For many of us, the mornings have been a struggle since we were teenagers. It seems we will never be one of those people that managed to go running, have a complete breakfast and stop and smell the roses. But having a better morning routine can make such a difference to your day and really your whole life. Here are some tips to making your morning routine better:
1. Exercise
It sounds horrible but exercising in the morning can truly make your whole day better. First of all, it jumpstarts your metabolism. It also helps to clear your mind. It is just a great way to have a moment to yourself whether it is a run or yoga. In addition, morning exercisers often get to the office earlier, meaning there’s more time to cross items off your to-do list.
Plus research, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, found that “On exercise days, people’s mood significantly improved after exercising. Mood stayed about the same on days they didn’t, with the exception of people’s sense of calm, which deteriorated.”
2. Write
Tim Ferris, author of “The 4-Hour Workweek”, wakes up, brushes his teeth, sets up his thermos and tea for the day and then starts writing immediately, without eating or using the internet. It is just another way to get your day in order and express your thoughts.
3. Don’t check your email
It may be the first thing you want to do when you wake up (probably because your phone is next to your bed), but try to wait a little. Author Julie Morgenstern wrote an entire book on the subject, called “Never Check Email In The Morning.” Morgenstern has been a consultant for companies like American Express, FedEx and Microsoft since 1989. She says if you start your day off by responding to emails, “you’ll never recover. Those requests and those interruptions and those unexpected surprises and those reminders and problems are endless… there is very little that cannot wait a minimum of 59 minutes.” She proposes that if you start your day with an important, focused project, “you’ll get significantly more done.”
4. Meditate
Gwyneth Paltrow (and a bunch of other people) gets up at 4:30 a.m. to practice her asanas. ”I’m really not a morning person at all,” Paltrow told In Style. ”It’s just sheer determination. I’m very strict with myself. When I practice six days a week and eat clean food, I feel much better.”
5. Wear a power color
When you are choosing out your clothes in the morning be sure to choose a strong color that will inspire you and those around you. “Red lipstick is a source of strength,” says Poppy King, creator of Lipstick Queen. “You put it on and suddenly you feel more capable than you did without it.” Glamour recently pronounced yellow as a new power color.
6. Step into the light
One of the first things you should do when you get up is embrace the light. You may feel like a vampire when you wake up, but do not lurk in the dark. Open those windows, turn on your lamps and let that light in! Sun exposure helps the body produce vitamin D, which is important for good health. It also boosts serotonin levels, which can improve mood and help you sleep better.
7. Have some tea
Yes, some of us would love it if a nurse came in and hooked up a bag of coffee to our veins with an IV, but there are other beverages that will help you get awake in addition to coffee. Ginger root tea speeds up metabolism, circulation, and eases the digestion process overall.
