We capture experiences and bravely share our stories in the hopes that they can extend past ourselves. Welcome to Sunday Stories, a series for thoughts, chats & all of life’s in-between as we dive deeper into the creative and courageous way of living.

In a world where life has us on the constant go, a morning practise of a little stillness and quietude has become an absolute part of my day. It’s come to the point where it renders more than savouring a warm cup of coffee; it’s a soul filling routine that calms the nervous system and sets the tone for the day. The essence of a slow morning lies in granting yourself moments of tranquility. It’s the act of gradually warming up to the day without allowing outside distractions pull you away from those brief moments of being. Sounds superficial, maybe even close to impossible, till its put to practise!

Creating a slow morning, even for just a few minutes, has been proven to have a profound effect on the overall well-being. Research shows that starting the day on more slow and calm rhythms cultivates mindfulness, boosts creativity and can even help to manage stress. Unhurried mornings provide a sense of presence, self-care and purpose. There are no set rules to creating a slow morning practise. It can be as simple as a few moments of solitude, taking your time to make breakfast, journaling, reading, stretching, exercising…its benefits lie in incorporating moments of doing something that feels good—just for a little while! 

“Slow mornings involve a lot of the practises that our mind and body do inherently crave, but we don’t always make time for.”

– Mary Olivia Verhulst, therapist 

My Mornings

Every season of life brings its own version of what a slow morning looks like. At the moment, I wake up before anyone else, I quietly open the shutters so as to catch sight of first morning light. I then head to the kitchen where the making of a warm cup of coffee is the pinnacle of my morning. Once I pour the hot water in my French coffee maker, my mood is instantly uplifted by its aroma.  Coffee cup and saucer in hand, I head to our bistro set up in the spare bedroom and I sit there, sun rays on my face, relishing morning’s quietude. I read scriptures. I take note of the morning light leaking into our home and how beautiful it is in the early hours of the day. It’s amazing the things you notice and learn about yourself when you slow things down.

Every morning is a different version of a similar routine. What is constant though is the fact that I romanticise my mornings. Whether I’m drinking coffee, making breakfast, journaling, reading, staring out the window…I take the time to appreciate the beauty of a slow morning . It’s a practise that has put an end to the anxiety I would feel at the pit of my stomach on hasty mornings. It helps me practise gratitude, it calms my nervous system and it heightens my creativity. I start my day feeling good and more productive!

A slow morning practise won’t look the same for everyone. There will definitely be experimenting at first until you can figure out what works best for you. I can firmly say that creating a slow morning routine, even with the subtlest shifts, will leave you more at ease and feeling your very best! 

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Q & A

What inspires you the most?

Scripture. A while back I came across a quote by Elisabeth Elliot that has inspired me to start reading the Bible. It says,”The secret of joy is Christ in me—not me in a different set of circumstances.” I felt seen. 

what are you currently reading?

I read scriptures in the morning and in the evenings, I’m currently reading Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. I’m also in a mood to start reading some classic novels. One of my friends keeps on raving about Emily Brontë so, Wuthering Heights is next in line.

Do you still have movies nights?

We still do! They aren’t so much on a weekly basis as they used to be but when we see a movie trailer we might think we’ll all be into, we definitely organise a movie night! With the Christmas school break coming up, we have a Christmas movie marathon! It’s so much fun!

Looking forward to our next Sunday Stories!

Talk soon! Demi xoxo