Your morning can make or break the whole day. Sleep in, forget to eat breakfast, get stuck in traffic and everything will seem off.
I pay special attention to how I begin my day so that I can have the energy and optimism necessary to make it productive and enjoyable. This became an especially important tool to keep my blood pressure, and stress level, under control.
I loved waking up to a sky like this.
These are very simple habits, definitely not groundbreaking, but they make a huge difference.
- Make the bed. It takes less than a minute. The order and neatness will set the tone for your day. Also, getting into a made bed at the end of the day is way better than climbing into a lump of sheets and blankets.
- Read something inspiring. You may finish your day with a thrilling novel, but choose an inspirational book to work through at the start of your day. Even just a paragraph can make a big impact on your outlook.
- Eat breakfast. You’ve heard this over and over again. It starts metabolism, aids in weight loss, bla, bla, bla. That’s not why I think you should eat breakfast (those are just side benefits). You should eat breakfast because it slows the pace of your morning. Taking 15 or 20 minutes to have some oatmeal, a whole grain English muffin or some fruit creates calm. It is worth getting up earlier so that you don’t have to rush through your morning. Breakfast also allows you to connect with the people you love who live in your house. Make it a ritual to share this meal together.
- Pull your appearance together. You don’t have to spend hours primping and spackling, but a dash of extra attention to how you look will boost your self confidence. Even if I’m just planning to lounge at home on the weekend, I’ll put on my 2-minute face (post coming soon). Getting rid of the blotches and bags, even just with concealer makes me feel so much better.
- Drink a full glass of water. Hydration is way important, more than most people think. It helps with every body system from clear thinking to elimination. Many people report that a glass of water with lemon will wake them up better than coffee. I agree, water really washes out whatever happened yesterday and creates a resilience to start fresh.
That’s it. Five simple habits that can make a tremendous difference in your day.
What are your most treasured morning routines?
Shared at:
New Nostalgia
All Things With Purpose