It’s been said before that “if you win the morning, you win the day”, and this has so much truth to it. Whether you consider yourself a morning person or not, the waking hours of the day are crucial for how you will look and feel for the rest of it. Follow these 8 morning do’s and don’s to get the most out of your day.
Don’t: Press snooze
The challenge not to press the snooze button may be the hardest one you face all day, if you can tackle this obstacle, then you’re off to a great start! Remind yourself that it’s your choice to wake up in the morning. You don’t “have to” go to work, the gym, or that early morning meeting… it’s your choice. Remind yourself of this each morning and literally say something positive out loud. It may feel silly, but it can really help your mind shift from a tired and groggy state to a grateful and enlivened state. If you press snooze, you’re stealing yourself of precious time to let your body wake up, get ready, or to take your time on the commute. God forbid you sleep in past your morning coffee! Remember that waking up earlier rather than later will make the rest of your day run much more smoothly. This morning “do” is so important to get the most out of your day, and it’s all in your control… don’t press snooze!
Do: Yoga
One of the best things you can do when your eyelids part in the morning is to get your body moving. Your body has been resting all night and has the strength and ability to get moving and start working… it’s your mind that needs the convincing! Give your brain a “head start” on the day by doing yoga, or another exercise you prefer. Weights or intense cardio may be a bit too hectic first thing in the morning, you don’t want to be exhausted before your work day has even begun. Yoga gently but effectively gets your muscles woken up, your blood flowing and your heart pumping. It doesn’t shock or stress your body into movement, but invites it, leaving you refreshed and releasing much-needed endorphins to help you get the most of your day.
Don’t: Eat a huge breakfast
I know, I know, I know. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times over that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, but many highly successful and productive people don’t eat breakfast in the morning; this helps you to get into the habit of working and not eating every waking moment of the day. There are different beliefs on this topic, but whatever the case, definitely do not stuff yourself with carbs (toast, pancakes), bad fats (bacon, sausage), or processed sugar (syrup, coffee creamer). Remember that every time you eat, your body works really hard to digest that food, so eating the wrong things, or too much of anything, can leave you more tired than you were before breakfast.
Do: Drink a healthy smoothie
Drinking a “healthy” smoothie is a great way to get the most out of your day. If you have nothing at all in the morning, your brain will struggle to function properly until you give it some sustenance. The purpose of having smoothies is to get a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and much-needed protein and natural, usable energy without being hard to digest. For a healthy morning smoothie, don’t go to a chain or smoothie shop that uses sugary syrups. Go to an organic shop, but if you can, make them at home so you can know exactly what and how much you are consuming. To make a healthy smoothie at home: use a water base (less calories than milk), 1-2 cups berries (high fiber & natural, usable sugar), 1-2 scoops vegan protein powder (your body NEEDS protein in the morning!), 1 tbsp Chia seeds, 1 tbsp hemp seeds, handful of spinach, and any other super healthy goodies you want to… have fun with it! If you need some smoothie inspiration, click this link for an awesome recipe.
Don’t: Put makeup on right away
The trick to healthy skin and a pretty face all day long is to start with a clean canvas. If you have a busy day ahead of you, you may be wearing make up all day long, give your face time to breathe in the morning by waiting to put your makeup on last during your morning routine.
Do: Wash your face, apply toner and moisturizer
If you follow a good nighttime beauty ritual (which you should!), then you went to bed with a clean and moisturized face. If you didn’t… do so tonight! When you sleep, your skin does a great job of naturally cleansing itself by ridding itself of dirt and toxins, but that means you need to wash your face in the morning before you put on your makeup. Use a good, natural cleanser first, then use a toner, and a moisturizer, apply your make up last.
Don’t: Check your phone right away
It’s so easy to wake up in the morning, reach over for your phone and check your texts, emails, Instagram, etc. When you see all of those bright red notifications, and messages clamoring for your attention, it can be easy to give into the temptation. Your brain literally starts to stress out when it sees all of that chaos on the screen, causing you to feel hectic and busy as soon as you wake up. Give your mind a break, and leave the work at work! If you work from home, set aside mornings to take care of yourself first before jumping on the phone. It is twice as productive for getting the most out of your day.
Do: Meditate and/or Read
There are so many health benefits to meditating and reading in the morning. If you are trying to get the most out of your day, it starts with healthy habits, and it will only take 10-15 minutes for you to experience the amazing benefits. Meditating is one of the healthiest habits you can get into. The stresses of work, life, and relationships can be so overwhelming that it can be hard to justify doing what seems like nothing, but it’s important to force yourself to be still. If you don’t then you may forget about what truly matters in life (like why you even got up in the morning in the first place, and what your purpose is as you go throughout your day) . Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed and exhausted before the day has even started. Meditate, read an inspirational book, the good old fashioned newspaper, or even a novel you enjoy and have some valuable “me” time… it’s the key to getting the most out of your day!
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