7 Morning Habits That Will Change Your Life

HERE ARE 7 SUPER EASY HABITS YOU CAN CREATE TO HAVE HEALTHIER MORNINGS.

DON’T HIT SNOOZE.

Just don’t do it. Choose a time to get up, and tell yourself that the snooze button isn’t even an option. Hitting snooze and going back to sleep makes your brain start its sleep cycle all over again, and when your alarm goes off again, you’ll be in a deeper sleep than you should be; this will actually make you feel much worse.

STRETCH FIRST THING.

Stretching first thing in the morning has several health benefits, including muscle and joint flexibility, stress relief, and improved circulation. So take some deep breaths and stretch for a minute or two before you get out of bed.

DRINK WATER BEFORE YOUR FEET HIT THE FLOOR.

About 60% of your body is made of water, and after sleeping for 7-8 hours without water, your parched body is practically begging to be replenished. Appease it!

EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST.

I used to think I couldn’t eat a hot breakfast during the week, but now I do it every day. What’s the secret to having time for a healthy, hot breakfast when you don’t have a lot of time? Meal prep. You can easily make a week’s worth of sweet potato hash or sauteed apples over the weekend. Add some fresh fruit or a couple of fried eggs, and you can have a great breakfast without being late to work!

PLAY MUSIC WHILE YOU’RE GETTING READY.

Music changes moods. You might want to start your morning with upbeat music, or you might prefer something calming and relaxing; whatever you choose, be sure it makes you feel good and charges your morning!

TURN OFF YOUR PHONE NOTIFICATIONS.

This one has really surprised me. On mornings I leave my notifications on, and I reply to text messages, I am always late to work. I never realized just how much a minute here and a minute there adds up! Before you know it, you’re fifteen minutes behind! If you’re worried about emergencies, just flip your phone over to its “do not disturb” mode; the people who need you will be able to reach you.

READ SOMETHING POSITIVE.

Whether you choose to read your Bible or some kind of positive, encouraging book, this practice is something that makes a big difference. Turn off the music and the phone, and take a few minutes to soak your mind in words. (I do this while I eat my breakfast.)

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive- to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” -Marcus Aurelius

You should get to know yourself and your needs so that you can create a morning routine that works for you, but here is a glimpse into mine:

• 5:15- Alarm goes off and I stretch/drink water
• 5:20- Shower/Get Ready + Drink more water and listen to music (Phone is on silent)
• 6:30- Make breakfast + update food/body journal
• 6:45- Eat breakfast/read a chapter in a book/write in gratitude journal
• 7:00- Last-minute preparation for the day
• 7:15- Leave the house CALM AND COLLECTED

This has become such a perfect routine for me that it’s actually timed within 5 or so minutes every day. When you do the same thing every day, it all becomes habit and you don’t have to think about it. I don’t even have to check the time anymore!

OH, ANOTHER TIP FOR YOU, AND IF YOU DO THIS, YOU DESERVE A GOLD STAR!

Keep your routine on the weekends! Yes, I am telling you that I get up before 6am every weekend. Do I have to? No, but my body is on a schedule and I just feel better when I don’t sleep in.

This stuff takes commitment at first. You’ll need to train your mind and body to make these changes, but habits form with consistency, so it’s very doable. And I promise it’s worth it. You won’t regret giving up that extra 30 minutes of sleep in the morning. Trust me.

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What are some things you do to make your mornings run smoothly?