Kickstart
your
Morning

Let’s face it—mornings can be a little bit rough. If the sound of your alarm makes you want to hide under the covers, we have a few tips and tricks to improve your morning routine and help you kick-start your day!

Don’t hit that snooze button

It’s so tempting, but resist! As your alarm goes off it interrupts your REM sleep cycle. Repeatedly re-setting it will only throw your natural rhythm more out of whack. Try putting your clock across the room so you physically have to get out of bed to shut it off.

Don’t look at your phone

Opening your eyes and immediately diving into your phone screen isn’t the best way to start your day. Mindlessly scrolling can put you in a weird funk, and this type of procrastination can quickly lead to a substantial amount of wasted time. Leave your phone off or out of reach for a more productive start.

Let the light in

Whether natural or artificial, turning the lights on can signal your brain that it’s time to wake up and help reduce production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Open your curtains or flip on the lights and watch your day glow.

Hydrate

As we sleep our bodies become dehydrated. Drink a tall glass of cold water right after you get up to help refresh your muscles and organs. It’s an easy way to quickly improve your morning.

Enjoy that cup of coffee

Or tea, or mate. Choose whatever steaming beverage gets you going, but make sure you allow yourself a moment to really enjoy it. If you craft your morning steps into a soothing ritual, then it can help you to feel more relaxed and better flow into your day with positivity and peace.

Know your energy cycles

Do you have a creative peak in the morning? Center your writing and creative tasks at this time. Perhaps your physical energy surges around the late afternoon? Plan your workout for later in the day. If you track different impulses throughout the day, you can get a lot more out of your day just by choosing tasks that suit the best.

Eat breakfast

Everyone including your mom has probably told you this a thousand times, so listen up: don’t skip breakfast! Fuel your body when you wake up. Sleep is basically an extended fast for your entire system and it needs to replenish itself afterwards. Try replacing dairy with protein-rich foods to give your body something of substance to digest.

Meditate

Five minutes, or half an hour—whatever amount of time you can manage will still be more beneficial than nothing. Meditation is basically like a shower for your mind: it helps you begin your day fresh, relaxed and more centered. Implementing this easy habit into your routine can help to reduce anxiety, increase concentration and soothe those chattering thoughts that lead to morning stress.

The bottom line: You’re going to face a lot of mornings in your life, so you might as well figure out how to hack your routine and make your mornings work for you. Gradual and consistent healthy choices can go a long way, even if they seem super simple. Charge yourself up with good energy from the get-go, and watch the rest of your day unfold positively!