A healthy morning routine does not necessarily mean you need to be up at 4:00 am everyday like a navy seal. All it means is that you need to set aside a little bit of extra time every day for YOU.
Adopting a morning routine will help you feel more productive, less stressed, more energized, and ready to tackle the busy workday ahead of you. You will quickly notice how much better your days feel when you start every morning the same way.
Use the following seven steps to start a healthy morning routine, and feel free to add some of your own as time goes on!
#1: Say Goodbye to Snooze!
Research shows that snoozing is one of the worst ways to start off your morning! When you let yourself go back to sleep, your body thinks, “I guess I don’t need to start the engine because were going back to bed!” and settles back in.
Then when your alarm goes off a 2nd time, your body and brain are taken by surprise, resulting in that groggy, fuzzy-headed feeling called inertia. The more you snooze, the more confused your body and brain get, making your whole day feel a lot harder than it needs to be the longer you snooze.
#2: Meditation
The morning is one of the best times of the day to practice mindfulness. It’ll set you up for a more positive attitude, allow you to rest your mind and reduce any leftover stress from the day before. Meditating for just 5-10 minutes in the morning will help enhance your awareness throughout the day, give you a boost of energy, and help prevent stress and anxiety.
If meditation isn’t your thing, try practicing mindfulness by naming 3 things you’re grateful for, breathing deeply in counts of 8 or turning off your mind and dancing to your favorite song.
#3: Hot water and lemon
Now before you freak out and think were saying you should drink this instead of coffee, relax… we’re not insane!
Commiting to drinking a cup of boiled water with lemon before your morning coffee helps to gently wake up the digestive system and add in some extra hydration. The lemon is also full of vitamin C which is great for your immunity and energy!
#4: Stretching, working out or both (if you have time!)
When you get your body moving in the morning, you’ll feel accomplished, positive, and productive before you even step foot into the office. If you have enough time before work to fit in a full 30+ minute workout, that’s great! If not, squeezing in even 10 or 15 minutes of exercise in the morning is a great way to get the body and brain going. Take the dog for a morning stroll or jog, do an at-home bodyweight workout, or go for a bike ride.
Your brain, muscles and energy levels will thank you!
#5: Eat a Nutritious Breakfast
Giving your body the nutrition it needs after a morning workout is crucial to your health! After all, there’s no better way to ruin a morning than by skipping breakfast, or by grabbing that sugar-loaded muffin.
A healthy, nutritious breakfast will boost your concentration, keep your blood sugar levels in check, and help improve your mood. Be sure your breakfast includes some whole grains, healthy proteins, healthy fats, and some fruit or veggies.
Remember food is your fuel!