In this episode, I'm challenging the idea of the perfect morning routine and offering something much more liberating - what I call the "cyclical start." As we move into the darker months with daylight savings behind us, I share why forcing yourself into a rigid or prescriptive morning routine might actually be working against your body's natural rhythms.

I talk about why the words "morning routine" trigger so many moms, the reality of our cyclical nature as women, and how giving yourself radical permission to listen to your body can actually be more transformative than any prescribed 5 AM wake-up call.

Key Points

The Morning Routine Trigger

• Why "morning routine" feels loaded and sometimes rage-inducing for mothers
• The unpredictability of kids, sleep, and early motherhood years
• How non-parent providers often suggest morning routines without understanding the reality
• The loss of freedom, spontaneity, and time that triggers us

Why Traditional Morning Routines Don't Work

• The expectation that every morning should look the same isn't realistic
• Female bodies are cyclical beings - not designed for rigid daily sameness
• How seasons affect our energy and morning capacity differently
• The resistance that comes from trying to force the same routine in winter as summer

Introducing the Cyclical Start

• Honoring the rhythms of your own body, the season, and your stage of motherhood
• Giving yourself permission for mornings to look different day to day and week to week
• Letting your body decide what it needs rather than following a prescription
• How this approach reduces guilt and increases self-trust

Releasing Rigid Prescriptions

• The journey from rigid rules about exercise, eating, and routines to body wisdom
• The freedom of stopping alarm clocks and letting your body wake naturally (when possible)
• Some days waking at 5 AM, other days sleeping until 7 - and both being okay
• Connecting to natural rhythms like moon cycles and seasons

The Bikram Yoga Parallel

• Starting with rigid 26-posture Bikram practice as a "safe" structure
• Getting reprimanded for drinking water and leaving early
• The wake-up call that rigid prescriptions can harm rather than help
• Questioning where routines you once loved are now draining you

Radical Permission

• What if you gave yourself permission to sleep in every time?
• Trusting that your body knows what it needs
• How radical rest often leads to natural energy returning
• The difference between forcing yourself versus naturally waking with energy

Quotes

"Morning routine: why those two words are triggering on many levels."

"The reality is -  every morning looking the same - I have come to find is not realistic... and it's actually not really in line with a female's body."

"Starting cyclically means first you're honoring the rhythms of your own body, but also the season and the stage of motherhood and life that you're in."

"What if you gave yourself radical permission to just sleep in and skip the thing that you've been forcing yourself to wake up for?"

"When you feel the natural rhythms, you're more and more connected to your body and what it needs on a given day."

"Where is your body saying, 'Hey, this routine isn't really working for me'?"

Reflection Questions

• What happens in your body when you hear the words "morning routine"?
• Are you forcing a morning practice that's actually draining you rather than energizing you?
• What would radical permission look like for your mornings right now?
• Where in your life are you following prescriptions that no longer serve your body or season of life?
• What would it feel like to let your body decide when to wake up?

What's Next

This concept of the cyclical start is part of the School of Mom's work around awakening the cyclical celebrator - trusting the process and honoring natural rhythms. More insights from the book coming soon!

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of "Mothering Ourselves Mindfully." We look forward to sharing more insights and inspiration in the upcoming episodes!

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