I understand the importance of mental health, and so does Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn. In an Instagram video, the 78-year-old promoted Mental Health Awareness Month by offering a look into the morning routine that ultimately sets the tone for her day. With that in mind, if you’re looking to improve your mental health, then here are a few tips we can incorporate from Goldie’s morning rituals to do just that.
Goldie Hawn’s Morning Rituals For Better Mental Health
Breathwork
In her video, Hawn shared that she starts her morning routine off with breathwork. Still lying in bed, she holds her breath for about five seconds and then breathes out,
”Before you jump out of bed, you just want to breathe, breathe in and hold it for five seconds and breathe out, and after your third one all of a sudden, your eyes open up.”
According to WebMD, breathwork can be great for your mental health as it positively impacts your central nervous system. In a stressful situation, which I’m sure many of us have been in, we feel stressed, and our breath tends to become fast and shallow. This then limits the oxygen entering your bloodstream, and our brains tell our bodies that there is a threat. As a result, our bodies then respond in fight or flight.
By taking the time to slow down and purposefully breathe deeply and slowly, we convince our brains that everything is okay, which our brains then communicate to our bodies. The fight or flight response then decreases, and our body can begin to function normally again, which eases the strain on our mental health.
Stretching
Who doesn’t love a good stretch in the morning? I certainly do, and so does Goldie Hawn.
Following her breathwork, Hawn shares that she performs a handful of stretches. Still lying down, the Death Becomes Her, actress bends one leg up towards her chest, followed by extending her leg up towards the ceiling. To stretch out her back, she will sit up in bed and gently fold her upper torso over her legs.
We all know how important and beneficial stretching is for us, but finding the time to do it can be tricky. Performing your stretches first thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed, ensures they are done and out of the way for the day. Your body gets the chance to be stretched out and relieve any tension from the night before.
Stretching benefits
So what exactly are the benefits of stretching? According to Medical News Today, a few benefits of stretching include,
- Increases range of motion – performing regular stretching may improve our ability to move a joint through its full range of motion, allowing for more freedom of movement and less pain during physical activities.
- Expands flexibility – Stretching can often help improve our flexibility, which is beneficial in allowing us to move more comfortably and perform everyday tasks more easily. It may also help delay the effects of aging, such as reduced mobility, on the joints and muscles.
- Helps with back pain – If you work a desk job and are constantly hunched over your laptop, then this is for you, as stretching may help alleviate lower back pain. In addition, it may improve their range of motion, which might help prevent future back pain.
- Improves mood and focus – Research suggests that stretching may improve mood and cognitive performance, helping us feel calmer and more focused on tasks. Even those of us with low levels of physical activity can experience these improvements from stretching.
- Improves physical performance – Regular stretching may help us perform better in physical activities, as it helps prepare the muscles for movement and improves flexibility and range of motion.
Gratitude
The last step in Goldie Hawn’s morning routine is her practicing gratitude,
“Before I jump out to start my day, I just think of three things I’m grateful for, just three. I’m grateful for my family, I’m grateful for whatever it is, just three things.”
In practicing gratitude, we are able to focus on the things that really matter to us, and doing this before starting our day places us in a good state of mind.
“When you get up, you say I’m going to have a really good day today no matter what, even when we’ve got problems, even when we have sadness, even when we have fear, this is going to be a good day.”
Bottom line
Mornings can be hard, and I admit that I’ve had a few terrible ones myself. That said, by incorporating Goldie Hawn’s morning routine into our days, we may go on to enjoy better mornings and improved mental health.
My References
Goldie Hawn/Instagram
Breathwork: What Is it and How Does it Work? (webmd.com)
What are the benefits of stretching? (medicalnewstoday.com)
Sudo, M., & Ando, S. (2020). Effects of Acute Stretching on Cognitive Function and Mood States of Physically Inactive Young Adults. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 127(1), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512519888304
Morning Routine? Wellness Influencer Goldie Hawn Has It Down | Vogue
