Mornings are the most important part of the day, and the way you use them will set the tone for the rest of your waking hours. Mornings are a fresh start; They give you a chance to get on with your goals and get some work done.
Mornings hold lots of promises, but for many, they can be the most stressful and annoying part of the day. It can be quite frustrating trying to keep up with the morning rush, especially if you’re a commuter or an entrepreneur. The morning meeting-after-meeting can have you feeling too tired and not looking forward to going on with the rest of the day.
To make your mornings memorable and something you look forward to, you have to put the right energy into each day. You can do this by reconsidering your morning routines. What is the first thing you do after getting out of bed in the morning? What do you want your day to look like? What do you intend to achieve in the day?
A mental picture of your desired day is enough to keep you feeling motivated and focused until it is time to rest.
Here are a few tips you can use to guide you and help you set the right atmosphere in the morning to get the most out of your day.
1. DRINK A GLASS OF WATER
Hydration plays a vital role in setting the tone of your morning. After seven to eight hours of sleep, your body needs fluids to get its engine back up and running. Do yourself a favor and drink a glass of water right when you wake up.
Drinking water first thing in the morning helps to flush your stomach of toxins and creates a balanced lymphatic system. A stable lymphatic system will keep your body strong and immune to frequent sicknesses. And what’s more rewarding than a healthy body ready to take on the day?
2. OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE: MEDITATE OR PRAY
You need silence! To create the right tone for a positive day, you need a bit of “me time” where you get to tune into yourself and relax. If you’re religious, it can be helpful to start your morning with a word of prayer or meditation. Meditation is a beneficial routine that should become part of your morning.
Meditation is advantageous mentally, physically, and spiritually. You don’t have to be a spiritual person to meditate. It’s not a practice reserved for monks or priests, and you don’t need a lot of time to do it. Meditation can be done in less than ten minutes. The goal is to spend time in silence.
You can meditate at any time of the day or night, but research suggests that the ideal time to meditate is first thing in the morning. When you wake up, your mind is free from distractions and the demands of the world. Meditation can help you set a tone of calmness for the entire day. It gives you more energy, builds focus, and gives you an overall sense of well-being. Add this to your daily routine and begin to enjoy its tremendous benefits!
3. EXPRESS GRATITUDE
This is an essential morning routine that can change the way your day turns out. Gratitude is meant to be a very crucial part of your morning. It puts you in a grateful mood for the remainder of the day. Make a list of things and people you’re thankful to have.
Appreciate the kindness you’ve been given and the gifts you’ve received. Gratitude comes with extreme joy and satisfaction. It helps you appreciate what you have and those around you. Practice a life of daily gratitude, and you will build the right relationships.
4. FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT TASKS
In no definite order, draft a to-do list of what you plan to achieve during the day and work out plans to get them done. It is important to start your day off right from the beginning. Focusing on the important things in the morning can help you get the most results from your daily activities. Being busy is great, but productivity is best.
5. STRETCH/EXERCISE
We sometimes wake up feeling stiffness in our bones or soreness due to stress or poor sleeping positions. If you’re not the gym-going type, a simple task like making your bed, ironing clothes, or making breakfast can help you stretch shrunken muscles. If you happen to love getting an adrenaline rush, take a morning walk, run, or do some warm-up exercises.
Stretches and exercise are sure to keep you in shape to handle the tasks of the day. If you’re a commuter or an entrepreneur, you’re bound to break a sweat during the day, so you need to flex those muscles first thing in the morning.
6. LAY OFF THE STRESSFUL MORNING HABITS THAT DRAIN YOU
Mornings are the best time to get energized for the day. Why get into routines that leave you frustrated and drained? If you discover checking your emails early in the morning stresses you out, try putting that away until you get to work. Develop a strategy to restrain yourself from any activity that hurts your positive energy in the morning.
7. EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST
It’s funny how little parts of your morning routine, like breakfast, can set you on the right or wrong path throughout the day. Breakfast, though largely overlooked by many, is a vital part of the day. While some skip it and lose out on its excellent health benefits, others enjoy it and reap the rewards. Make sure to eat something that does a lot of good for your body.
A simple breakfast of eggs can provide you with enough energy to take on the tasks ahead. Pay attention to yourself to understand how your body accepts particular foods in the morning and rejects others because a wrong breakfast choice can have you spending half of your day observing bathroom breaks instead of being productive.
The key to having a great day hangs on the balance of following a well-thought-out routine. Start your day on a healthy note by trying out some of these suggestions and you will notice a difference.