THE ULTIMATE 6-step Work from home morning routine...

One of the things that was a non-negotiable for me when I was looking for a new home, was space for a home office. I need ample space working from home, I spent way too much time working at the dining room table to know that a designated work space is ESSENTIAL to anyone who works from home. I personally will get caught up if I spot a dirty dish, undone laundry, a book out of place and honestly anything that catches my eye. So, making sure that my office space is filled with ONLY work things is extremely helpful.

WORKING FROM HOME REQUIRES A DESIGNATED WORK SPACE

Anyway, my workspace is actually what you would consider a breakfast nook. And what makes it perfect for my office is the beautiful and bright natural light pouring into the space. So, I adjusted the shelves and had the back wall painted black because you know I believe black walls are just superior. My favorite office space of all time was black and honestly, it was my most successful year in business. On top of that, the color black in Feng Shui represents water and supports the vibration around your career path. So, if you have been wondering if a black office would work…it actually is an incredibly supportive color for your career/business.

Feng Shui facts, tips & tricks:

FENG SHUI TIP #1: YOU MUST SIT IN THE COMMAND POSITION

I started by working at the counter top on the back wall, but honestly, I found myself never being able to sit down and focus for long periods of time. I would take my computer to the dining room, sofa or even my patio. And I knew pretty quickly what was going on. Having your back to the door of any room position in Feng Shui is not supportive to your work energy. You always want your desk/ workspace placed in the POWER position, which means that your back should never be facing the entry of the room. You want to be facing a window or the front door so that you can always be facing new opportunities coming your way.

Anyway, so I decided to put a round table, this white Saarinen inspired table was the perfect fit for the space, in the middle of the space for my desk and ever since I did that I find that I just love being in my office and I have been ten times more productive.

Speaking of productivity. . .

Something I recently learned that has completely helped me transform how I work is what they call 4 QUARTER DAYS. It’s a daily breakdown of times where I like to designate my rituals and routines.

Let me breakdown the daily schedule for you:

Morning: 5-9 AM **Here I do everything that is needed from me first thing, movement, getting ready, breakfast, school drop off, etc. I usually go on my morning walks around 9am.

Late Morning: 10AM -1PM **These are my power work hours, the times when I feel I preform my best and have the most energy. Recording podcasts, creating content, writing out plans, etc. I usually have my lunch around 1 and then my coffee at 2.

Afternoon: 2-7PM **Just post coffee, I do the things I couldn’t get to during my power hours but I allow myself to do them at a slower pace. I will also change up the scenery, maybe go work at a coffee shop or do something that inspires me. This is also the time, I pack orders + make jewelry.

Evening: 7PM+** Here, there is NO WORK. It’s all about my personal time and prepping myself for my night routine. I will do a post on that soon.

FENG SHUI TIP #2: SNAKE PLANTS ARE HELPFUL

They are said to attract prosperity, fortune and growing success. In addition to that, they are extremely helpful in absorbing the harmful radiation that technology emits. I like to keep my snake plants near my computer or anything that uses wifi.

Plants also represent and promote the energy of vitality and growth. So, keep your office filled with your favorite plants to help surround you with the energy of growth and you will align with growth in your work, business and personal growth, too.

read this post for more feng shui home office tips

WORK FROM HOME MORNING ROUTINE:

Here’s the thing, I have been a work from home entrepreneur since 2010 ish. I’ve been working out of my home for as long as I can remember, I love the work from home life. Ever since 2020, so many more people in my world work from home as well. So, I know how important it is to cultivate a really strong work from home routine because it can be distracting, difficult and lonely at times, too. I am obsessed with routines and rituals, especially my tried and true morning rituals. Here are a few things I do specific to getting myself prepped and ready for working from home:

1. MAKE MY BED. I shouldn’t have to explain this but making the bed helps so much, especially when you work from home because it helps you not get distracted when you just really want to crawl right back into bed.

2. GETTING DRESSED: It might sound slightly obvious but this step of my morning work routine is probably the most impactful step of all. Before I go down to my office, I will dress in a cute but comfortable outfit, make sure my hair looks nice, makeup on my face and beautiful smelling perfume, too, this is my signature scent! There is a night and day difference in my work day when I come into my office fully made up versus when I sort of pop in a lazy outfit, hair a mess. My attitude, personality, productivity and entire experience is different when I am dressed up and feeling myself. You will see that the energy behind what you are working on is completely up-leveled and you will even feel more confident and powerful when you feel good about yourself. For me, I will always start my day feeling my absolute best. This is one of those ‘secrets of a millionaire mindset’ that just works!

