402: How to Create a (Sustainable, Nourishing, Energizing, Intentional) Morning Ritual with Sage Simpson

If you’re ever wondering, how did Ethan land on those words, “ease, purpose, and joy,” well to be honest — it came from a brainstorming conversation with today's podcast guest, Sage Howard. Sage is a meditation & yoga teacher and wellness coach whom I have known for more than 15 years, and who fully embodies ease, purpose, and joy. 

On this episode we talk about, among other things: 

• Why mornings are so darn important
• A little of the science behind our nervous system (including our sympathetic and parasympathetic states get triggered)
• A few ways morning rituals can improve our creativity, health, and relationships
• Then we get super practical with a bunch of ways to not only create a morning routine but ALSO raise the likelihood that we can make that morning routine stick
• Fun fact: Since I recorded this episode with Sage, I’m proud to say I was inspired to start my own morning routine and so far it’s brought so much more slowness, presence — and okay, yes, ease, purpose and joy to my life. 

Play-by-play:

• [0:29] Who is our guest, Sage?
• [0:44]  ICYMI - brief recap of Episode 401 with Angel Perez, CEO of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling
• [1:41 ] Today’s focus: How can morning rituals improve health, creativity, and relationships? How can you create a morning routine that actually sticks?
• [4:15] Sage shares a story of her earliest memories with morning rituals 
• [6:42] What is Sage’s relationship to mornings? 
  • [7:21] Morning A: Tuning into the outside world and constant productivity through phones, email, work, news, and podcasts
  • [8:22] Morning B: Tuning inward by choosing meditation, journaling, yoga instead of reaching for the phone
• [9:30] Why do mornings matter so darn much?
• [12:15] The science of morning routines & your nervous system
• [15:12] What are some of the ways that morning rituals can help us?
• [20:25] Is it bad to reach for your phone first thing in the morning? 
• [24:18] How do I actually start a morning routine? 
• [26:08] A list of practical ideas to choose from in your morning and why they work
  • [26:29] Water, coffee, or tea
  • [27:06] Wake up your body by stretching
  • [27:36] The power of breathwork
  • [28:11] Singing and dancing!
  • [28:33] Incorporating nature
  • [29:09] Why and how should you try meditation? 
  • [30:05] Journaling
  • [30:56] Reading
  • [31:48] Setting intentions for the day
  • [32:20] Joy and laughter
• [33:18] What has Ethan tried in his mornings?
• [34:49] How do you make the morning ritual a more consistent part of your life? 
• [44:14] Episode Takeaways