Did you know that what you do first thing in the morning can have a huge impact on the rest of your day? It's like one false move in a game of minesweeper and Kaboom! The rest of your day tumbles. So here are five morning habits you can be aware of to help set the tone for the rest of your day.
Have a habit of hitting the snooze button after your alarm sounds? Although it may be very tempting to snooze so that you can get a few more minutes of sleep, it is actually very counter-productive. In fact, it can have a negative impact on your physical and emotional well-being because you are repeatedly waking yourself up out of deep sleep. Doing so will only make you feel more groggy, stressed, and rushed in the morning. So even if it feels impossible, try to get out of bed right away.
Although looking at your phone may potentially help you wake up, it can also have a negative effect on your emotional well-being. Checking your emails can trigger feelings of self-criticism and stress. It floods your brain with all the things you need to do and what other people want you to do. If you manage to avoid checking your email and stick to social media, that can also harm your psyche because it can cause you to compare yourself to other people. So the best thing to do to avoid waking up your inner critic is to avoid checking your phone first thing after you've waken up. Instead of reaching out to your phone to help you wake up, try to replace it with another positive, self-affirming habit such as washing your face, reading a book, working out, and journaling.
If after you've woken up and you don't know what to do, then you're off to a bad start. It can be all too easy to forget important tasks or waste too much time on unnecessary tasks. So take time the night before to organize what you intend to do the next day. In this way, you can wake up knowing exactly what you need to do and feeling a sense of accomplishment when you're able to complete your tasks for the day.
Did you know that when we sleep, no liquids are entering our body for about six to eight hours and so our body is dehydrated. So instead of reaching out for that hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning, try drinking a glass of water first. You can drink the coffee after, but when you restock your body of water, you can function a lot better throughout the day. You may also experience less fatigue and headaches.
With all the fad going around with intermittent fasting, many people say that skipping breakfast and starting your first meal around noon is the way to go. However, some studies have shown that making sure to eat a healthy breakfast of nuts, fruits, and oats can help feed your brain so that it can get through the day. Try to avoid foods that are high in sugar such as doughnuts as these foods may give you some energy, but it can cause you to crash pretty quickly. So after waking up bright and early, make sure to have ample time to eat a healthy breakfast.
