This post is dedicated to the golden hour, which is the magical hours after dawn and before dusk of each day. You need to train yourself to make the most of your golden hour.
Did you know that the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise are coveted by professional photographers?
Referred to as “the golden hour” or “magic hour,” these times provide the perfect light to capture stunning photos. Learning to harness the power of the golden hour is a tool every photographer can use. We can do the same, whether it be in the morning (which I prefer) or in the early evenings.
Because each morning bursts with promise, you need to promise yourself a brilliant day by including the following steps in your morning routine.
Make The Most Of Your Golden Hour In The Following Ways:
Here are some tips that you can use to make the most of your golden hour, and see how you can reap the health benefits of making these small changes to your daily habits.
Sun Salutations
Instead of hitting the snooze button, roll straight out of bed and into some gentle stretches.
Flow from a child pose to a cat-cow, then thread the needle and do and downward then an upward facing dog. These stretches or your preferred morning exercise will help you wake up, relieve tension, and enhance your mood for the day ahead. You can also do some gentle stretching at night, which will be a little easier as your body will have had time to warm up during the day.
Shower Power
Experience the life-giving effects of water by taking a shower in the morning. Wash off the sleep and the sweat to feel a sense of rejuvenation. You can receive an alertness and energy boost to kickstart your day. This works well for evenings too.
Gratitude Reflection
Cherish a moment with yourself in front of the mirror. Reflect on three blessings in your life and one person who you appreciate.
Don’t stop at reflection, spread the positive morning by sending a swift message to this person to say thank you and I love you.
As you apply your skin care products, be confident that you can age gracefully and let this moment be a reminder of all the happy moments that contributed to your laugh lines and that aging is a privilege.
Welcome the Breeze
Fresh air and sunlight naturally encourage the body to wake up. Open a window or step onto your patio to let the cool morning breeze flow the sandman’s dust from your eyes and freshen the air and your mind whilst you enjoy the early morning birdsong more clearly.
In the evenings sit and watch the sunset while you enjoy your favorite beverage. Reflect on your day and breathe.
Stop the Clock
Relieve the morning rush by taking ten minutes to stop, relax, and enjoy the comforting smell and taste of your preferred beverage, whether it be coffee, tea, or hot lemon and ginger water. In the evenings you can take a little extra time to savour your beverage and reflect on your wonderful day as you watch the sun sink.
Hopefully this article has given you some food for thought. Take the time to make the most of your Golden Hour.
I definitely agree that the way you start your day has a significant impact on your mood for the remainder of the day.
Stretching and light exercise is one of the best ways to get up and running. On the other hand, staring at a phone’s screen can be detrimental for your mood – especially if you happen to come across something negative on social media for example.
For sure Yusuf. Social media is another way in which you should not start your day. The more positivity that you can breathe into the first part of your day, the better for your mental health.
This is a lovely article about being mindful in this golden hour. I always have good intentions to get up early in the morning and go straight into some yoga stretches but I’m afraid I’m not successful often enough! I think this is my sign to do something about that.
I will be trying the other suggestions too and will ‘stop the clock’ this evening as the sun goes down.
Thank you for these mindful suggestions.
Pleasure Elaine. The trick is to get into the habit of doing these things every day, so it becomes like brushing your teeth.
Thank you for sharing these helpful tips on how to make the most of our golden hour. It is wonderful to wake up early enough to gaze at the sunrise. During winter, I prefer taking a bath in the evening golden hour instead of a shower in the morning. But in the summer, I love taking cold showers to enhance my mood. One thing I should do more is make stretching a daily habit whether in the morning or evening golden hour. Stretching is so important and provides so many health benefits!
You are quite right there, and stretching is so important especially as we age.