The Most Important Minutes of Your Day: How Early Morning Thoughts Shape Your Spiritual and Emotional Health

The most recommended time for spiritual relaxation- inseparably linked to authentic trust in G-d- is the early morning hours, from the moment of waking up until after prayer.

The first moment upon waking is considered by Chassidic teachings to be the most precious time of the day. It is referred to as “bikkurim”- first fruits- just like the Torah commandment to bring the earliest and most cherished fruits to G-d at the Temple. This moment influences the entire day, as it deeply impacts one’s mood and mental calmness throughout.

As the Maggid of Mezritch taught, a person’s entire behavior for the day depends on how they begin their morning- especially their very first thought upon awakening.

If we observe our thoughts and behaviors throughout the day, we’ll see that a large percentage of our feelings, actions, and thoughts occur spontaneously and are shaped by the momentum of earlier thoughts and spoken words. The greatest influence over our day’s thinking therefore lies in those initial moments of awakening, when we still have the most control over whether our thoughts will be positive or negative. These first thoughts set the tone for everything that follows.

This first part of the day is like the beginning of life itself. Just as our foundational thinking is shaped by the way we were raised in childhood, so too, the "childhood" of each day, meaning the soft and fresh part of the soul, is awakened anew when we rise from sleep. It is then that we begin activating our powers of thought, forming the base for everything that follows in the day. These critical moments hold extraordinary influence over the day ahead.

This also explains why, according to Torah, every beginning carries unique importance. Rosh Hashanah, for example, the new year when new divine vitality is allocated to each person, is a special time to purify our thoughts for the entire year. As Chassidic writings explain, every thought on Rosh Hashanah influences the rest of the year.

It's essential to wake up peacefully, not abruptly. Jewish law stresses that one should not leap out of bed immediately. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), as written by the Alter Rebbe, rules: "One who jumps up immediately upon awakening is closer to death than to life. Rather, he should pause a little before standing" (Orach Chayim 1:6). Even something as small as setting an alarm with a pleasant melody, rather than a harsh sound of a drill, can influence the subconscious and improve the quality of waking up.

If a family member is waking you, it's ideal to be gently awakened with a pleasant tune that reflects G-d’s kindness and the beauty of Torah. The Skulener Rebbe, who cared for many orphans during the Holocaust, would wake the children in his care with a joyful tune he composed himself for the verse: "Torah tziva lanu Moshe, morasha kehillat Yaakov" ("Moses commanded us the Torah, a heritage for the congregation of Jacob").

In those moments between waking and standing up, it's vital to reflect on G-d’s kindness and the incredible love He shows us daily. As the Baal Shem Tov taught, G-d loves each Jew like an only child born to an elderly parent. Only once this awareness has settled in our minds and brought calmness to the entire brain, should we say the timeless words: “Modeh Ani Lefanecha…shehechezarta bi nishmati bechemlah”- a beautiful declaration of gratitude that captures exactly this recognition of G-d's mercy and kindness in returning our soul, refreshed and renewed.

If you have a few extra minutes, especially if you wake up with a headache or tension- often signs of stress- it’s worthwhile to apply this calming awareness of divine kindness to different parts of the body.

Rabbi Yehuda Weingarten is the Chairman of the Foundation of Chassidut Institute and the “Yesodot HaChinuch” (Foundations of Education) organization.