are of your inner state, the more you can protect your peace throughout the day.
That's it.
Three reasons why making space for morning stillness matters:
It creates mental clarity before distractions take over.
It reduces stress before it starts.
It strengthens self-awareness.
Remember, take what you like and leave the rest.
Thanks for listening. I appreciate you being part of the journey.
Have a mindful week, and we’ll see you next time. Thanks.
Denise
I'm a former nun who, at midlife, pivoted to corporate life with zero business experience and became an award-winning program manager. I want to help you find stillness in the ball pit bouncy house of life.
Mindfulness begins with tiny steps toward being present. You can start micro-mindfulness right now without adding one more thing to your calendar. Join my newsletter, and I will share simple micro-mindfulness tips every week that you can start today.
In my book Burn Without Burning Out: 7 Micro-Mindfulness Habits for Clear Thinking, Decisive Action, and Recovery from Burnout, I share other skills I learned as a nun. Grab your copy today.
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