Why we need Morning Rituals.

Do not underestimate the power of morning rituals.

Salute the sun. Surf a wave. Simply have a cup of tea in bed.

These small acts in the morning are easy to do and even enjoyable, so why do we struggle to implement them on a daily basis? It seems that on rising our motivation and memory is often a disappointment to our former-night self, as we sleepily slip into the vortex of thought; deliberating future happenings, musing on past events, and completely forgetting last night’s promises to ourselves.

Get up. Salute. Surf. Sip.

The lazy morning robot brain ticks away mindlessly at our “To Do” list: email replying, admin tasking, stuff needing, social-media checking, doing, doing, thinking.

Not being.

This is an exhausting way to start the day, and although the initial perception of a technology filled morning is a self-affirming “Great, I’ve been so productive and it’s not even 9am yet!”, we all know that feeling that hits us soon after, rattled and absent, needing our caffeine fix to kick-on through the next stage of the morning. At this time often wishing that we had ignored our mind’s earlier angst and thereafter promising ourselves once again: tomorrow we will start fresh that morning ritual, no excuses.

Personally, I am reminded on these rattled days why I surf. Why it is my preferred morning ritual, my necessary morning ritual. It gives me a moment to appreciate the simplicity of life before diving back into the chaos of my own mind. Surfing binds me to nature, drops my head into my physical body, forces me to consciously breathe.

Breathe.

At the very least, surfing gives me a few hours’ respite from my technological vices, which are at any moment an arms-reach away whilst I’m on dry land (lucky Apple hasn’t found a way to make their iPhones waterproof yet).

I am the first to admit I have a serious lack of willpower when it comes to technology, however I can no longer blame the digital age we live in. That excuse is old and boring and I am fully aware of how to use the off-switch on my cellphone.

At Bookinglayer our mission is to continue to dismantle these excuses that stop us from enjoying our morning rituals, or any daily ritual at that. We understand how pressuring it can be to have a business that relies on digital communication with no opening or closing hours, how all-encompassing it can become. We also understand that the reason somebody starts a surf or yoga retreat is to embrace that lifestyle, and spend as little time as possible sitting in front of a computer. We understand this, because it’s the same reason we have a company that gives us freedom to move and work in our own time. To be free to enjoy our morning rituals.

Again, easier said than done.

Time to go and enjoy the morning.