Lemon Water and Gratitude
Lemon Water and Gratitude
A practice to start the day well — part of my Morning Practice.
Most mornings for me start the same way. I head to the kitchen and pop on the kettle to make a pint of hot water with three lemon wedges. Always three wedges and always cut lengthways. There’s a comforting familiarity in starting the same way every day. Holding a steaming hot glass in my hand as I begin the second part of my Morning Practice — the way I set myself up well for the day. But before I get into that, let me give you five good reasons why a glass of lemon water is a terrific way to start your day:
Hydration: Starting your day with a glass of hot water and lemon helps to rehydrate your body after a long night's sleep. Water is essential for many bodily functions, including digestion, transportation of nutrients, and waste removal. If you’ve drunk a pint first thing then you are a quarter of your way towards the recommended daily intake for most people. And you haven’t even had breakfast yet.
Boosts Immune System: Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps to boost your immune system and fight off infections. It also has antibacterial properties that can help to keep your body healthy.
Aids Digestion: Drinking hot water with lemon can help stimulate digestion by increasing the production of digestive enzymes. This can lead to improved digestion and less bloating.
Detoxifies: Lemon is known for its natural detoxifying properties. It can help to flush out toxins from the body, which can improve liver function and overall health.
Alkalises the body: Despite being acidic, lemon is an alkalising food, meaning it can help to balance your body's pH levels. An overly acidic body can lead to a host of health problems, including inflammation, joint pain, and digestive issues.
So, hot glass in hand, I now turn to the next way I start my day — with gratitude.
Every morning I write answers to these three prompts:
Today I am grateful for:
Past: something as big as Aloha I live on, or the turmeric latte I had yesterday
Present: anything that feels present right now
Future: something I’m happy when it happens, because I know it will
Starting my day with this gratitude practice powers up my morning. I feel thankful, happy, appreciative, and a whole host of other positive emotions.
Ask yourself, do you feel like that when the first thing you do is check your mobile phone?
As the weeks progress, I’ll share the other elements of my Morning Practice. It truly is a kindness to myself to start my day well.
How do you start your day with kindness toward yourself?