Do you have a morning routine that is in flow, starts your day energetic, fuelled and happy? If yes you are on the path to have a really great day!!! Most people surveyed find morning routines stressful, hit snooze on the alarm 2-3 times each morning and just don’t have time to make, let alone eat, a healthy breakfast.
Grabbing everything you need as you run out the door, including grabbing all your kids gear if you have children, and flying out the door last minute starts our day out with a stress response that sticks with us for hours. Did you arrive on time for work? Just thinking about this often gets our hearts pounding and feelings of being overwhelmed begin.
Did you know there is a better way?
One that will make you feel more in control of each day?
If you are wondering how you can find extra time in your day and start things off with a smile, in flow, energetic, fuelled and happy, read on and enjoy. No one is perfect and every step we take towards improvement is a win!
Here are 6 Habits to help kickstart your day with success, less stress and a smile:
1. Wake Up 30 Minutes Early: Staying in bed until the last possible second, hitting snooze and then having to rush though your morning routine is stressful. Those last few minutes of sleep don’t help you be anything but groggy and lamenting the start of your day. Set your alarm 30 minutes early and when it goes off, physically get out of bed and put both feet on the floor. Do some gentle stretches and smile. If need be, keep your alarm on the other side of the room so you physically have to get up to turn it off. Mind over matter; it is going to be a great day!
2. Make Your Bed: Starting off by making your sleep space tidy, starts your day off with being a success. Having made your bed you have already accomplished something in your day and starts you off on the path of productivity. It is always an added bonus at the end of the day to crawl into a perfectly made bed.
3. Hydrate: Before anything else you put into your body, give it some love with a glass of water with lemon squeezed into it. This can be cool or warm depending on how you feel and the season where you are at. Your body dehydrates over night and it is important to rehydrate at the beginning of the day. The lemon helps alkalize your body and move it towards a state of wellbeing. When you do this consistently you might even find that you are no longer reaching for that cup of morning coffee.
4. Eat Breakfast: It is important to start your day with nutrient rich nourishment. There are plenty of quick and healthy breakfast options that can be prepped in not much more time than it takes to make a piece of toast or pour a bowl of cereal. Smoothies filled with greens, breakfast bowls (with greens, bakes sweet potato cubes, quinoa, hummus and scrambled eggs or avocado…the sweet potato and quinoa can be prepped prior and ready to go in the fridge), eggs whipped up with some chopped veggies and/or left over meat put in muffin tins in the oven to bake while you shower…the options really are endless. Choosing healthy food won’t spike your blood sugar and have you looking for a 10 am snack or cup of coffee, it will stay with you and power you through your day.
5: Have a Cold Shower: Taking a cold shower or cold plunge increases your blood flow, improves mood and shocks our nervous system into increasing alertness. Some studies have found that this can also promote weight loss as your body works harder to keep you warm. If done consistently this can also help boost your metabolism. Not ready to take the whole cold plunge? There are also benefits to just turning up the cold right before you hop out of the shower ready to face your amazing day.
6: Write Down Goals; Have A To Do List: We all have a ton of things that need to be accomplished during a day. Writing down your goals and prioritizing your to do list helps you stay focused, make better use of your time (notice which things are in the same location when you are out and about and do both rather than make two trips). Staying focused allows for less distractions to occur and regular reflection on your goals and to do list will find you making better time decisions and find you more in flow with getting things done productively rather that being more like a squirrel at a rave. This finds you more time to breathe during your day and make moments for a little “you time”. Remember, where your focus goes your energy flows… if you make a strategic plan that matches your goals you will find your self with more time and more smiles during the day. Plan your morning the evening ahead with lunches, bags packed with proper sports gear, food prepped and kitchen tidied. Remember; “If you find you don’t have enough time; stop watching TV” ~Holstee Manifesto
These are just a few habits that can help jump start your day and help set you up for success. Enjoy your Day!!!
IT’S YOUR JOURNEY.
OWN IT.