Waking up with a smile each day can reset your mood and give you a sense of positive purpose to face your day. The early bird catches the worm; however, getting out of bed can be a major challenge these days. Putting better habits in place for the morning will leave you more energized and in control to handle your day. Below are 7 TIPS to make your morning a bit brighter.
1. AM DIGITAL DETOX
Yes…this is you! Stop reaching for your phone the minute you wake up. You don’t need to check out your social media, messages, news stories. Studies point to the first two hours after waking as the most productive of your day, so it seems a shame to waste that potential on social media. Take 10 minutes and clear your mind with a simple meditation. Check out Down Etc’s Pillowcise, a gentle series of stretches designed to be done before you get out of bed.
2. MAKE YOUR BED
Give yourself a sense of accomplishment before you've even started your day. Charlie Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, says that morning bed-making is a “keystone habit” that leads to the formation of other good habits and that it's linked to increased productivity and helping people stick to their budgets. "It's not that a family meal or a tidy bed causes better grades or less frivolous spending. But somehow, those initial shifts start chain reactions that help other good habits take hold," he writes.
Check out our video on how to make the perfect bed. It's always great to roll into a crisply made bed at the end of the day!
3. EAT BREAKFAST
We are too busy or running late but take a few minutes and enjoy some breakfast. There are studies that say a nutritious morning meal can lower cholesterol levels, improve concentration, and breakfast eaters are generally healthier people than those who don't eat it. Sufficient quality sleep can help to keep the weight off and healthy eating is a great step toward a great night’s sleep.
4. GRATITUDE
Engaging with your loved ones by kissing your partner goodbye or a simple love call is not only a nice thing to do but it has health benefits, too. Hugging and kissing increases oxytocin levels, which help to reduce blood pressure and anxiety levels. Hydrate with lemon and water - then coffee
5. WARM WATER WITH LEMON
Citric acid contained in the lemons helps with digestion and lemons are an excellent source of potassium, needed for brain and nerve health. They have immune system boosting vitamin C, can reduce morning breath, and can even help with hunger cravings because they contain the soluble fiber pectin. Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water and have that first thing.
6. SIMPLIFY
Streamline your morning. Take some time the night before to organize yourself so you can get up refreshed and not frazzled. Write your top 5 items to focus on for the day so they don’t get away from you, pick out what you're going to wear (iron it, if needed), turn on the dishwasher, and put a load of laundry in the washer so you can dry it in the morning. Pack your lunch if you take one to the office or school and know what you are going to have for breakfast. This will put a smile on your face and get you ready for a great day and a great night’s sleep.
7. SMILE
Sometimes you need to force that first smile. Studies have found that smiling can have a positive impact on our feelings. Keep smiling through your simplified morning routine and your positive attitude about the day will unfold.
Your sleep quality and quantity are essential to waking up refreshed. Invest in yourself by making sure you have proper pillows and bedding, including a cozy comforter, and wake up with a smile!
Updated Links July 31, 2022
