Start Your Day at 200%!

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Recently I went to dinner with an old friend. He is someone who I have known since preschool and he just happens to be one of the most inspiring, motivating people that I know. He’s overcome a lot of adversity in his life, but rather than allowing any of that to weaken him, he has used all of it to grow.

While we were catching up, he asked me how I was doing. It wasn’t a casual question or a pleasantry. He wanted to know how I am really doing. I started off by explaining that I am doing well. My businesses are thriving. My children are wonderful, getting bigger and smarter by the day. And I am finally beginning to focus on the self and heart-work that I have wanted to do for myself for a long time.

I explained all of that to him, but he dug further still. I realized that he was looking for my challenge. We all have one, don’t we? A place in our life that is the hardest. A time of the day that is the most painful. The thing that we struggle with more than any other.

I thought for a moment and then it came to me — the end of the day. No matter how good my days are, by the time I get to the end — those last few hours before bedtime — I am on empty. Everything falls apart, my children are on my last nerve, I have nothing left to give. I struggle through dinner and bedtime, sometimes with tears in my eyes.

He looked at me and said, “Well, that’s an easy fix.” I almost fell off my chair. I couldn’t imagine what kind of solution he was going to offer up for this conundrum of mine.

“You start your day at 200%. By the time you hit the end of the day, you won’t be empty, you’ll be at 100% — but you’ll still be at 100% — your kids deserve you at 100% all the time.”

He said it so matter-of-factually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He explained to me how he starts his day with so much energy and positivity, that he runs circles around people with his energy and optimism. By the end of the day, he is less energetic, but he is still functioning at 100%. I honestly didn’t know what to make of that advice. I absolutely loved the sound of it, but I worried that it just couldn’t be that simple. Still, I decided that I was going to give it a try, because what an amazing thing if it could work!

So, I went home that night and gave that conversation a lot of thought. And while I usually stay up later than I should on Saturday nights, that night I went to bed early, fully committed to waking up the next morning at 200%. When I woke up the next day, I was ready. I emotionally charged myself all the way up to 200%. Instead of making excuses, I got right out of bed with a smile on my face.

Since I’ve started this process, I wake up every morning and do the thing that centers me and charges me the most — yoga. I start my day with a sun salute and then twenty minutes on my elliptical. From there I shower or wash my face and then I brush my teeth. It’s a simple routine really, but it absolutely sets the tone for my day. It is a routine of self-care, self-nourishment and emotional & physical “charging up.”

The process has been working. It’s pretty amazing, honestly. Am I really charged up to 200% every morning? Well no, I am not exactly like a cell phone that can be charged up. 😉 But by starting out the day with the right mindset, and completing a routine that fills my soul and my body — I am in the right head space to start the day with energy, calm, and love. I carry that light with me through the day and it reminds me to be the best version of myself for as long as I am able to.

Sure, the hours before bedtime are still difficult, sometimes we still experience epic meltdowns and I hide in the shower… but things are better now. When I feel myself starting to slip into despair, I remind myself that I still have 100% to give, and more, that my children deserve my 100% no matter what else is going on in our lives.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, brushing my teeth is one of the key elements of my morning routine. I know that it is awful, but previously there were mornings where I would be lazy and wait to brush my teeth until lunchtime! Self-care just was not high on my priority list for a long time. It’s not always easy to give myself the attention that I deserve, but starting the day with self-care absolutely allows me to be my best self which not only benefits me, but it also benefits my children and everyone who I encounter throughout my days.

I was recently invited to try out Tom’s of Maine® Luminous White™ Toothpaste Clean Mint and I was so excited. This came at the perfect time to implement it with my new routine. As a blogger, I get the opportunity to partner with lots of amazing brands, but occasionally I get an offer like this one which is so perfectly aligned with my lifestyle that it feels like it was meant to be. Tom’s of Maine has been a staple in my home for years. From their deodorants, to soaps, and toothpastes — I have literally been using their products since I switched to a natural lifestyle five years ago when I was pregnant with Roman.

Tom’s of Maine was founded with the belief that “both human beings and nature have inherent worth and deserve our respect.” Tom’s of Maine employees don’t just respect the natural world – they love it! It is truly a company after my own heart. Caring for the environment is something that has Tom’s of Maine has focused on since 1970 — from selecting ingredients, to manufacturing practices, to the packaging that they use. I am so proud to talk about this company that I love so much.

Luminous White™ Toothpaste is Tom’s of Maine’s most advanced whitening toothpaste ever. It is safe on enamel and made up of biodegradable or mineral-derived ingredients. There are no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives and I am so excited to add this product into my daily routine. You can pick it up at your local Walmart in the toothpaste section of the oral healthcare aisle.

I hope that you enjoyed this post, friends. Here’s to days full of energy, positivity, and wellness! xo