Let's be honest, no one’s favorite part of the day is waking up. The start of the day doesn't always start out smoothly or easily, and I find that the rest of my day is a mess if the morning is. I’ve personally found that creating a morning routine helps me get out the door faster and makes me feel prepared for whatever the rest of the day holds. The perfect morning routine should set you up for a successful and productive day. We put together 10 morning habits that promote wellness and efficiency that you may want to add to your morning routine.
1. Avoid hitting Snooze
I know, it's very tempting to get in that extra bit of sleep. That additional five minutes can easily turn into 30 minutes. Getting up when your alarm first goes off gives you enough time to do whatever you need to get a jump start on your day. Though it's hard to get up immediately, we suggest changing up a few things to make it easier to get out of bed and moving.
When you first hear your alarm, don’t ignore it or hit snooze. Instead, take a few deep breaths and give yourself a countdown before you get out of bed. Not too long of a count-down, we aren't trying to count sheep! Counting down from ten or five gives you enough time to prepare to face the reality that it's time to get up.
I would argue that leaving the warmth of my bed is one of the biggest reasons I elect to keep hitting snooze. Keeping a pair of slippers nearby to put on keeps me warm as I walk around my home and prepare for my day. Putting on a robe or jacket can also keep you warm in the morning as well, especially in the colder months.
2. Make a Healthy Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We have all heard that before, but it's true. Making yourself a healthy breakfast in the morning gives your body the necessary nutrients to start your day. Generally, I find that I can function much better in the morning if I don’t skip breakfast. If you bring lunch to work, this is also a beneficial time to make sure that it's ready to go.
3. Remember to Hydrate
Staying hydrated is essential to your health. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning re-hydrates your body from the night before and makes it easier to stay hydrated throughout the day. Many people struggle to drink the right amount or even forget to drink water throughout the day. Drinking water first thing in the morning also allows you to enjoy your other favorite morning beverages. Many teas and coffees contain caffeine, drinking a glass of water first combats the dehydration that may come from them.
4. Take a moment and stretch
Stretching is a great way to warm up your muscles and get your blood pumping. Stretching helps your joints move through their full range of motion, which prepares your body for the day’s activities. Morning stretches also allow you to release and work out any tension from sleeping the night before. If you find that you always have tension and pain when waking up in the morning, read our blog post about how an adjustable bed can improve morning aches. I always like stretching in the morning; it gives me time to wake up my mind fully and helps me feel refreshed. It’s also important to stretch if you plan to fit in a workout before work.
5. Fit in a quick work out
It might seem like a staple in most morning routines but fitting in a quick 30-minute workout in the morning can benefit you in many ways. Finding time to exercise daily can be difficult if you work all day or have other responsibilities that make finding time for it more difficult. I’m sure that we don’t have to tell you that exercising for a little bit each day is important for many reasons, one of which is improving sleep quality. After stretching, taking a walk around the neighborhood or even practicing yoga can be beneficial to your health.
6. Prioritize Self Care
Getting some essential things out of the way first thing in the morning doesn't mean you should ignore yourself. Many people find that self-care is relaxing and helps them focus on the upcoming day. If you exercise in the morning, taking a shower may already be on your list. morning showers always makes me feel more awake and prepared to start my day. Self-care doesn't just mean doing a skincare routine and taking a shower but could also include meditating or simply taking extra time to get ready.
7. Give yourself time to get to work
Whether you prefer being right on time or ten minutes early, making sure you have the right amount of time to get to your destination is important. Getting out the door to make it to work on time can be tricky if you have so many things to do in the morning. I like to set an additional alarm for what time I need to leave, just as a reminder in case I'm caught up doing something else. You’ll want to consider what traffic might be like on your way to work, so take a look at your route before you leave to ensure there are no reported accidents or construction that might slow your commute.
8. Get Motivational
Repeating positive affirmations to yourself is a good way to feel confident when walking into work. If you're anything like me, you either have a difficult time remembering to do them, or they simply aren't your thing. Instead, I spend my commute to work listening to music that makes me feel happy and confident. Reading a motivational book before you leave or listening to a podcast on the way can put you in a good mood before your work day starts.
9. Reflect on yesterday
If I'm at home or at work, I always try to reflect on the day before. Reflecting is beneficial for many reasons; it can help people feel more grateful or focused. Was there something at work that could've been done differently or more efficiently, or was there something I wanted to do around the house yesterday that I forgot about? The answers to these metaphorical questions aren’t always critiques; maybe you tested out a new method of doing something that was better than the old way. Regardless of what I might reflect on in the morning, I find that it’s a good way to refresh my mind on yesterday’s accomplishments and what I should do today.
10. Make a To Do List
Making a to do list is something that I do regardless of whether I’m at home or at work. Writing down all of the tasks I want to accomplish for the day makes me feel organized, and keeps me all on track. During my reflecting, if I realize there was something I meant to do yesterday, I’ll put it on my to do list for today. Crossing things off from this list throughout the day makes me feel proud of my accomplishments and motivated to do more.
Mornings can often make or break the day. While all these habits might not make it into your morning routine, we hope that some of them do. If you use any of these tips or have some to add, let us know by tagging us on social media!
 |
Leighanne is the marketing intern at Sven & Son. When she's not learning about all things sleep-related, she loves to spend her days reading and going on walks with her dogs. Leighanne hopes to one day travel around the world and write about her experiences.
|
