Let’s face it, mornings can be rough. We live in a busy, demanding world and we don’t always wake up ready to grab life by the horns. Mornings create the foundation for our entire day, though, so spending them wisely is crucial.
Now maybe, you’re already a morning person, and every day your butler wakes you up with some freshly pressed green juice before you head down to the beach for your private yoga session and massage. However, if this is not your current routine, The 10 Best Ways to Jumpstart Your Morning into consideration to get off on the right start!
The 10 Best Ways to Jumpstart Your Morning
1. Set your alarm 30 mins earlier than you really need to wake up
If you’re the notorious snooze-button-pusher, this is probably already a necessity. However, even if you’re the type to rise upon first beep, this will give you an extra 30 minutes in the morning to prevent any rushing and to give yourself extra time for any unforeseen obstacles.
2. Wake up to some good tunes
Waking up to a blaring alarm beep right by your head is probably about as joyful as waking up to the sound of the smoke detector going off – not the best way to start the day. Instead, set your smart phone to play your favorite song as your alarm ringer. Maybe it’s an upbeat Bruno Mars jam or a Madonna classic, or maybe you’d prefer a more mellow tune by Coldplay. Whatever your song preference, your alarm should (literally) be music to your ears, not a noise that scares the you-know-what out of you.
3. Ignore the social world
We are a phone/ email /social media / text messaging-obsessed society and while it’s great to have all of this information at our fingertips, it can also cause anxiety first thing in the morning.
Wake up first before checking to see who ‘liked’ your selfie from last night.
4. Stretch and breathe
Lying down for the recommended 8 hours every night is great to recharge the battery but can also take a toll on our bodies. Unless your sleeping conditions are pretty perfect, you may wake up feeling stiff and groggy. That’s why it’s important to stretch and breathe even before your feet hit the floor. Stretch your arms up overhead, do a couple of gentle neck rolls, and whatever else feels good to you. Taking deep breaths while doing this will help to awaken the body and calm any nerves or stress upon waking.
5. Do a 20 minute workout
We all know how important exercise is so let’s not get into that. However, exercising in the morning can really set the stage for your whole day. It gets your body warmed up and your blood pumping, wakes up your endorphins (aka, happy cells) and creates a more health-conscious mindset for the day. Not to mention, the most common excuse for not exercising is not having enough time. Get it done first thing, and you won’t have to worry about squeezing it in during your busy day. 20 minutes is all you really need and is an easy amount of time to commit to (you’re setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier now, anyway, right?).
6. Think happy thoughts
We all wake up with different worries on the brain. Whether it be the job interview you’re heading to, the final exam you’ve been studying for, the nasty co-worker that you can’t stand to be around, or that blind date you’re dreading; waking up with things on the brain is normal. While you’re still lying in bed, tell yourself that you are going to try your best throughout the day and to not worry about the things you can’t control. Try to also remind yourself of a couple things you are grateful for and that you’ll get to experience throughout the day (your health, your family, your friends, the sunshine, etc.). Our initial thoughts really do set the stage for the entire day so try to think happy!
7. Drink a full glass of water
After an entire night of slumber, we wake up parched – so it’s important to hydrate right away. It will help to wake you up and will immediately knock out 1 of 8 glasses that you should be drinking throughout your day.
8. Eat your protein
Protein for breakfast is key to maintaining your hunger and getting the proper nutrients to start your day. Luckily, even most of the on-the-go breakfast joints now offer a healthier, protein-packed alternative to the typical glazed donut or greasy sausage sandwich. So, start your day with the proper food and save the treats for later (it’ll give you something else to look forward to!).
9. Get up and get ready
Whether you work from home, work at an office, or are currently unemployed, making yourself look good can help you feel good. So shower, get dressed, put some makeup on, and run a comb through your hair because no matter what’s on the agenda, it will make you feel more capable and confident to take on whatever activities your day has in store.
True, inner beauty trumps outer beauty, but a little lipstick can’t hurt.
10. Limit the coffee
Drowning three or four cups of java right off the bat obviously gives us a giant burst of energy but this jolt is temporary and can put us in a bad place a few hours down the road. Once the caffeine wears off, we crave more to keep going and eventually fall down a rabbit hole where we’re spending all of our time and money at the corner coffee spot. Not to mention, pumping our bodies full of caffeine is not the healthiest thing to do. So, try to limit your coffee to one or two cups and then switch to water with lemon, or a power-packed green juice, to stay hydrated and energized.
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