3. HYDRATION: I am absolutely one of those that needs liquids all around me. I live for making coffee in the mornings. It’s just one of those things that signals my brain that I am ready to start the day. However, staying hydrated while getting caffeinated is top tier. It helps you from getting too crazed. I swear by my electrolyte water, it’s got potassium, zinc, magnesium and sodium which is what you need for optimal hydration (plain water alone doesn’t cut it) . And right now I drink it in this mug. In order to be really effective at work and energized for a good day of working, I need to be hydrated. You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget to hydrate. I think having a fun cup to drink out of makes it easier to remember.

4. MORNING PAGES: Before I do anything for the day, I will write out everything that comes to my mind. You can read more about morning pages here. For me, my work is all about creating and I can’t get into a creative head space if my mind is full of buzzing thoughts. I need to get my thoughts out onto the paper so that I can free up space in my mind to create. I will make lists of what to do, write out feelings or emotions, jot down any reminders I need and sometimes I will even write out intentions + affirmations. Those help me get clear on where I am going and what I want to create for the day.

MY HOME OFFICE DECOR PICKS :

5. SUPPLY SET UP: Another thing that is a must for me when I am working from home, is constantly keeping my office tidy and organized. Sure, I will allow things to pile up here and there. but if my desk space isn’t fully open for me to work on…I can’t complete anything. I have to have room for my drinks (always water + coffee) my writing tools ( usually a few colored pens and highlighters ) and my computer, phone and charger. I also need my pink scissors, proper ink levels in my printer and a fully charged computer. Here’s a list of all things need to feel set and ready to go for me to be ready to take on the day.

6. AFFIRMATIONS: I do not do an-eeee-thing without getting my mental state in check. Here are a few affirmations I like to start my work day with….

♥️ I woke up feeling worthy + empowered today. It’s going to be an amazing day full of new opportunities.

♥️ I am forever grateful for all that I am and all that I have. The life I have created is beautiful and it just keeps getting better and better.

♥️ I inhale positive energy. I exhale all doubts, fears, worries or attachments to things holding me back. I will not worry about anything that is outside of my personal control.

♥️ I am honoring the space between where I am and where I am headed. Everything is working out in my favor and for my highest good. I am living the life of my dreams.

I’d like to take a short break here in this blog post to share a podcast episode that I think you might enjoy.

One of the most common questions I get asked is…what do you do for work?

And honestly, it’s not a simple answer, so I thought I would break down the things I do for work so that you can see what I technically do during a work day.

1. This blog. I have a personal blog and I write about all of the things I am passionate about

2. I’ve got 3 self-published books on Amazon. Blissful Living, Blissful Living Journal and The Daily Bliss.

3. I have a monthly coaching membership, Manifest Bliss membership where I have bi-monthly live community calls, hours and hours of video workshops, trainings and dozens of downloadable workbooks.

4. I have several online courses inside of The House of Bliss.

5. I have created various Ebooks/workbooks on topics like manifesting, spirituality and feng shui.

6. I have a podcast called Blissfully Ambitious.

7. I have a spiritual crystal jewelry line and home goods e-commerce shop called Love Ashlina.

8. I also do sessions where I work one on one with clients on their homes, guiding them to ensure their home is supporting the life they really want.

   Needless to say, I am a full time digital entrepreneur, online coach and content creator, my work plate is absolutely full and I am absolutely in love with what I do for work. The only way that I can stay on track with all of the things is by scheduling myself by days of the week. It changes from month to month, as I put more focus on certain things during certain seasons. My point is strategy is key.

   If you would like to learn more about how to grow your own online business + brand as I have, join me in my program, ONLINE BOSS UNIVERSITY. This is a one-stop-shop to learn all about what building an online business looks like. You’ll learn the ins and outs of blogging, branding, social media, course creation, e-commerce, video, email marketing, etc. PLUS, join a supportive community so you can feel less alone in building your business. Check out the details here.

If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to receive my weekly love letters here. I share a lot of personal tips and tricks on the behind these scenes of my work life.

Here is a peek at 2 of my books you can grab on Amazon, the colors are so on brand, no?

Morning Rituals: 6 healthy wellness habits you should do every single morning

Mornings. For me, the morning is the most important part of the day. Something I have learned over the years is that how you spend your mornings, determines how the rest of the day plays out.

If I force myself to wake up early, fight my natural bodies rhythm, I wake up feeling forced (very masculine energy based). However, when I am intentional about preparing myself for a morning routine that feels good, I bring an energy that impacts my entire day.

