We don’t have time in the morning; we tend to get up as late as possible to barely make it out the door on time. And since we’re on the topic, do you even have time on the weekend? Time for yourself, and your wellbeing? Do you make it a priority to start the day right?
Or are you ushing yourself, your family or anybody else living with you, from the moment you leave your bed to the moment you leave your house? Because of that, the word “morning” tends to be not very appealing, and quite stressful.
Now, how do you change that? By implementing a new morning routine! Here’s how:
1. Waking up early enough
Stop delaying your wake-up time. Stop snoozing your alarm when it goes off. Wake up early enough so you have time for yourself. Seize the day right when it starts, and take back your morning to become a more relaxed and grounded person!
Don’t forget, however, that your internal clock has a word to say about your wake up time. You can’t go from waking up from 7:30 am to 5:00 am in one day! Chances are you might not even be able to sustain waking up that early every day. I’ve never been able to sustain waking up before 5:45 am without feeling miserable for the whole afternoon. It takes time to figure out what works for you, but it’s crucial.
2. A slow morning
I like to start my day with a short guided meditation. But my husband, on the other hand, likes to work out first thing. Exercising first thing might not sound very “slow”, but it actually is. When I use the word “slow”, I mean slow on your mind. Working out, for some people, is relaxing and doesn’t require much brainpower. An easy way to make your work out slow on your mind is by doing something you enjoy doing and planning out exactly what you’re going to do beforehand.
Each one of us is different some need some quiet, some need movement. Nobody needs stress right out of bad. You can journal, read, draw, pray, knit; whatever works for you.
3. Drink water
When you wake up your body is dehydrated after a lack of water intake of 7 hours or more. Drinking a glass of water first thing is the perfect way to rehydrate yourself; but it also helps you, and your digestive system, wake up.
4. Eat a well-balanced breakfast
It’s well known that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s also well known that most breakfasts are highly processed, with high levels of sugar. Make sure to have a breakfast that mostly contains whole foods. To help you with that, check out any Registered Dietician reviewed food blog. There are so many easy and healthy recipes on the internet, make use of them!
For a healthy breakfast, we recommend following the Canada Food’s Guide
5. Enjoy the fresh air of the morning
Fresh air is so important for our mental health, and you probably don’t prioritize it enough (especially if you live or work in a large city).
Going for a walk first thing, with the brisk air of the morning, can brighten u your mood a great deal. To make it fun, you can walk with a friend, your dog, or your favourite podcast! Another way to enjoy the outdoors is by walking to your workplace, if possible. If commuting, try going down one step earlier or find a parking space that’s further to your workspace!
Conclusion
These are just a few things you can include in your morning routine to improve your day greatly. It takes time for sure but, with a little organization, everything is manageable.
Remember that all these tips are meant to be adaptable and flexible. If you really can’t start your day earlier, try to Improve your lunch break instead! There is always a way to improve your wellbeing, just stay open to change and flexible!
