Your morning routine can either harm you or set you up for living a long healthy life. Even if it seems like a good thing to do, there are many things you could be doing that are sabotaging your health and the decision-making skills needed to make healthier choices.
Here are four alternatives to a morning routine that leads to a healthier and longer life:
Avoid Snooze and Wake Up with Free Time
Do you set multiple alarms or keep hitting the snooze button in the morning? 🙋♀️ I certainly do, but try this instead. It makes a difference. Set your alarm for a time when you get in plenty of sleep but can get up with enough time to prepare for your day. Constantly hitting snooze and rushing to get your day started can lead to a negative, overwhelming, and exhausting morning and you rush to beat the clock every day. Instead, save that snooze time and add in more to get ready at a nice pace that allows you to take in the day as stress-free as possible. Your brain needs a moment to be aware of the new day, even if it just got a full night's rest.
If you are having trouble getting out of bed, check out this video from Mel Robbins about the 5-second rule. It might change your morning, day, week, or maybe even your life.
Ditch The Daily Social Media Scroll and Enjoy Your Coffee Outside or Near a Window
Vitamin D created through absorbing sunlight is an essential vitamin for optimal bone and brain health. Lack of vitamin D can lead to poor concentration and fatigue, making you feel sick. Simply starting your morning with natural sunlight instead of light from your screen can make all the difference. In fact, the best way for your body to create and make Vitamin D is by sunlight hitting your skin. A wonderful way to start your day is to take a walk first thing in the morning and get some sunlight. This can also help if you are struggling with sleep issues. I realize that rarely does life allow this luxury but if the opportunity arises, seize the moment. Your body will thank you.
Stop Skipping Breakfast and Focus on Hydration
You should always start each day with a large glass of water to rehydrate after not having water all night. According to Medical News Today, you need to drink enough water for important body functions. Stay hydrated for:
💧helping the kidneys
💧the urinary tract
💧the cardiovascular system and
💧relieve pain in bones and joints
Skipping breakfast or your first meal of the day can cause poor concentration and loss of energy needed to complete your day. Not only that, skipping water before you eat or start your day can disrupt your digestion. So instead, start each day with a 16 oz glass of water and try oatmeal for breakfast to stay energized and satiated until lunchtime.
Swap the Morning News for an Inspiring Podcast
When was the last time you checked the news and felt uplifted and happy? Yeah, never! While staying updated with what is happening in the world around you is important, that doesn’t mean it should be the first thing you do each morning. You can’t expect morning news to be joyful and starting your day off negatively only sets the tone for the rest of the day. Negatively leads to poor concentration and frustration, leading to more mistakes and poor decisions. Instead of the news, start your day with some uplifting music or an inspiring podcast to start your day off on the right foot.
Give each of these morning routine tips a try to see which one works with you the best. Be sure to try one at a time and give it the proper time to set in. Many habits take roughly three weeks to become automatic, giving you plenty of time to learn if it is right for you and your health.
What morning routines do you have that set you up for a healthy and happy day?
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