When you create routines, habits and rituals, you can set your days up with purpose and intention that will lead to a blissful life. It is a non-negotiable for me and I refuse to skimp out on my morning routine. So, I thought I would write a blog post, to accompany my most recent podcast episode (you can listen to the episode here).

HOW I PREPARE FOR MY MORNING RITUALS:

I get myself ready for my morning the evening before. Sometimes, when I need some good rest, I drink my hot Calm magnesium drink to help me to fall asleep faster. I also keep blue light glasses with me at night when I am watching tv, on my laptop or my phone before bed. When you are staring at blue light at night, it tricks your mind/body into thinking that it is daytime and messes up your natural circadian rhythm. I also make sure I get good sleep by investing in good bedding and wearing comfortable pajamas.

6 habits I do every single morning and why:

01 | Hydration.

The minute I wake up, I brush my teeth. That’s just a natural instinct. And then I go directly to the kitchen and make myself this electrolyte enhanced water drink. There are a lot of morning powder drinks I have loved over the years but so far, this one takes the cake. It’s NOT an energy drink, its just a drink that is specifically made for hydration. It has so many vitamins that are good for the body, magnesium, potassium, zinc, etc.

I used to wake up and go straight for the coffee but I decided to switch it up and make sure I get my hydration in first and then have my coffee. I’ve found that I actually consume less coffee and have more overall energy throughout the day. It’s been an incredibly significant shift in how my days go. I love this stuff.

02 | Set intentions for the day

After I do all of my morning hydration, I head over to my altar and light one of my Blissful Living Ritual candles so I can set my intention for the day. Intention setting is key for me in the mornings, it just helps me to focus my brain on what I want to create for the day. Often, it will be a sales goal or sometimes, it may just be to have more calm. It really doesn’t matter what intention you set, the most important thing is that you put your attention and focus on what it is that you want to create and manifest.

In Feng Shui, lighting a candle is activating. It’s sparking a fire to you goal or intention and the energy of fire is activating. So, I have always been a fan of lighting candles as a way of manifesting what you want. It’s a full mind/body/spirit ritual.

03 | Morning journaling

Then, I get right into my journal. Journaling for me is everything. You can read more about my experience journaling here and here. I am a huge fan of the morning pages, free writing for 3 pages straight. Sometimes I will write 6 pages because there is just so much to get out of my head. I believe so much in the importance of decluttering the mind first thing in the morning before you begin your day. It just helps so much so that you are able to use your mind to be mindful and present, not in overthinking and future tripping.

If you have a hard time with journaling, you can check out my Blissful Living 30-day guided journal.

04 | Dress up for your dreams

Dress up for the life you want to attract. If I could tell you to do ONE thing in the morning that would completely change your life, it would be this. Getting ready every single morning is a way of telling the Universe you are ready for your best life. When I wake up a mess, get lazy around getting ready, it impacts my whole day. I don’t feel as inspired to do all of the things I want to do because I just don’t feel it.

However, when I spend my morning intentionally, put on a cute outfit, do my hair and makeup, put on my jewelry and put myself together I feel ready for ANYTHING that comes my way. It’s what I call “dressing up for your dreams” because the Universe is more likely to bring you opportunities when you are out there in your radiant light and magnetism.

When you are moving around feeling dumpy, not proud of yourself, hiding your light…you aren’t in your feminine magnetism which is your power of attraction! This for me, is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your life.

05 | Get in your daily greens

A green smoothie or green chlorophyl. Back in July of 2021, I began making my green smoothie recipe every morning and it completely changed me and my body. I get my nutrients in and feel full by the time I have my smoothie because I’ve had so much hydration and filled myself up with things that are healthy and good for me.

06 | Make the bed like a hotel

I make my bed, every single morning. And I do not miss a day. Well, every so often I do miss a day and boy can I feel the difference. My grandmother really pressed this ritual into me. She taught me how to make a bed perfectly so that I would feel organized, calm and able to focus on the day. And when you get back into bed for the evening, its a beautiful experience.

Studies have shown that a cluttered, messy home impacts your focus, attention span, sleep habits and more. So when you can do one small thing to make your home feel more tidy, put together and organized you are doing it as a gift to your mind and your overall well being. It will set you up for a beautiful, powerful day.

Hope you enjoyed my morning ritual tips, to take it even further I recorded a podcast all about the specifics of my morning routine, my favorite morning hacks and a few more things you can do to start your day up with strong rituals!

Love you, Ashlina