If there is one thing I have learned through the years, is that in order to be a happy, healthy and productive adult, you have to have a solid morning routine. Unless you work night shifts or start your work day late in the afternoon, you have to become a morning person in order to survive all that life throws at you on a daily basis.
Solid, established morning habits and rituals will set you up for a successful day. The result is order and calm in our lives in the few hours before the work day begins.
Here are 5 healthy morning habits that can greatly improve your life, plus an extra tip to help you make the best of your day.
1. HYDRATE AND GET SUNLIGHT RIGHT AWAY
Upon waking, drink a glass of water at room temperature. And better yet, add a squeeze of lemon to promote liver function and regularity. Open your curtains and blinds to get as much sunlight as you can within the first 20 minutes of waking. This will help you feel more awake, regulate your circadian rhythm and promote better sleep at night. No natural daylight when you wake up? I highly recommend purchasing the wake-up alarm clock with sunrise simulation.
2. MEDITATE / PRACTICE GRATITUDE / GET INSPIRED
Do what makes you happy- what centers you and gets you going both mentally and emotionally. I start the morning with a good dose of gratitude. I enjoy both writing in my journal and reading inspirational and motivational books. The following books have been game changers and are the ones that I recommend to friends and family all the time:
The Sweet Spot: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today
How to Do You: The Life Changing Art of Mastering Your Thoughts and Taking Control of Your Life
3. MOVE YOUR BODY
As we get older, we need to stretch our bodies daily. Do a quick all-over stretch while in bed and upon getting up to get the blood flowing and your lymphatic system going. If your morning schedule allows it, take the time to go for a quick walk or a jog, do yoga or hit the gym. But always make sure to stretch daily… your body will thank you!
4. MAKE YOUR BED
A couple of years back, I heard the speech given by U.S. Navy Adm. William H. McRaven: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day,” he said in a commencement speech at the University of Texas. “It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”
Similarly, Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit wrote in his book “Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, and a greater sense of well-being…”
All that to say that making your bed is one habit that can lead to other good habits in your life. Plus, a tidy bed will make even a messy room seem cleaner and less cluttered. And if we are being honest here, there’s nothing better than getting into a perfectly made bed at the end of a long day, right?
5. FUEL AND NOURISH
Your body and brain need clean and healthy eating to perform. Make sure to give your body all the good foods and nutrients it needs to do its job- both physically and mentally. Increase your protein and fiber intake in the morning and see how much more satisfied and energized you will feel.
Another good tip: delay coffee 1-2 hours from the time you wake up. This helps preserve your natural cortisol patterns and will result in giving you more energy during the day and better sleep at night.
Struggling with what to cook and eat for breakfast? Check out my post: 6 Healthy Options for Breakfast
EXTRA CREDIT: PREPARE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN THE NIGHT BEFORE
Do as much as you can the night before to ensure you wake up every morning feeling prepared, calm, and ready for the day. For example, you can plan your breakfast and make your lunches, clean the kitchen, prep your coffee station, pack your work bag (and your gym/yoga bag), check your agenda and to-do lists and plan your outfit all before your head hits the pillow.
By doing these things the night before you will definitely feel less stress, less anxiety and sleep better. And it will allow you to do what you have to do in the morning to feel good throughout the next day.
I have practised these morning habits for a couple of years and I can confidently tell you the benefits are cumulative and definitely worth it 🙌🏼✨
I would love to hear what works for you in the mornings. Share with us any tips or morning habits that have changed your life.
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Thanks for stopping by!
With love,
Lala
*This post contains some Amazon affiliate links for your shopping convenience. This simply means that if you click on one of those links and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission from the sale. This does not result in extra charges to you. As always, I only recommend products I truly love.
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