Morning Routine
Setting up a morning routine can literally change your life. Getting your day started right can be the difference between a very productive day and one that gets away from you. Our will power is the strongest early in the morning and as the day goes on it slowly declines.
When you accomplish a small goal first thing in the morning dopamine is released and this makes us feel good and it also makes us more likely to accomplish additional tasks. Dopamine also plays a part in our motivation and our focus. When you feel good and are focused, you are motivated to do more.
The best morning routine for you is the one that you actually do.
The outline we have below is a list that we have put together with the people at KindNiceHappy. Please feel free to cherry pick anything that works for you. Leave anything that doesn’t.
It has been said that the morning sets the tone for your entire day. My experience has been that this is true.
1.When you wake up, express gratitude. It is very difficult to have a bad day when you spend the first part of your day being thankful for all the good things you have in your life. You have a home, you have food, you have your health, you have your friends and family. We sometimes take these things for granted and the reality is they are the most important things.
2. One of the best things you can do for a morning routine is to start the night before. Write out a to do list, when you wake up, make your bed. (if you do nothing else the rest of the day at least you have made your bed.) It is also nice to get into a made bed every evening. Set out everything you need the night before. Set out your clothes, get your lunch ready, and anything you need to take to work. Having everything you need for the day ready to go lowers your stress level the next morning. Everything is right there and you are not stressing out looking for different items.
3, Plan the time you plan on waking up and work backwards to make sure you get enough sleep. We all have better days and our brains work better when we are rested.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You haven’t had anything to drink in 8 hours.About 75% of your brain is water. This means dehydration of only 2% can negatively affect how well your brain works.
5. Stretch. Start with your neck and work your way down to your feet. Being well stretched eliminates tension and any discomfort you may have. A lot of people use a foam roller to work kinks out of their muscles. This will get your blood flowing and eliminate injuries.
6. Exercise. If you knock out exercise the first thing in the morning you have loosened your body up. You have your blood flowing and you are ready to start your day. Getting your exercise knocked out in the early morning lets you start your day with an accomplishment. You start your day with a win!
7. Meditation. It is estimated that between 200-500 million people meditate everyday and those numbers are growing. Meditation reduces stress, gets rid of brain chatter, and improves your focus.
8. Eat a healthy breakfast. If you start everyday with a healthy breakfast at least ⅓ of your meals will be healthy. It can also prevent you from eating pastries, bagels, or muffins at the office.
9. Take a cold shower. It will definitely wake you up. It improves circulation. As the cold water hits your body, Your body will circulate more blood to warm the cold area. It is also said that a cold shower will give your skin and hair a healthy glow.
10. Review your to do list that you made the night before and get started. Do the thing you want to do the least first. Get it out of the way and the rest of your day will be a breeze.
11. Read some good news. Science has shown that just 5-10 minutes of negative news can impact your whole day. Reading one positive story can lift your spirits for the entire day.
12. As you drive into work listen to a podcast, an audio book or learn a new language. This is a great way to learn something new or expand your mind with what would normally be considered wasted time.
13.. Commit to having a good attitude and a good day. Happiness is a choice.
14. Commit to being kind, nice and happy. To everyone. You never know what someone else is going through.
15. Now that you have had a great start, Carpe Diem! Seize the day!
How can you make your morning routine stick? Be very strict with yourself. The discipline you have in the beginning will eventually become a habit. For example: tell yourself If we are leaving at 8:00am I have to be up by 6;30. My morning routine takes 45 minutes and I need 45 minutes to get ready. There is not another option. I refuse to miss my morning routine. It may sound rigid, but it is also very effective.
