How To Have Better Mornings

Our mornings can set the tone for the rest of our day, and the majority of us, whether we’re morning people or not, can have some difficulties waking up without hitting the snooze button to sleep in a few more minutes. Mornings are the most productive time for us, with the mind most active and creative after sleep. Instead of sleeping in those few minutes, laying in bed on our phone after waking up, and maintaining a negative attitude, let’s aim to have a good morning ritual and incorporating activities that make us feel excited for the day. 

Not only will they impact that one day, but they can also lower our stress levels and improve mental health. Mornings don’t have to be a pain! Add these things to your morning ritual to boost your productivity and mood throughout the day.

When making your morning ritual, do whatever activities are best for you.

The same thing won’t work for everyone, so the best thing is to understand your needs in the morning. 

What do you have difficulties with in the morning? What activities could help combat those difficulties? Try starting with smaller things and consistently to make it easier to adjust to a new ritual. Staying consistent in your routine tends to be the most challenging part and may take time, but when you finally get into a regular flow in the morning, you’ll begin to notice the beneficial changes they make. Embrace the process and understand it will take time to adjust and find balance.

Leave your devices alone

The first thing we typically do once we wake up is to check our phones. The majority of us have developed this not so great reflex that immediately triggers stress from the awaiting emails/messages to unanswered or reminders of the list of commitments we have to do. Try leaving your phone on the other side of the room or in a drawer.

If it’s still difficult to avoid checking your phone, try using a separate alarm clock, so there’s no excuse to have it in the room with you. Not only does checking our phone right after opening our eyes trigger stress, but we also tend to waste precious productivity time in the morning just scrolling through our phone. Avoiding this action can help in starting the day relaxed with a better mood. 

Meditate

Meditation isn’t only beneficial at night to prepare us for sleep, but it also can aid in energizing and clearing our minds for the day ahead. When we begin our morning rituals with a meditation session, we’re allowing ourselves to be more aware, awake, and more positive before moving on with the rest of our daily activities. Eventually, this activity can become essential to your morning ritual and is a nice contrast to the more hectic obligations faced. It will benefit your mental health and your physical, strengthening your immune system and blood pressure. If you have limited time for your morning ritual, try starting with a 5-minute meditation session to exercise your brain and become more mindful.

Listen to music

For many, listening to our favorite music can boost mood and even confidence. Singing and getting ready for the day to our favorite music or podcast can help our brain functionality. Listening to music you enjoy releases dopamine into the brain, explaining that happy sensation we feel. Studies have shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain, improving our mental alertness and memory. Try creating a morning playlist with your favorite songs to start your day with a burst of energy.

Exercise

Depending on your preferences, there are many ways besides hardcore workouts that can wake up your muscles. Even if only 5-10 minutes, you can find something such as a walk, yoga, or stretching to make you feel even more mentally and physically awake. These physical movements will surely energize you for the day and boost your mood. Doing your daily morning workouts benefit your day and can also improve your sleep pattern. Unlike exercising at night will give you this boost of energy, preventing you from falling asleep not long after.

Morning affirmations

Saying affirmations out loud is a powerful way to start your morning. Affirmations are positive statements meant to direct your conscious and subconscious mind, moving you away from continuously thinking negatively and in self-doubt. In doing these every morning, you’ll alter your thoughts and behavior, helping you achieve your goals by a healthier mindset and behavior. When finding your self-affirmations, try to think of a list of negative comments you suggest yourself and rephrase them into positive words, therefore positively changing your beliefs. 

Say them at least three times to yourself out loud while placing your hand onto an area of discomfort, possibly your chest, where we tend to hold loads of tension. Exhale out through that area, releasing the tension built up. If you’re not comfortable yet saying your self-affirmations out loud, try writing them down along with thoughts you need to release. Eventually, when you’re able, you can try saying them aloud.

Skincare ritual

It’s easy to rush through our skincare ritual in the morning without taking it as a time for relaxation and pampering. Pampering ourselves doesn’t have to be reserved for once in a while. Treat your morning skincare and beauty ritual as a time for self-care. Take your time with the steps and delve into the process of treating your skin. Appreciating your skincare ritual every day will help you feel relaxed and awake for the day.

Breakfast

Breakfast is a good foundation for a better day. Eating a nutritious, balanced, delicious meal can energize you and help you feel better. Good, filling breakfasts can also help avoid mood swings, memory, and cravings, even reducing cardiovascular disease risk. If you don’t have as much time to make your breakfast in the morning, try prepping it the night before. Breakfast like overnight oats, chia pudding, or pre-making any breakfast you enjoy can help you for a good day.