Your alarm didn’t go off, you missed your 8:15 bus, and the Uber you took cost an obscene amount of money. You go to work and everything seems to have a domino effect. By the time you go home, you just want to hit your bed. It seems like your mood transitions through to the entire week, month, or even year. Okay, maybe now I’m getting morbid, but you get my hyperbole. So we came up with some great ways for you to have a killer morning routine.
Put Down the Phone What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? You check your phone. This is your time and you don’t want to start your day off in a defensive state. When you’re getting ready for the day, try to remain as offline as possible. This lets you practice personal awareness and positive focus.
Hydration Nation Water is your best friend! Hydrating your body is actually a great way to stimulate all your body functions like metabolism and digestion. Feel like being the embodiment of health? Drinking a warm cup of water with lemon helps remove toxins from your digestive tract that may have accumulated overnight. Lemon water is also a good source of vitamin C!
Write it down Practice journaling or some type of meditation in the morning. That could even include doing the daily crossword or reading a chapter in a book. Anything that allows you to stretch your mind is a good warm up to the work that lies ahead.
Studies have shown practicing gratitude reduces stress hormones and improves mood,
among other benefits. So, adding a simple daily
gratitude practice is a great way to kick-start your morning.
Exercise This might be a tad aggressive, but once you start to create a morning routine, you should consider adding a workout or two. Why? Whether it is a quick walk or a HIIT workout, physical activity in the morning can quiet a lot of mental noise while revving up your endorphins for the day.
Pull Yourself Together Take some YOU time. Whether it is getting ready for work, making breakfast, or just sitting with a cup (or pot) of coffee, this is your time to prepare yourself for what lies ahead. Even handwriting a to-do list that you bring with you and cross items off can be mentally relieving. Your mornings don’t have to be a struggle. By doing a few focused things and committing to them, you can create healthy habits to jumpstart your day!