You may have seen videos on YouTube with titles like "My super productive 5 a.m. morning routine" or "Why I wake up at 4 a.m. every day and love it!" Even though some of these may seem extreme, there are benefits to making a morning routine you can stick to.
A morning routine that includes healthy foods, some exercise, and a regular waking time is an excellent place to begin. Starting the day with more purpose can help you feel better about yourself and make the rest of the day more productive.
Morning Routine Benefits
- Confidently tackling your to-do list
- Being able to plan your time better
- Taking on each task on purpose instead of reacting to the needs of the day
- Knowing what's coming up and being better prepared to deal with change
- Reminding you that you are able, in charge, and calm as you face the tasks ahead.
- You'll feel more productive, giving you a sense of accomplishment, self-efficacy, and pride in your work.
- Make it easier to start and keep healthier habits.
Are you ready to get those perks? Here are some steps you can take to build the perfect morning routine:
1. Set A Bedtime And Wake Time
Routines work best when they are always the same. You should set a regular time to go to bed and wake up and try to stick to it as much as possible. This will not only set you up for a better day, but it can also help you sleep better at night.
This is because waking up and going to sleep simultaneously sets your circadian rhythm, which helps you sleep better.
2. Don't Hit Snooze
There is nothing more deceiving than a morning snooze. Hitting snooze may feel like a win in the short term, but it doesn't help much with the long-term goal of getting more sleep.
If you often hit the snooze button, you might want to change your ideas about what you can get done by getting up early. You might have to change your schedule if your body needs more rest. Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.
On the other hand, if you're hitting snooze because you're overwhelmed by everything you have to do in the morning or trying to avoid it, we suggest getting up and doing one or two things that bring you peace and enjoyment. For example, when you wake up, you could meditate, go for a walk around your neighborhood, or make yourself a healthy breakfast that you like.
3. Get out of bed and do something productive!
Even though you might want to stay in bed and scroll through your phone for a while before getting up, you should get up instead.
The first step is to get out of bed. Then, choose one thing you can do with your full attention, like praying, affirming, stretching, or brushing your teeth.
With practice, sticking to a routine can help you deal with external stress, improve your ability to handle problems, and get more out of the day ahead.
4. Try praising yourself.
Saying positive affirmations out loud or writing them down can help you feel better about yourself, fight negative thoughts, and may even help your relationships in the long run.
You can choose your affirmations, or you can try some of these:
- Today is going to be great.
- I am intelligent, capable, strong, and kind.
- I am incredible, thankful, and lucky.
5. Drink some water
It's better to start your day with water than tea or coffee. We recommend you keep a glass of water by your bed and drink 8 ounces when you wake up. Water is essential because it helps your body break down the food you eat, take in its nutrients, and eliminate waste.
6. Work out or stretch
If you want to lose weight, working out in the morning could help you do that. It could also help you sleep better. If you don't have time for a full workout, try stretching to get your muscles and joints ready for the day.
7. Eat something shortly after waking up
To get your metabolism going, it's best to break your fast from the night before and eat within the first hour of getting up. If you stay in a state like fasting for too long, it can slow down your metabolism, which could ruin your day.
A higher metabolic rate, on the other hand, means that your body burns more calories as you go about your day and may feel more energetic.
If you are going to work out, eating something before you work out can help your body get the energy it needs. We recommend eating a small apple or half a banana with a handful of nuts or natural nut butter.
8. Eat a healthy breakfast
When it's time to break your fast, the best options are based on whole foods, which are foods that are in their natural state and haven't been changed in any way. These foods should have protein and fiber to fill you up and give your body energy for the day ahead. We recommend healthy options like oats, fruit with yogurt, and veggie egg muffins.
